Marine Resources Advisory Council Facilitator

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources is seeking proposals for a highly skilled, neutral facilitator to support the Marine Resources Advisory Council in addressing ocean acidification and related issues. The contractor will provide project management, facilitation, communication, and consensus-building services, including leading meetings, developing strategic plans, and ensuring effective stakeholder collaboration. The project budget is capped at approximately $135,000, with deliverables focused on facilitating meetings, preparing reports, monitoring outcomes, and supporting DNR’s mission within a performance period from September 2025 through June 2027. The work is to be performed primarily within Washington State, with the contractor’s principal office located in Washington, and all services are subject to state procurement and contracting regulations. The solicitation emphasizes comprehensive proposal submission requirements, including a detailed budget, staff qualifications, project approach, and schedule, all to be submitted electronically as a single PDF by August 7, 2025. Evaluation will be based on a best value approach, considering responsiveness, technical merit, cost, and preferences for veteran, minority, and women-owned businesses. The contract documents specify no federal FAR clauses are incorporated, but they include state-specific terms such as insurance, debarment, conflict of interest, and diversity certifications. Additionally, the proposal must address special conditions like subcontractor inclusion, environmental preferences (notably PCB-free packaging testing per EPA standards), and compliance with accessibility laws. Acceptance of services will be contingent upon satisfactory performance and completion of contractual requirements, with no explicit inspection location specified, as the services are primarily facilitative and advisory in nature.