H2Ohio WLEB Program Evaluation
| Location: | Ohio |
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| Posted: | Nov 18, 2025 |
| Due: | Dec 15, 2025 |
| Agency: | State Government of Ohio |
| Type of Government: | State & Local |
| Category: |
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| Solicitation No: | SRC0000035047 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
| Solicitation ID: | SRC0000035047 |
| Solicitation Name: | H2Ohio WLEB Program Evaluation |
| Original Begin Date: | 11/18/2025 8:00:00 AM |
| Begin Date: | 11/18/2025 8:00:00 AM |
| End Date: | 12/15/2025 5:00:00 PM |
| Inquiry End Date: | 12/10/2025 5:00:00 PM |
| Commodity: | Environmental Services |
| MBE Set Aside: | MBE Set Aside |
| Agency: | AGR700000 Soil and Water programs BRBL |
| Solicitation Status: | Open for Bidding |
| Solicitation Type: | Request For Proposal (RFP) (Double Envelope) |
Solicitation General Information
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In an MBE set-aside solicitation, only those bidders/suppliers with an active MBE certification at the time the solicitation closes can submit a response
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Solicitation ID
SRC0000035047
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Solicitation Name
H2Ohio WLEB Program Evaluation
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RFx Type
Request For Proposal (RFP) (Double Envelope)
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Lot #
1
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Solicitation Status
Open for Bidding
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Round #
1
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MBE Set Aside
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Begin Date
11/18/2025 8:00:00 AM (ET)
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Amendment?
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End Date
12/15/2025 5:00:00 PM (ET)
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Inquiry End Date
12/10/2025 5:00:00 PM
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Summary
Please see the attached Statement of Work for the complete RFP. |
Predecessor Contract
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Process
In the review process, the Technical Envelope will be evaluated first, with consideration given to the applicant’s submission of the “Technical Proposal” and their responses to the “Supplemental Questions” in the Technical Questions section; these give applicants the opportunity to showcase their technical capacity and relevant experience. The Technical Envelope proposal will either be accepted or rejected. For accepted proposals, the Financial Envelope will then be evaluated based on the “Financial Proposal” submission in the Financial Questionnaire section; this gives applicants the opportunity to showcase their cost efficiency and competitive pricing. The “Technical Proposal”, “Supplemental Questions”, and “Financial Proposal” will then be evaluated and the highest evaluated proposal will be selected. |
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Ship To
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1 Record(s)
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0 Record(s)
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Solicitation Documents
1 Record(s)
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Attachment Preview
Request for Proposals: H2Ohio WLEB Program
Evaluation
Application Period:
November 18th – December 15th, 2025
(Page 1 of 7)
H2Ohio is Governor Mike DeWine’s initiative to ensure safe and clean water in Ohio. It is a
comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality over the long term. H2Ohio focuses on
encouraging agricultural best management practices, installing riparian buffers, restoring wetlands, and
constructing conservation ditches to reduce nutrient loading that contributes to harmful algal blooms.
The Ohio Department of Agriculture’s (ODA) role in H2Ohio focuses on improving water quality by
implementing agronomic best management practices (BMPs).
Many of Ohio’s current water quality issues took time to develop and require time and effort to reverse
course. The state of the science, available data, and current understanding of water quality issues has
and continues to evolve since the inception of the program. To ensure the most efficient and effective
program for addressing agricultural related water quality issues, the H2Ohio Program may need to adapt
as well.
ODA is seeking proposals from qualified external entities to conduct an evaluation of their H2Ohio
Program as applied in the Western Lake Erie Basin (WLEB). This external evaluation will play a critical
role in assessing the program’s effectiveness and alignment with the water quality goals specified under
the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
This opportunity, the ODA H2Ohio WLEB Program Evaluation, is intended to evaluate and assist the
program to date as it relates to the following three points:
1. Evaluate BMP efficacy and prioritization, updating recommendations as needed to ensure the
best practices for phosphorus load reduction are being promoted.
2. Assess phosphorus load reduction calculations to determine the suitability and accuracy of the
approach.
3. Develop a matrix to rank applications for funding prioritization.
This project will provide funding to implement an evaluation of the H2Ohio Program. This project is
state-funded and is administered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Division of Soil and Water
Conservation (ODA). ODA is seeking an entity to fulfill specific project roles outlined herein.
• Eligible Applicants: Private or non-profit entities with demonstrated experience in program
evaluation, particularly in agricultural, environmental, or water quality programs.
• Funding Requests: Funding of up to $125,000 dollars is available for services for this project.
Proposals that demonstrate cost efficiency while meeting all project deliverables will be viewed
favorably. Applicants are encouraged to propose budgets that reflect actual, anticipated costs.
(Page 2 of 7)
• Application Timeframe: Applications may be submitted from November 18th (8:00 AM ET) –
December 15th (5:00PM ET), 2025.
• Duration: The project will begin on the date of the fully executed agreement with a final report due
April 30th, 2026.
• RFP Considerations:
- ODA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals in whole or in part, to waive irregularities,
and to accept proposals which appear to be in the interest of the State of Ohio.
- Although cost is an important consideration, ODA shall not be obligated to accept the lowest
cost proposal but will base its decision on the criteria provided herein.
- This RFP outlines general project requirements. The agreement between ODA and the entity will
supersede this document, where conflict is perceived.
The selected external evaluator will be responsible for conducting an assessment that includes, but is
not limited to, the following:
1. Evaluation of Program Practices:
A. Review the original BMP phosphorus reduction efficacy estimates (at edge-of-field) and
assess the data from which they were developed (relevant files related to this prior work
will be shared with the selected applicant).
B. Review additional relevant literature and data (particularly since 2019) and verify BMP
efficacy estimates reflect the best available data.
C. Provide updated recommendations on BMP prioritization to achieve phosphorus
reduction goals based on:
i. edge-of-field phosphorus reduction efficacy; and,
ii. BMP implementation potential.
2. Assessment of Phosphorus Load Reduction Estimates:
A. Review original (pre-implementation) phosphorus load reduction estimates, and ODA’s
post-implementation load reduction estimates.
i. Evaluate the methodologies and provide appropriate alternative approaches
based on available data.
B. Identify factors affecting lag time between practice implementation and phosphorus load
reduction, at edge-of-field and in-stream.
i. Comment on how these factors should inform load reduction timelines and
expectations.
3. Development of Ranking Matrix
(Page 3 of 7)
A. Develop a ranking matrix to guide funding prioritization when program applications
exceed available funding. The following priorities should be among those considered
when developing the matrix.
i. Location – operation within the Western Lake Erie Basin (assessed by farm
headquarters, not at field level).
ii. Cost-effectiveness of practices for phosphorus load reduction, with emphasis on
practices with good performance for DRP.
iii. New acres (acres not previously enrolled in H2Ohio).
iv. Change in management practices – consider practices implemented prior to
enrollment.
v. Phosphorus loss risk – farm location and characteristics that might increase the
risk of phosphorus loss.
vi. Critical areas – e.g. areas of higher concern based on load monitoring gages or
local water quality impairments linked to nutrients based on Ohio EPA
assessments.
DELIVERABLES
1. Participate in an initial project scoping meeting with ODA to review project objectives,
deliverables, timeline, and establish meeting schedules;
2. Participate in regularly scheduled project status update meetings;
3. Develop an initial draft report and present it to ODA staff; and,
4. Deliver final report.
BUDGET
Eligible Budget Items
Applicants may include their staff time spent on the Project, which may include time spent on
project administration, coordination, meetings, data analysis, and other justifiable activities
directly associated with the project. Other costs may be allowable with acceptable justification.
ADMINISTRATION
1. General Responsibility
ODA will administer the project funds and communicate directly with the selected external
evaluator for the duration of the awarded project. ODA will be responsible for providing past
information and data used to inform initial practice selection for the H2Ohio Program.
2. Discrimination Prohibited
(Page 4 of 7)
The Applicant-Recipient agrees that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, creed,
gender, national origin, age, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits
of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity for which the applicant-recipient
receives financial assistance.
3. Method of Payment
a. Payments to applicant will be made on a reimbursement-basis. Applicant must submit
invoices showing expenditures, made in a timely manner.
b. The total amount paid to the grantee for the project will be either the total funds
requested in the proposal or the eligible billed amount, whichever is less.
c. Applicant who receives funds is considered to be a “supplier” of the State of Ohio.
Applicant will need to visit the Ohio Shared Services Supplier Operations website to create
or update their Supplier Information status, to fill out an IRS W-9, and to authorize direct
deposit of grant funds.
4. Reporting
All reporting will follow the terms stated in a fully executed Agreement between ODA and the
selected external evaluator, to be determined following notification of selection. The selected
external evaluator can expect this to include regularly-scheduled meetings, and data upon-
request, in addition to the Final Deliverables listed above.
5. Proposal Evaluation
In selecting proposals for funding, the Chief of the Division of Soil and Water Conservation has
established criteria which must be satisfied by an applicant. Staff from ODA will review all
proposals and make recommendations for selection. Project applications will include the content
outlined below and will be evaluated based on the extent to which they successfully address the
criteria outlined therein.
The full proposal must be submitted by December 15, 2025, at 5:00 PM within the State of Ohio’s Ohio
Buys platform. The proposal will be in the format of a “double envelope” solicitation, meaning proposals
must be submitted in two distinct questionnaires, or “envelopes”. There will be two envelopes in the
RFP, the technical and the financial. The applicant must address all the components listed below,
submitted in the corresponding envelope within Ohio Buys.
“Technical Envelope” Components
1. Cover Page: Include the date submitted, project title, and the business name, contact
information and organizational structure of the Applicant and the total proposed dollar amount.
2. Technical Approach
a. Rationale: Explain the rationale for the applicant’s pursuit of this project contract and
how it aligns with organizational goals, experience, and expertise. The applicant should
explain their overall understanding of the impacts of nutrient loading to the WLEB,
relevant nutrient reduction agricultural practices, estimating practice efficiency, and
implementation.
b. Description of Implementation:
(Page 5 of 7)
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.
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