Lake Management Services RFP 2026

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS & PROPOSALS
LAKE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR LAKE LANSING
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS & ENGINEERING
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN
INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN
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CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF MERIDIAN
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS & PROPOSALS
LAKE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR LAKE LANSING
BACKGROUND
The Charter Township of Meridian is soliciting qualifications and proposals from
qualified consulting firms with demonstrated expertise in comprehensive lake
management, lake and watershed assessment, and the development and
implementation of lake management programs. Lake Lansing is a 450-acre lake
located in Meridian Township, Ingham County. In 1998, at the request of lake
residents, the Township Board established a Special Assessment District (SAD) to
fund water-quality management and lake-improvement initiatives. An advisory
committee consisting of six lake residents and representatives from Ingham County
Parks, the Ingham County Drain Commissioner's Office, and the Township was
established to oversee administration of the SAD. The SAD was renewed in 2002,
2007, and 2017 and is scheduled for renewal consideration in 2027. Since its
establishment, SAD-funded lake management activities have included targeted
aquatic herbicide treatments, mechanical harvesting, improvements addressing
drain discharges and stormwater runoff, and the development of educational
materials. Through this solicitation, the Township seeks a qualified professional
consultant to provide coordinated, science-based lake management services that
protect and enhance Lake Lansing's water quality, ecological health, recreational
value, and long-term economic benefit to the community.
SCOPE OF WORK
The selected consultant shall provide comprehensive lake management services for
Lake Lansing and its watershed, including, at a minimum, the following:
a. Update the Lake Management Plan in coordination with the
Advisory Committee, Lake Lansing Property Owners
Association, Township, Ingham County, and Michigan
Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The
current plan and recent annual reports will be available upon
request.
b. Develop and implement a water-quality monitoring program
for Lake Lansing and its contributing drains in coordination
with the Ingham County Health Department, Ingham County
Parks, and designated volunteers.
c. Conduct periodic aquatic plant surveys and provide findings
and management recommendations.
d. Develop an aquatic plant management and control program.
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e. Prepare plans, specifications, permit applications, and contract
documents for aquatic plant control, runoff treatment, and
other necessary work using recognized water-quality
management practices.
f. Solicit competitive bids, as required, for mechanical harvesting,
aquatic herbicide treatment, surface-water-quality initiatives,
and related projects in accordance with Township purchasing
policies.
g. Administer contracts and oversee contracted work at the
Township's direction.
h. Develop and support community education and public
outreach programs, including lake related newsletters.
i. Identify applicable state, regional, and federal grant
opportunities for water-quality and lake-improvement
initiatives, as directed by the Township and Advisory
Committee.
j. Advise the Advisory Committee on preventing and controlling
emerging invasive species and other conditions affecting the
lake.
k. Attend meetings of the Advisory Committee, Township Board,
and other designated bodies, as requested.
l. Prepare an annual Lake Lansing Management Report and
present it to the Advisory Committee and Township Board.
m. Develop measurable performance indicators, in consultation
with the Advisory Committee, to assess progress toward the
SAD's goals.
n. Establish baseline conditions and benchmarks for each
approved performance indicator.
Insurance
The Consultant shall not commence work under this Contract until all the insurance required
under this section has been obtained and approved by the Owner, nor shall the Consultant
allow any subcontractor to commence work until all similar insurance required of the
subcontractor has also been obtained and approved. Contractors and subcontractors are
required to file with the Owner completed certificates of insurance, as evidence that they carry
adequate insurance to comply with the requirements of this section. New Certificates of
Insurance shall be furnished to the Owner at the renewal date of all policies named on these
certificates.
A. Policies, Coverages and Endorsements
The Contractor agrees to maintain, or to cause its personnel and subcontractors providing
services under this Contract to maintain, at its sole cost and expense or the cost and
expense of his personnel and subcontractors, the following insurance policies, with the
specified coverages and limits, to protect and insure the Owner and Contractor against any
claim for damages arising in connection with Contractors responsibilities or the
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responsibilities of Contractors personnel and subcontractors under this Contract and all
extensions and amendments thereto.
1. Commercial General Liability
a. General Aggregate $2,000,000
b. Each Occurrence $1,000,000
Such insurance shall include, but not be limited to, coverage for:
Comprehensive form, Premises-operations, Explosion and collapse hazard,
Underground hazard, Products/completed operations hazard, Contractual insurance,
Broad form property damage, Independent contractor, Personal injury
2. Workers' Compensation & Employer' Liability (if any employees will be in the field)
a. Medical & Indemnity Statutory Requirements
b. Bodily Injury by Accident $500,000 Each Accident
c. Bodily Injury by Disease $500,000 Each Employee
d. Bodily Injury by Disease $500,000 Policy Limit
e. Employers Liability $500,000
3. Automobile Liability
Including hired and non-owned Automobiles $1,000,000 (Combined Single Limit)
Such insurance shall include, but not be limited to, coverage for:
Comprehensive form, Owned vehicles, Hired vehicles, Non-owned vehicles
B. Professional Liability
The Contractor shall procure and shall maintain during the life of this Contract
Professional Liability Insurance, listing the Owner as the named insured. The minimum
limit of liability shall be not less than $1,000,000.00 per occurrence/aggregate.
C. Insured Parties
All policies shall contain a provision naming the Owner (and its officers, agents and
employees) as Additional Insured parties on the original policy and all renewals or
replacements during the term of this Contract.
D. Acceptable Insurance Companies
All insurance companies required by this section shall be: 1) acceptable to the Owner; 2)
authorized to do business in the State of Michigan by the Michigan Department of
Licensing & Regulatory Affairs Office of Financial and Insurance Regulations, and 3) have
an A.M. Best Company's Insurance reporting rating of no less than A- (Excellent). Upon
request, the Contractor shall submit evidence of such insurance.
E. Indemnification and Hold Harmless
The Contractor shall, at its own expense, protect, defend, indemnify and hold harmless the
Owner and its elected and appointed officers, employees, and agents from all claims,
damages, costs, lawsuits and expenses, including, but not limited to, all costs for
administrative proceedings, court costs and attorney fees that they may incur as a result of
any acts, omissions, or negligence of the Contractor, its subcontractors, sub-subcontractors
or any of their officers, employees, or agents. This includes but is not limited to injury or
death to any person or persons, including the contractors' employees, and damage to
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property. The furnishing by the Contractor of any insurance required by this Contract, or
the acceptance or approval thereof by the Owner as provided in this Contract, or
otherwise, shall not diminish the Contractor's obligation to fully indemnify the Owner, its
elected and appointed officers, employees, and agents as required in this section.
The Contractor shall not cancel or reduce the coverage of any insurance required by this
section without providing 30-day prior written notice to the Owner. All such insurance must
include an endorsement whereby the insurer shall agree to notify the Owner immediately of
any reduction by the Contractor. The Contractor shall cease operations on the occurrence of
any such cancellation or reduction and shall not resume operations until new insurance is in
force.
PROJECT SCHEDULE
After reviewing the proposals submitted, and selection of the service provider has
been made, the final scope of work and contract for the services will be negotiated.
The Township anticipates contracting for the lake management services by end of
November 2026. The contract will be for one year, with Township option to renew
at the end of each year of the first three years.
CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
Emphasis shall be on completeness and clarity of content. The following factors will
be taken into consideration in the choice of consultant:
1. Qualifications of the firm and individuals responsible for the work, including
specific qualifications of each staff member for the role they would have.
2. Experience with similar projects and reference information for related
projects completed by the firm and the proposed staff, including a list of
current clients.
3. Proposed method for meeting the objectives of the project, including
approach, time frame or phases, and man-hour estimate.
4. Identify any new methods, objectives, or practices that should be included in
the lake management plan.
5. Accessibility of the staff/proximity to the project location.
6. Price (separate envelope). Note that the selection committee will consider
price as a factor, however qualifications and experience will be weighted
more heavily.
OTHER INFORMATION
1. Addenda to the RFQP: In the event it is necessary to revise any part of the
RFQP, addenda will be provided to all consultants who received the RFQP.
2. Freedom of Information Act: Responses to the RFQP and contents therein
may be eligible for review under the FOIA.
3. Acceptance of the Proposal: The contents of the proposal of the successful
firm may become an obligation if a contract results. The proposal will be
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incorporated by reference into any resulting contract to the extent accepted
by the Township.
4. Contract Compliance: The selected firm shall comply with all relevant
requirements of the Charter Township of Meridian.
5. The Township reserves the right to retain all proposals submitted. By
submitting a proposal, the consultant agrees to accept the conditions
contained in the RFQP, unless exceptions are clearly and specifically noted in
the proposal submitted. There is no expressed or implied obligation by the
Township to reimburse any expenses incurred in responding to the Request
for Qualifications/Proposal.
RIGHT RESERVED BY THE TOWNSHIP
The Township reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, waive irregularities
in submitted proposals in the best interest of the Township, to reject proposals
which do not conform to the requirements, to reissue RFQP's, and to request
additional information. The Township reserves the right to negotiate the terms and
conditions of all or any part of the proposal or to accept any proposal determined by
the Township to be in the best interest of the Township.
FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information, please contact:
Younes Ishraidi, PE, CFM
Townshiip Engineer/ Deputy Director of Public Works
Charter Township of Meridian
5151 Marsh Road, Okemos, MI 48864
Telephone: 517-853-4440
E-mail: ishraidi@meridian.mi.us
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL
Sealed proposals will be received at the Meridian Township Municipal Building,
Clerk's Office, 5151 Marsh Road, Okemos, MI 48864-1198, up to 11:00 a.m. EDT on
Thursday, October 28, 2026. Please provide an original and ten (10) copies of
your signed proposal in sealed envelopes with the company name and the
following written on the outside of envelopes,
"Proposal for Lake Management Services for Lake Lansing", and an original of
your price proposal in a separate sealed envelope with the company name and the
following written on the outside of the envelope,
"Price Proposal for Lake Management Services for Lake Lansing".
Also, provide a PDF of the proposal only by noon EDT of October 28, 2026.
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