Request for Proposals (RFP)
Professional Prescribed Burn Services

Issuing Organization

Henry L. Ferguson Museum
Fishers Island, NY
fergusonmuseum.org

Funding Source

This project is funded in part by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Long Island Sound Futures Fund under Grant Agreement No. 1401.26.088786: Piloting Small-scale Burns to Restore Critical Coastal Habitat on Fishers Island (NY). Procurement will be conducted in accordance with 2 CFR Part 200, NFWF grant terms, and applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Project Overview

The Henry L. Ferguson Museum (HLFM) on Fishers Island, NY maintains a land trust of approximately 375 acres, preserving and protecting valuable coastal habitat. The land trust includes a 40+ acre grassland that is burned annually to encourage native grass and forb species and reduce woody and invasive plant growth. Recommendations from ecologists indicate that other parcels in the land trust holdings may also benefit from the application of prescribed fire. This project will pilot using prescribed fire for the first time on smaller parcels with varied habitats including grassland, shrubland, and woodland.

HLFM is seeking proposals from qualified contractors to provide prescribed burn implementation services on conserved lands. The purpose of this work is to support habitat restoration, fuel reduction, and long-term ecosystem resilience. (resilience is good choice BP)

Scope of Work

Burn plans have already been established. We are seeking a qualified contractor to do the implementation of the burn plans. This will involve:

  • Coordination with land trust staff and the Fishers Island Fire Department, who will assist with conducting the burn.
  • Provision of qualified personnel, equipment, and supervision.
  • Implementation of prescribed burns under approved conditions.

The burn units consist of:

Burn unit A has coastal oak-hickory forest, successional maritime forest, red maple-blackgum forest, and successional southern forest. 3.3 acres
Burn unit B is a pitch pine-oak forest. 1.25 acres
Burn units C (1 acre), D (0.75 acre), E (5.7 acres), and F (1.5 acres) are all small grasslands.
Burn unit G is an approximately 50-acre grassland.

In sum, the objective of this project is to use pre-existing burn plans to implement a safe, effective, high-quality burn of about 65 acres across six sites, with on-the-ground assistance from the Fishers Island Fire Department.

Period of Performance

Work is anticipated to occur on one (1) weekend (Saturday and Sunday –BP) between September 2026 and October 2026 subject to weather, site conditions, and regulatory approvals.

Contractor Qualifications

Proposers must demonstrate:

  • National Wildfire Coordination Group RXB2 certification
  • Experience conducting prescribed burns of similar scope and complexity
  • Personnel with appropriate wildland fire qualifications (NWCG or equivalent)
  • Knowledge of applicable state prescribed fire laws and permitting requirements
  • Ability to meet federal grant compliance requirements
  • Active registration in SAM.gov with a valid Unique Entity ID (UEI) prior to contract execution

Proposal Requirements

Please submit proposals to Jack Schneider at jschneider@fergusonmuseum.org. Proposals should be concise (recommended maximum: 3 pages) and include:

  1. Contact Information – Name, email address, phone number. Identify who will be the project lead.
  2. Technical Approach – Describe your proposed approach to implementation, including safety practices and risk management
  3. Experience and Qualifications – Describe relevant project experience and qualifications of key personnel. Provide at least two references for similar work.
  4. Cost Proposal – Indicate the total cost for completion of the project as described in the Scope of Work.
    a. Give a detailed description of what you will deliver, the hours you require, and the cost of each element of your plan. Please note any assumptions or exclusions.

Costs must be reasonable, allowable, and allocable under 2 CFR Part 200.

Selection Criteria

The Henry L. Ferguson Museum will evaluate proposals using the following criteria:

  1. Relevant experience and qualifications
  2. Technical approach and safety practices
  3. Past performance
  4. Cost reasonableness

Federal and NFWF Compliance

The selected contractor must comply with all applicable federal requirements, including but not limited to:

  • 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance)
  • Debarment and Suspension (2 CFR Part 180)
  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
  • Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act

Required federal provisions will be incorporated into the contract.

Insurance

The contractor must maintain appropriate insurance coverage, including:

  • General liability
  • Prescribed fire insurance
  • Workers’ compensation
  • Automobile liability

Proof of insurance will be required prior to contract execution.

Anticipated Schedule

  • RFP Issued: January 21, 2026
  • Proposals Due: February 23, 2026
  • Notification of Contract Award: February 27, 2026

Reservation of Rights

The Henry L. Ferguson Museum reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, request additional information, or modify this RFP as necessary to comply with NFWF or federal requirements.