Deadline: 11-Oct-21
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to conduct modeling and collect socio-economic data that will assess economic value generated by a major wetland restoration project at the Robinson Preserve, contributing to the understanding of local socioeconomic benefits from habitat restoration and of how communities use and value restored coastal wetlands.
This project seeks to address how habitat restoration has impacted local and regional recreational opportunities, particularly recreational fishing. Gathering data on the restoration site’s on-site use, value to visitors, and the economic impact of visitor spending related to recreational fishing and other activities at the site is of interest.
Tasks
- Count the number of visitors to Robinson Preserve: Applicants should describe a method for counting the number of visitors to Robinson Preserve over an extended period (preferably one year to capture seasonal variation). The layout of Robinson Preserve allows for automated vehicle and people counters to be placed at major parking lots and trailheads.
- Analyze the impact of recreational spending related to Robinson Preserve on the local economy: Applicants should describe methods to gather data and estimate the effects of visits to and recreation at Robinson Preserve on local economic output and employment (to include Manatee County and, preferably, surrounding counties).
- Estimate the value of Robinson Preserve to visitors: Applicants should propose methods to estimate Robinson Preserve’s total economic value (use and nonuse values) to visitors. If applicants expect to use contingent valuation, a choice experiment, or other method that requires surveying visitors, they should describe the expected timing and duration of data collection.
- Estimate local residents’ participation in outdoor activities compatible with coastal natural areas: Applicants should propose methods for estimating the participation of local residents in different outdoor activities that are available or could be supported by coastal natural areas. The results will be used to plan and improve public access to sites managed primarily for environmental protection.
- Estimate the use value of common activities at coastal natural areas and the total economic value of coastal natural areas to local residents: Applicants should propose methods to estimate the value of common activities at coastal natural areas to participants. This is intended to capture the use value of these sites for visitors and study which activities are valued more or less by the public.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants include institutions of higher education, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, international organizations, and local, state and Indian tribal governments.
- By submitting a proposal in response to this solicitation, the offeror warrants and represents that it does not currently have any apparent or actual conflict of interest, as described herein. In the event an offeror currently has, will have during the life of the contemplated contract, or becomes aware of an apparent or actual conflict of interest, in the event an award is made, the offeror must notify NFWF in writing in the Proposal, or in subsequent correspondence (if the issue becomes known after the submission of the Proposal) of such apparent or actual conflicts of interest, including organizational conflicts of interest. Conflicts of interest include any relationship or matter which might place the contractor, the contractor’s employees, or the contractor’s subcontractors in a position of conflict, real or apparent,
- Conflicts of interest may also include, but are not limited to, direct or indirect financial interests, close personal relationships, positions of trust in outside organizations, consideration of future employment arrangements with a different organization, or decision-making affecting the award that would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to question the impartiality of the offeror, the offeror’s employees, or the offeror’s future subcontractors in the matter. Upon receipt of such a notice, the NFWF Contracting Officer will determine if a conflict of interest exists and, if so, if there are any possible actions to be taken by the offeror to reduce or resolve the conflict. Failure to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner that satisfies NFWF may result in the proposal not being selected for award.
For more information, visit https://www.nfwf.org/request-proposals-assessing-socio-economic-impacts-restoration-robinson-preserve