Environment and Protected Areas - Request for Proposal - Restoration in the Little Smoky Caribou Range- Caribou Habitat Recovery Program

This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks for one or more qualified contractor(s) to support the implementation of restoration activities in the Little Smoky Caribou Range. The selected contractor(s) will be responsible for participating in components related to operational planning as defined in this RFP, along with executing restoration treatments and line deactivation techniques within designated compartment(s). The Caribou Habitat Recovery Program (CHRP) is an ongoing initiative aimed at assessing and treating legacy seismic lines within Alberta’s 15 caribou ranges. Alberta has identified approximately 203,000 km of legacy seismic lines within caribou ranges and has estimated that over 40% are not recovering naturally. Without intervention such as tree planting, they are unlikely to regenerate into forested habitat. Securing skilled contractors to conduct this work is essential to demonstrating progress on the recovery of caribou habitat. There are five associated compartments that could be awarded to one or more contractors in the Little Smoky caribou range: •LSM 12B (~185 km) •LSM 15 (~159 km) •LSM 16 (~187 km) •LSM 17 (~394 km) •LSM 18 (~ 468 km) The compartments have undergone initial restoration planning; however, the proponent(s) will be responsible for working with the CHRP team to validate and finalize the operational plan(s) for approval prior to implementation. This includes ground truthing to identify all treatments lines within scope, verify treatment prescriptions and confirming access and logistical constraints within the compartment(s). The successful proponent(s) must demonstrate a strong understanding of diverse site conditions (e.g., lowland and upland) and possess the expertise to apply appropriate treatment approaches. This includes implementing effective restoration techniques while avoiding areas that are already exhibiting natural recovery. The scope of work does not prescribe a specific seasonal window, allowing flexibility in scheduling. Proponent(s) are encouraged to outline their preferred approach and timing within their proposals, provided all work aligns with the established contract timelines. The successful proponent(s) must adhere to high implementation standards to ensure accurate and ecologically sound treatment decisions. Implementation standards must align with the “Provincial Restoration and Establishment Framework for Legacy Seismic Lines in Alberta” and the “Visual Guide for Implementing the Restoration and Establishment Framework in Woodland Caribou Habitat in Alberta”. The associated geodatabase files will be provided to applicants. The selected contractor(s) will be responsible for reviewing these materials prior to ground truthing to understand the main components of the compartment(s).