Question & Answer Cut-off Date: August 18, 2023 at 5:00 p.m I. Request to Submit Proposals
The New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council (Highlands Council) is
soliciting proposals consisting of a Statement of Qualifications, Technical Proposals, and Rate
Schedule & Budget from firms with varied expertise in all facets of open space and recreation
planning. The proposed project is to develop an Open Space and Recreation Plan for the
Highlands Region which, after public and key stakeholder input, will identify specific properties,
establish priorities for preservation, and align potential funding sources for land preservation
needed to accomplish the conservation and recreation goals of the region, as well as be a plan to
effectively utilize and leverage resource-based recreation in the Region. It is recommended that
any respondent review the Highlands Council's Open Space Rule at N.J.A.C. 7:70, the Regional
Master Plan (RMP), the NJ Highlands Economic Sustainability Plan and the RMP Land
Preservation and Stewardship Technical Report. In addition, as partial funding may come from a
grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), respondents are encouraged to review the
Highlands Conservation Act Grant Program - Capacity Building Cooperative Agreement
documents.
II. Background
The Highlands Region is a physiographic area of northern New Jersey, comprised of 88
municipalities within parts of seven counties. The Highlands is a diverse landscape with both rural
and densely developed areas. The geographic boundaries of the region are established in the
Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act, see N.J.S.A. 13:20-1 et seq. (Highlands Act), which
also created the Highlands Council. The Highlands Act states that the goals of the Regional Master
Plan (RMP) shall be to preserve to the maximum extent possible any environmentally sensitive
lands and other lands needed for recreation and conservation purposes; preserve farmland and
historic sites and other historic resources; and preserve outdoor recreation opportunities,
including hunting and fishing, on publicly owned land. To help meet these goals, the Highlands
Council seeks to develop an Open Space and Recreation Plan for the region.
III. Scope of Services
The objective of this project is to develop an Open Space and Recreation Plan for the Highlands
Region. The Plan will catalog existing open space and recreation lands, identify additional
properties that may be appropriate for either open space and/or recreation, and provide a
framework for acquiring future open space and recreational opportunities. The Plan will be
developed with the benefit of significant outreach before, during, and after the plan adoption to
address equity amongst all stakeholders within the State. Restrictions on Communications with Highlands Council Staff
Any questions regarding this RFP must be submitted via email to:
gabrielle.gallagher@highlands.nj.gov. Note that all questions regarding this RFP must be submitted by email no later than 5:00 p.m. {Monday}, {August 18, 2023}. Respondents to this
RFP are instructed not to communicate in any other manner than as set forth immediately above
with any other representatives of the Highlands Council during the submission process, and not
to communicate with any representatives of the Highlands Council during the selection process
for this contract, unless such communication was initiated by a representative of the Highlands
Council in connection with any request for clarification to a response. In the event that any
Addenda or clarifying communication arises out of a question submitted by a respondent or Team,
the said clarification and response or Addendum shall be issued to all respondents. Only the
interpretations and/or corrections issued as a written Addendum to the RFP by a representative
of the Highlands Council shall be binding. No other source is authorized to give information
regarding any explanation or interpretation of the RFP.
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