Site work for a development in Montpelier, Vermont. Completed plans call for site work for a one-story above grade development.

The State is seeking proposals from qualified aquaculture/engineering design firms that specialize in fish hatchery design and engineering for a comprehensive evaluation of the Vermont Fish Culture System. The work includes assessing the feasibility of upgrading fish production operations and associated wastewater treatment facilities to meet current and future permit effluent limits, water withdrawal requirements, and other regulatory requirements. Recommendations are to be provided to improve the operational and financial efficiency of the system. QUESTIONS DUE October 21, 2025 15:00 (EST) Questions may be e-mailed to dylan.sickles@vermont.gov The goal of this evaluation is to ensure that the Vermont fish culture system adopts a sustainable approach to meeting its infrastructure and staffing needs, commensurate with the available budget, to fulfill fish management requests and regulatory requirements over the next 20 years, while providing insight into the costs associated with different approaches. The selected firm will identify the infrastructure improvements and costs needed to improve efficiency and maintain the Vermont Fish Culture Section's overall coolwater and coldwater fish production capacity at its current level (+/- 10% of the 2027 Management Request for Cultured Fish) across Vermont's Fish Culture System. The scope of the Fish Culture Modernization Plan is expected to include: o Evaluating the current efficiency of each of the five state-owned Fish Culture Stations that currently comprise the Vermont Fish Culture System o Assessing the current condition and remaining design life of the existing infrastructure of the five state-owned Fish Culture Stations throughout the State of Vermont o Evaluating options with the goal of continuing to meet the Management Request for Cultured Fish (MRCF) for species, strains, sizes, numbers, pounds, and efficient distribution to the stocking locations in a timely manner. o Addressing fish health and biosecurity needs, including pathogens and aquatic invasive species (AIS). o Evaluating the feasibility of maintaining, expanding, or consolidating operations in a way that best meets the needs of the Fish Culture Section and the needs of the Department, even if this may mean potentially establishing a new hatchery and/or closing an existing hatchery o Addressing the potential environmental and regulatory impacts of the existing and future fish culture activities. This evaluation needs to incorporate innovative management and treatment alternatives for complying with state-issued water withdrawal requirements and NPDES permits, including improved fish rearing processes, solids management practices, and ways to reduce the overall volume of wastewater requiring treatment o Provide VTFWD with a final report of thoroughly reviewed and vetted alternatives, with estimates of current construction costs associated with needed capital investments as well an annual O&M costs, both by facility and per pound of fish on station, which will allow the Department to help guide the Fish Culture program over the next 20 years