Project Information

Bid Title

RFP for Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Facilitation

Issuing Agency

Cascade County

Location

Montana

Published Date

Apr 8, 2026

Closing Date

May 8, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Title:	RFP for Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Facilitation
Category:	Sheriff's Office
Status:	Open

Description: The Fire Protection Bureau of the State of Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Forestry and Trust Lands Division (DNRC) awarded Cascade County $74,000 in response to Cascade County’s grant application seeking funding for Cascade County to update its 2008 Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) consistent with the direction provided by the Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA). The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to request proposals for consideration from qualified individuals and organizations to facilitation and develop Cascade County an updated and approved CWPP which will be used, in accordance with the 2020 update to the Montana Forest Action Plan, to aid in planning and prioritizing wildfire risk reduction work at the county-level. The Respondent must be willing, able and qualified to provide the following specified services, tasks and work products during the CWPP update process: 1. Technical assistance 2. Perform limited data analysis and interpretation 3. Establish extensive and diverse stakeholder engagement and community involvement 4. Maintain regular public information/communication regarding the CWPP process 5. Conduct community meetings and obtain public and stakeholder input 6. Establish various communication platforms to facilitate public input 7. Perform meeting planning and facilitation with County, Rural Fire Council, Stakeholders, the Community and other interested persons and organizations 8. Technical writing, GIS services, and CWPP plan update completion 9. Publishing the final CWPP in print and digital format (e.g., Story Map, etc.). Publication Date/Time: 4/8/2026 11:00 AM Closing Date/Time: 5/8/2026 5:00 PM Contact Person: Taylor Harrell Cascade County DES 3800 Ulm North Frontage Rd Great Falls, MT 59404 Email: [email protected] Related Documents: DNRC RFP Final April 2026

Attachment Preview

CASCADE COUNTY

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR

COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN (CWPP) FACILITATION

April 2026

Request for Proposals for Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Facilitation

Cascade County, Montana

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR

COMMUNITY WILDFIRE PROTECTION PLAN (CWPP) FACILITATION

CASCADE COUNTY, MONTANA

Title: Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Facilitation, Cascade County, Montana

Issue Date: April 2026

I. INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND, & PURPOSE.

The Fire Protection Bureau of the State of Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

Forestry and Trust Lands Division (DNRC) awarded Cascade County $74,000 in response to Cascade

County’s grant application seeking funding for Cascade County to update its 2008 Community Wildfire

Protection Plan (CWPP) consistent with the direction provided by the Healthy Forest Restoration Act

(HFRA). The purpose of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to request proposals for consideration from

qualified individuals and organizations to facilitation and develop Cascade County an updated and

approved CWPP which will be used, in accordance with the 2020 update to the Montana Forest Action

Plan, to aid in planning and prioritizing wildfire risk reduction work at the county-level.

II. SCOPE OF WORK AND SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED.

The Respondent must be willing, able and qualified to provide the following specified services,

tasks and work products during the CWPP update process:

1. Technical assistance

2. Perform limited data analysis and interpretation

3. Establish extensive and diverse stakeholder engagement and community involvement

4. Maintain regular public information/communication regarding the CWPP process

5. Conduct community meetings and obtain public and stakeholder input

6. Establish various communication platforms to facilitate public input

7. Perform meeting planning and facilitation with County, Rural Fire Council,

Stakeholders, the Community and other interested persons and organizations

8. Technical writing, GIS services, and CWPP plan update completion

9. Publishing the final CWPP in print and digital format (e.g., Story Map, etc.).

III. PROPOSAL CONTENT.

All proposals should be concise and clear and should convey all the information requested by

Cascade County. Emphasis should be on completeness and clarity of content. The successful

response will demonstrate the Respondent’s ability to meet the requirements and demonstrate

experience, technical skill, meeting facilitation success, and quality product delivery.

It is requested the following section headlines are used in response to this RFP:

Page 1

Request for Proposals for Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Facilitation

Cascade County, Montana

• Qualifications Statement

• Understanding of the Project

• Treatment of the Issues

• Staffing Pattern

• Cost of Proposed Services

A. Qualifications Statement.

Each Respondent must demonstrate its organization’s competence, qualifications, and ability to

perform the services requested in this RFP. Requested information shall include (1) business

entity’s legal name, address, and telephone number; (2) the principle(s) of the business entity,

their experience and qualifications; (3) experience and qualifications of the staff to be assigned

the work; (4) description of the business entity’s prior experience with the work defined; and (5)

references.

Each Respondent must provide a copy of and maintain all necessary licenses, accreditations,

and certifications in accordance with Montana laws, rules, regulations and ordinances as may

be required to perform work under this RFP.

B. Understanding of the Project.

The Respondent shall address how the requirements will be satisfied as outlined in Section II

above, ensuring that the CWPP Core Team (as approved by Cascade County) (Core Team) and Agency

Representative meetings, as well as broader public engagement meetings, allow for relationship

building resulting in a successful CWPP implementation and as further detailed below:

Meeting Design & Facilitation

Regularly convene the Core Team to ensure consistent progress towards timely completion of the

CWPP. Facilitate meetings (in person and/or virtually) with the Core Team to:

- Determine primary purpose, basic framework, and timeline for completion of the CWPP

update.

- Identify key communities/populations to target for engagement and facilitating a

minimum of three (3) community meetings of the County’s North, Central, and South

community sections.

- Interpret County Wildfire Risk Data derived from the Montana Wildfire Risk Assessment

and Montana Forest Action Plan.

- Identify priority areas and planned implementation actions to address wildfire risk.

- Identify how implementation of planned projects and CWPP future updates will be

achieved

-Ensure that the CWPP is aligned with community values and identify the resources and

funding necessary to accomplish it.

Page 2

Request for Proposals for Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Facilitation

Cascade County, Montana

Outreach & Public Engagement

-Advise Cascade County on outreach and public engagement best practices to ensure a

wide diversity of community members and stakeholders engage in the CWPP update

process.

-Produce outreach materials in collaboration with Cascade County and Core Team.

-Facilitate meetings between the Core Team and engaged community members to ensure

that priority areas and planned implementation action adequately address the values,

concerns, and priorities of the broader community.

Technical Writing

-Provide technical writing for the CWPP document. Final document format, length,

and contents shall support its purpose, and the intended audience identified by the Core

Team.

-Provide technical writing and easily digestible CWPP summaries (summary sheets, story map,

etc.) for the public.

GIS Analysis

-Provide needed GIS analysis and utilize available State of Montana DNRC Forest Action

Plan and Wildfire Risk Assessment data for the CWPP update.

-As needed, assist Cascade County with any analysis necessary to manipulate/modify

wildfire risk data.

-Utilizing Cascade County’s 2008 Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) map as needed, assist

Cascade County with updating and creating a geospatially represented WUI definition

and map

C. Treatment of Issues.

In this section, Respondent may comment on any of the issues within the Request for Proposal,

including suggestions on alternative approaches or services offered.

D. Staffing Pattern.

The Respondent must demonstrate how staffing will be sufficient and competent to complete

the services required. Please include the days and hours of operation.

E. Costs of Proposed Services.

All service and materials costs associated with the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)

Facilitation must be included, including but not limited to travel, per diem, and incidentals.

IV. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

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Request for Proposals for Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) Facilitation

Cascade County, Montana

Proposals will be conducted by a three-person committee to evaluate. Recommendations will

then be given to the commission in a public meeting, at a later date. In reviewing and evaluating

proposals, Cascade County will use the following evaluation factors listed below in order of their

respective importance:

1. Conformance to the requirements of this solicitation.

2. Qualifications and experience providing similar services and work products.

3. Capacity to perform the work.

4. Service costs.

5. References; and

6. Past performance.

Each Respondent who submits a proposal may make an oral presentation to Cascade County to

provide an opportunity for the Respondent to clarify the proposal and ensure mutual

understanding. Respondents may NOT change their original proposal submission.

V. BASIS FOR AWARD.

An award resulting from this RFP shall be awarded to the Respondent whose proposal is

determined to be most suitable based on the evaluation factors set forth herein.

VI. CONTRACTUAL REQUIREMENTS

The successful Respondent, hereafter referred to in this section as “Contractor,” will be required

to enter and sign a formal contract (Contract) with Cascade County subject to the following terms

and conditions:

A. Length of Contract.

The RFP and Grant Agreement between the Cascade County Commission and the Montana

Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (Grant Agreement) shall become part of the

Contract and the Contract will be in effect from the date all parties sign the Contract and through

February 2027, unless otherwise modified or terminated pursuant to the Contract terms.

B. Location.

Contractor will be required to travel and do business in Cascade County, Montana.

C. Minimum Contract Terms.

The Contract will contain, at a minimum, the following provisions:

D. Insurance and Workers’ Compensation.

Page 4

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
• NAICS 541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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