Upper Colorado River Basin Contribution Program Consultant

The State of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources is seeking a qualified consulting firm to manage, implement, and administer the Upper Colorado River Basin Contribution Program. The consultant will support the Colorado Water Conservation Board in overseeing a $50 million federal‑funded water‑contribution program, providing expertise in Colorado water rights, hydrology, consumptive‑use modeling, Colorado River operations, and stakeholder engagement. The work includes outreach to water users, assistance with application processing, program implementation, and verification/accounting of contributions. The contract has a $700 k budget for consulting services, a performance period that may extend up to five years (with optional annual renewals), and requires compliance with state procurement rules and federal provisions. An optional virtual pre‑bid meeting is scheduled, and proposals must be submitted electronically by early October. • Scope: water‑rights consulting, hydrologic analysis, stakeholder outreach, application review, program monitoring. • Budget: $700,000 for consulting services supporting $50 million of water‑contribution projects. • Duration: up to 5 years (potentially four one‑year renewals). • Submission: electronic via Colorado VSS or Google Forms by 10:00 AM MDT, Oct 12 2026. • Evaluation criteria: qualifications, relevant experience, proposed schedule, approach, and price.