The Department (Department) is seeking one or two individuals (or an organization) to serve as a resource to Maine’s lobster industry and facilitate information sharing at the community and individual level as defined in this Request for Proposals (RFP) document. This document provides instructions for submitting proposals, the procedure and criteria by which the awarded Bidder will be selected, and the contractual terms which will govern the relationship between the State of Maine (State) and the awarded Bidder. In March 2024, NOAA convened the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Team (TRT) and outlined an aggressive timeline for the next management action under the plan, anticipated to be implemented in 2029. A refined schedule was presented to the TRT in August 2024. A 30-day scoping period will open in January 2025, with TRT meetings scheduled in spring/summer 2025 to receive updates, develop, and review potential conservation measures. Development of management packages is anticipated in November 2025 with voting on recommended measures as early as January 2026. An impact of the FY2023 federal omnibus budget, which delayed implementing new regulations in the lobster fishery under the TRT, has been that many industry members perceive further management measures as not being imminent and perhaps even unlikely to occur. At the same time, the lobster industry, like many segments of the fishing industry, is experiencing substantial meetings and information/outreach fatigue. Given this reality, holding numerous public meetings, even in coastal community centers or harbors, may be less effective as a method of engaging large numbers of license holders. Individual phone, email and text conversations are also expected to be necessary communication channels. These communication strategies will be executed by a subcontractor selected through this RFP to develop and facilitate dissemination of the information, with guidance from, and in coordination with a steering committee of industry leaders and state agency staff. DMR anticipates that this work will occur over the full duration of the contract, ending no later than May 31, 2027, with increased outreach and engagement activities prior to and during efforts to develop and vet proposed management measures.
