Maine Trails Program – Request for Proposals
February 6, 2026
Island Heritage Trust
PO Box 42
Deer Isle, ME 04627
Contact: Alex Drenga, IHT Conservation Director
adrenga@islandheritagetrust.org
Project: Island Heritage Trust’s (IHT) Accessible Trail Improvements at Barred Island and Lily Pond Project
Funding Source: A portion of the project is funded via a Maine Trails Program grant administered by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Grants & Community Recreation Program. Private funding may be required for upgrades or deviations from the original project scope as needed.
Owner: Island Heritage Trust
Location: Barred Island Preserve and Lily Pond, Deer Isle, ME
- Introduction
Island Heritage Trust (IHT) invites sealed bids from qualified contractors for the renovation of, and construction of accessibility improvements for, Barred Island Preserve and Lily Pond Trails in Deer Isle, Maine. Maps showing the location of the trails are available upon request.
- Project Scope
With guidance from the ‘Barred Island and Lily Pond Trail Assessment and Planning Project,’ Island Heritage Trust (IHT) is looking for a qualified contractor to complete this project in 2026. This document is available upon request.
The accessible trail upgrades will meet the technical provisions for the Architectural Barriers Act Accessible Standards (ABAAS) and the United States Forest Service Trail Accessibility Guidelines (FSTAG) for approximately 1,304 linear feet at the Barred Island Preserve, 2,082 linear feet of the Quaco Road Trailhead, and 896 linear feet of the Deer Run Trailhead. The technical provisions include requirements for the tread surface, tread width, slopes, resting intervals, passing spaces, tread obstacles, openings, protruding objects, and trail signs.
Focusing on the nine technical provisions will be critical in preventing future problems, require minimal tread maintenance, and maximize the user’s experience by providing greater accessibility to the outdoor environment. Generally speaking, sustainable trails are laid out at an average of 10% grade, while accessible trails need to be 8.33% or less for 70% of the length of the path to meet the technical requirements. The layout should be determined by several factors such as terrain, soil type, side slope, frequencies of grade reversals, and layout constraints, to name a few. The treadway grades at Barred Island Preserve and Lily Pond range from 0% to a maximum of 8%, with over 70% of the total length of both trails at 5% or less. Tread width varies based on location, but must be a minimum of 36-inches wide. At the Barred Island Preserve and Lily Pond Trails the trail width should be constructed at 6 feet wide to match existing conditions. Passing spaces and resting interval locations were recommended in accordance with the technical requirement and are referenced in the worklogs which will be available to the hired contractor. The tread surface must be firm and stable, which will include importing an aggregate stone mixture and compacting the aggregate in lifts.
- Mandatory Site Walk and Information Meeting
All contractors wishing to bid on this project are required to have one or more representatives attend a Site Walk and Information Meeting at Barred Island Preserve and the Lily Pond Trails. As part of the site walk, the Conservation Director will review renovations and improvements included in the project. In addition, questions may be asked of the Conservation Director. If there are any questions that cannot be answered at the site walk, the responses will be sent to all site walk attendees shortly thereafter. A record of the questions and answers will be sent to all site walk attendees.
Site walks will be scheduled on the last week of February (2/23/26-2/27/26) from 9 AM to 3 PM on a first come first serve basis. If needed, dates before the deadline (3/19/26) can be scheduled upon request.
- Bid Submission
Deadline: Thursday, March 19, 2026, by 5:00 PM.
Delivery: Sealed bids must be delivered to:
Island Heritage Trust
c/o Alex Drenga, Conservation Director
PO Box 42
Deer Isle, ME 04627
- Bid Opening and Scoring
Bids will be publicly opened and read aloud at the IHT office, Heritage House, 420 Sunset Road on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 11:00 AM. All RFPs will be scored by a rubric which is available upon request.
- Contractor Requirements
- Proof of insurance (general liability and workers’ compensation).
- Compliance with all application federal, state, and local laws – see in particular the documentation provisions and other requirements included in the Maine Trails Program Guidance (available upon request).
- Ability to furnish performance and payment bonds if required.
- Demonstrated experience with trail construction projects.
- Qualifications of employees assigned to the project and description of their roles.
- Evidence of sufficient capacity to complete the project in a timely manner.
- Ability to obtain permits from Deer Isle.
- Project start and completion: 4/1/2026 – 9/1/2026
- Award of Contract
The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in accordance with Maine’s competitive bidding requirements for publicly funded projects. IHT reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to waive informalities, and to accept the bid deemed in the best interest of the project.
- Contract is Contingent on Several Factors
IHT’s final commitment is contingent on several factors, such as:
- ability to secure interim financing, if needed.
- Receipt of the fully executed Project Agreement with the Maine Trails Program grant funder, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
- Payment Terms
Payment terms are negotiable. IHT’s preference, if the grant funders will agree to reimbursement based on three milestones – one at the beginning of the project, one after completion of either Barred Island Trail or Lily Pond Trail, and one after completion of the project.
- Questions
Substantive questions about the project will not be entertained until the site walk and information meeting (unless they are about that meeting). Inquiries after the site walk must be submitted in writing to:
Alex Drenga, Conservation Director, IHT
adrenga@islandheritagetrust.org
(413) 563-6393
