RFP - Fire Management Program Assessment & Planning Consultant

Fire Management Program Assessment and Planning

Archbold Biological Station seeks a highly qualified fire and natural resource management professional to conduct an independent assessment of its prescribed fire program and to help develop an updated, rigorous, science-based Fire Management Plan and associated policies and procedures.

Archbold is a biological research and conservation organization where prescribed fire is integral to both land stewardship and long-term ecological research. Archbold manages fire-dependent ecosystems that support threatened and endangered species and other significant conservation resources. Fire management decisions must therefore integrate operational effectiveness and safety with ecological science, research needs, habitat management, restoration, and species conservation.

This is a specialized consulting engagement anticipated to extend approximately 9–12 months. The work will require substantial on-site engagement at Archbold Biological Station in Venus, Florida.

Scope of Work
Working with Archbold leadership, scientists, and land management staff, the consultant will:

• Assess Archbold’s existing prescribed fire program, including plans, policies, procedures, staffing, training, safety practices, operational protocols, and organizational capacity.
• Develop or substantially revise Archbold’s Fire Management Plan and recommend associated policies, procedures, and operational standards consistent with nationally recognized prescribed-fire standards. The consultant shall engage Archbold’s science team throughout the planning process and incorporate their input to ensure the revised plan effectively balances prescribed-fire operations, ecological management objectives, and ongoing research needs. 
• Evaluate how prescribed fire is planned and implemented in relation to ecological research, long-term monitoring, threatened and endangered species, habitat needs, and conservation priorities.
•  Assess the integration of prescribed fire with broader land-management needs, including ecological restoration, invasive species management, and management of fire-adapted ecosystems.
•  Review prescribed-fire safety practices, crew qualifications, training, decision-making, and risk-management procedures, and recommend improvements consistent with rigorous professional standards.
•  Assess the equipment and apparatus required to conduct prescribed fire safely and effectively — including vehicles and their condition and adequacy, fireline and ignition equipment, and personal protective and safety equipment — and recommend acquisitions, replacements, or upgrades.
•  Recommend appropriate roles, responsibilities, staffing, training, partnerships, and other resources necessary for a safe and effective long-term fire management program.
•  Identify the specific qualifications, certifications, and training that program personnel require, and determine what it would take to bring Archbold’s crew qualifications and operational protocols up to nationally recognized standards, including a practical, phased path to get there.
•  Provide strategic guidance during implementation of priority recommendations.

Required Qualifications
The successful consultant will have:

•  A master’s degree or higher in ecology, natural resources, conservation biology, wildlife biology, forestry, fire ecology, or a closely related scientific or natural resource discipline.
•  Significant professional experience in prescribed fire and natural resource management, including planning and implementation of prescribed burns in fire-adapted ecosystems.
•  Experience developing, implementing, evaluating, or substantially contributing to fire management plans.
•  Familiarity with, and the demonstrated ability to apply, nationally recognized prescribed-fire standards — including NWCG qualifications (e.g., Prescribed Fire Burn Boss), written burn-plan standards, complexity analysis, and go/no-go and risk-management procedures.
•  Significant experience with conservation land management, habitat management, and/or ecological restoration.
•  Demonstrated experience working with threatened or endangered species, sensitive habitats, or other significant conservation resources, and incorporating ecological considerations into management decisions.
•  Demonstrated understanding of the relationship among ecological science, prescribed fire, restoration, and conservation.
•  Knowledge of rigorous prescribed-fire safety practices, training requirements, crew operations, operational procedures, and risk management.
•  Experience with broader land-management issues relevant to prescribed fire, including invasive species management.
•  Ability to work effectively with scientists, land managers, field personnel, organizational leadership, and external partners.
•  Ability to spend substantial time on site at Archbold during the engagement.

Preferred Experience
Additional consideration will be given to candidates with experience:

•  Applying prescribed fire and national fire-management standards across multiple states, regions, or management contexts, bringing an independent, outside perspective to Archbold’s program.
•  Managing or overseeing conservation lands, preserves, or natural resource programs.
•  Working across multiple conservation organizations, agencies, or land-management entities.
•  Developing or evaluating fire-management safety protocols, field procedures, training programs, or organizational systems.
•  Working at the intersection of scientific research and active land management.
•  Previous experience with evaluating fire management plans. 

Proposal Requirements
To keep the application process straightforward, interested individuals should submit:

1.  Curriculum Vitae describing relevant education and professional experience.
2.  Statement of Relevant Experience — maximum two pages. Briefly describe selected projects, responsibilities, or professional experiences that demonstrate the applicant’s qualifications to perform this work. Applicants should focus on the experiences they consider most relevant to Archbold’s needs. These might include, for example, prescribed fire planning and implementation; fire management planning; application of fifire in different fire-adapted ecosystems; habitat management or ecological restoration; threatened and endangered species conservation; invasive species management; fire safety and operational protocols; or integration of ecological science with land-management decisions. Specific examples of projects or management challenges are encouraged. Applicants are not expected to address every qualification individually.
3.  Availability and Rate. Briefly indicate availability to begin the engagement, ability to spend substantial time working on site at Archbold, and proposed hourly or daily consulting rate.

No references or additional proposal materials are required at this stage. Archbold may request additional information from finalists if needed.

Evaluation and Selection
Archbold will evaluate submissions based on the depth and relevance of the applicant’s experience and expertise relative to the scope of work, with particular consideration given to:

•  Prescribed-fire and fire-management expertise, including application of nationally recognized standards;
•  Scientific and ecological background;
• Conservation land management and restoration experience;
•  Experience integrating fire management with ecological research, habitat, and species conservation;
•  Safety, training, and operational expertise;
•  Ability to work collaboratively and substantially on site;
•  Availability to begin the work promptly; and
•  Proposed cost and overall value.

Finalists may be invited to a brief interview. Archbold anticipates making a selection promptly following review of submissions.

Submission
Submit a CV, statement of relevant experience, availability, and proposed rate electronically by September 23, 2026. 
Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to [email protected].
 
Archbold Biological Station reserves the right to request additional information, negotiate the final scope and terms with the preferred consultant, or decline to make an award.