Through partnerships with biological, engineering and management firms, the Ecosystem Enhancement Program outsources the bulk of its program needs to the private sector. (NOTE: EEP oversees the identification, design, development and review, and construction management of its projects - please see the EEP Project Control and Research pages for more details).

EEP's philosophy of doing business is based on strategic planning that determines the size, location and result of known or anticipated environmental impacts from transportation-infrastructure improvements and other economic development in the state.

Professional services for planning and engineering are sought through the year on an as-needed basis. Watershed-planning studies are awarded to professional firms through a qualifications-based selection process. EEP also selects on-call contractors for engineering and biological services on a two-year cycle. These on-call awards allow EEP to rapidly deploy professional services anywhere in the state. Full delivery contracts are awarded based on programmatic needs, and contractor selection is value-based and considers both technical merit and cost. EEP posts requests for proposals and services on the N.C. Interactive Purchasing System website.

Design and construction standards must support sound scientific criteria, employ best practices and represent accepted technical and engineering standards. Projects must exceed federal and state clean-water permitting regulations. This page includes links to information useful to contractors currently doing business with EEP, or seeking to do business with the program.

Consultants and contractors interested in working with the EEP on restoration design, construction or local watershed planning projects also should visit the State Construction Office and State Interactive Purchasing System websites for information about state policies and current requests for services.