Applicability

Is the application for restoration with TYPICAL oysters; AND from an applicant that has actively managed a commercial oyster growing operation for the past two consecutive years; AND are the restoration site and farm in the same bio-security zone; AND Is the applicant willing to have a random inspection of their restoration bags? To be eligible, participant must have an active boat registration, vessel stabilization equipment and must have access to at least two members at deployment.

1. YES — Points: 0
2. NO — Points: 0

Category Question 

Select the bio-security zone for your project: (Planners to review the bio-security layer in CD against their project location). APPLICATIONS WILL BE SELECTED IN RANKING ORDER AND BASED ON AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. NOT ALL BIO-ZONES MAY MOVE FORWARD.

1. Ninigret Pond  — Points: 0
2. Otherwise - No Site Available in FY26 — Points: 0

Program Questions 

1. If the participant self-certified as a Beginning Farmer Rancher (BFR), how many years have they been farming? Choose only ONE response.
   1. 0-3 — Points: 6
   2. 4-6 — Points: 8
   3. 7-10 — Points: 10
   4. Not Applicable — Points: 0
2. Did the participant self-certify as a Veteran Farmer or Rancher (VFR)?
   1. YES — Points: 15
   2. NO — Points: 0
3. Did the participant self-certify as a Limited Resource Farmer or Rancher (LFR)?
   1. YES — Points: 15
   2. NO — Points: 0
4. Did the participant self-certify as a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher (SDFR)?
   1. YES — Points: 15
   2. NO — Points: 0
5. Is this application for a TYPICAL site; AND is the participant NEW to the EQIP Spat on Shell Oyster Reef Restoration Initiative? 
   1. YES — Points: 113
   2. NO — Points: 0
6. Select the appropriate level of habitat density developed by producers to address aquatic habitat resource concern. Look at prior oyster reef restoration implementation projects completed by producer during the past 3 consecutive years (2023-2025). Numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000 oysters.
   1. Not Applicable — Points: 0
   2. Tier 1: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by minimum density of habitat created. The average number of oysters deployed was at least the target (225,000 oysters per year) and less than 250,000 during 1 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice?  — Points: 5
   3. Tier 2: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by very low density of habitat created. The average number of oysters deployed was at least the target (225,000 oysters per year) and less than 250,000 during 2 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice?  — Points: 10
   4. Tier 3: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by low density of habitat created. The average number of oysters deployed was at least the target (225,000 oysters per year) and less than 250,000 during 3 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice — Points: 16
   5. Tier 4: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by moderately low density of habitat created. The average number of oysters deployed was within the range of 250,000 - 275,000 during 1 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice — Points: 23
   6. Tier 5: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by moderate density of habitat created. The average number of oysters deployed was within the range of 250,000 - 275,000 during the 2 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice — Points: 31
   7. Tier 6: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by moderately high density of habitat created. The average number of oysters deployed was within the range of 250,000 - 275,000 during the 3 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice — Points: 40
   8. Tier 7: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by high habitat density created. The average number of oysters deployed was greater than 275,000 oysters per year during 1 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice — Points: 50
   9. Tier 8: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by very high density of habitat created. The average number of oysters deployed was greater than 275,000 oysters per year during 2 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice — Points: 61
   10. Tier 9: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by maximum habitat density created. The average number of oysters deployed was greater than 275,000 oysters per year during 3 of the 3 highest performing years out of 6 years of the previously completed practice — Points: 73
7. Select the appropriate level of three dimensional habitat (oyster height) developed by producers to address aquatic habitat resource concern. Look at prior oyster reef restoration implementation projects completed by producer during the past 3 consecutive years (2023-2025). Numbers are rounded to the nearest 100 oysters per size bin.
   1. Not Applicable — Points: 0
   2. Tier 1: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by very low 3-D habitat created.  The greatest proportion of oysters deployed during 1 out of 3 of the highest 3 years were greater than the minimum size threshold (0.5 inches), but less than 1 inch in size — Points: 5
   3. Tier 2: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by low 3-D habitat created. The greatest proportion of oysters deployed during 2 out of 3 of the highest 3 years were greater than the minimum size threshold (0.5 inches), but less than 1 inch in size — Points: 11
   4. Tier 3: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by moderate 3-D habitat created. The greatest proportion of oysters deployed during 3 out of 3 of the highest 3 years were greater than the minimum size threshold (0.5 inches), but less than 1 inch in size — Points: 18
   5. Tier 4: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by moderately high 3-D habitat created. The greatest proportion of oysters deployed during 1 out of 3 of the highest 3 years were at least 1 inch in size — Points: 26
   6. Tier 5: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by very high 3-D habitat created. The greatest proportion of oysters deployed during 2 out of 3 of the highest 3 years were at least 1 inch in size — Points: 35
   7. Tier 6: Aquatic habitat resource concern addressed by maximum 3-D habitat created. The greatest proportion of oysters deployed during 3 out of 3 of the highest 3 years were at least 1 inch in size — Points: 45
8. Does the participants grow-out-overwinter plan demonstrate that they have adequate habitat resources, specifically sufficient lease space and gear, to support at least 5-6 cubic yards of spat-on-shell while minimizing oyster mortality?
   1. YES — Points: 27
   2. NO — Points: 0
9. In previous oyster restorations, the participant did NOT meet the target oyster number, (for reasons within their control), (for reasons within their control), but DID meet the minimum threshold (80% of target) and was allowed to deploy?
   1. Yes — Points: -50
   2. N/A — Points: 0
10. In last two years of oyster EQIP contract, the participant did NOT meet the program requirements (i.e. contract violation) OR was NOT allowed to deploy for reasons within their control, (i.e. not meeting practice implementation requirements or specifications)?
    1. Yes — Points: -200
    2. No — Points: 0

Resource Questions 

1. Has the participant committed to obtaining spat or seed from hatcheries offering approved lineages of C. virginica to meet resource conservation objectives?
   1. Yes — Points: 35
   2. No — Points: 0
2. Is the participant willing to address aquatic habitat resource concern by using a higher percentage of oyster shell in the bags used to set larvae and thus creating a more dense habitat? Note: Planner must notify participant that if they answer "yes", not meeting this criterion will be considered a violation of the contract.
   1. Most dense habitat created: Participant will use 76-100% Oyster Shells in the bags used to set larvae — Points: 55
   2. Moderately dense habitat created: Participant will use 50-75% Oyster Shells in the bags used to set larvae — Points: 25
   3. Participant is NOT interested in participating under this criteria — Points: 0
3. Is participant willing to address aquatic habitat resource concern by using a higher percentage of oyster shell in cultch used to build reef base and thus increasing the recruitment of native oysters in the area? Note: Planner must notify participant that if they answer "yes", not meeting this criterion will be considered a violation of the contract. 
   1. Most recruitment likely: Participant will use 76-100% oyster shells in the cultch? — Points: 55
   2. Moderate recruitment likely: Participant will use 50-75% oyster shells in cultch? — Points: 25
   3. Participant is NOT interested in participating under this criteria — Points: 0
4. Does the participant have documented proof of vessel safety compliance (certificate/decal) or a scheduled inspection for the application year, confirming readiness for resource-based habitat restoration work?
   1. Participant has a current/non-expired Commercial Fishing Vessel Dockside Safety Certification, and agrees to maintain a current certification throughout the life of the EQIP contract — Points: 55
   2. Participant will obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Dockside Safety Certification prior to June 1 of year of deployment, and this certification will be maintained throughout the life of the EQIP contract — Points: 30
   3. Participant has a current/non-expired Commercial Fishing Vessel Dockside Safety Certification but cannot commit to maintaining this certification throughout the life of the EQIP contract — Points: 5
   4. Participant is not interested in obtaining a Commercial Fishing Vessel Dockside Safety Certification — Points: 0