Professional Consulting Services         
Request for Qualifications

Submit to:
Union County Board of County Commissioners

15 Northeast 1st Street
Lake Butler, Florida 32054
RFQ DUE DATE: October 10, 2019

Introduction

The Union County Board of Commissioners invites interested parties to submit statements of qualification and experience to provide environmental and engineering consulting services for the development of Union County’s Brownfields program.

Union County is seeking to retain a firm or team with documented experience providing:

• Brownfields grant writing for EPA programs
• Phase I & II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
• Cleanup planning and remediation design
• Grant programmatic assistance
• Community engagement support
• Other services related to EPA Assessment and Cleanup Grants

The resulting contract will be for the duration of three years, and the Union County may amend or extend this contract beyond the initial three years to accommodate the terms and conditions of any future EPA grants awarded to the Union County.

The selected consultant will provide support in the identification of potential funding sources and will assist the Union County in the researching, writing, and submission of grant applications.

The goal of the Union County is to select an environmental consulting firm to partner with the Union County from the beginning all the way to completion of the project.

The objectives of the Union County and this RFQ are to complete the following:

• Assisting the Union County with grant writing, implementation, and management of the Brownfields Project and Grant Program
• Identify and pursue future Brownfields funding and resources
• Encourage community involvement in the Brownfields process
• Leverage state brownfields program benefits
• Prepare a plan to remove construction debris from site
• Assist the County in a redevelopment plan for the property

Statements of Qualifications are due no later than 4:00 p.m. EST, on October 10, 2019.  Submissions may be hand delivered to the Union County or sent by US Mail or private courier. 

Note: Questions regarding this RFQ must be submitted in writing to [email protected]. no later than close of business by October 10, 2019.

1. Scope of Work

All anticipated and future work performed by the selected firm will be in compliance with EPA grant Terms and Conditions. The consultant will be expected to perform the following tasks on an as-needed basis:

1. Grant Preparation and Administration: The consultant will be asked to take the lead in the preparation and submission of an EPA Assessment and or Cleanup Grant(s) application (s) with input and review by the Union County. Included in this task is the collection of data required in the grant application(s), meeting with existing community groups and assisting in the identification of potential properties or areas to be included in application(s). Once grants have been awarded, the consultant will, with the Union County’s help and guidance, provide grant management and implement the grant
2. Site Characterization and Assessment Activities: As part of the work, the consultant will be asked to complete Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments reports. Included in this task is development of the following plans:
   1. Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)
   2. Site specific Quality Assurance Project Plans (SS-QAPPs)
   3. Health and Safety Plans (HASP)
   4. Site investigation reports
3. Community Involvement Assistance: The consultant will be asked to support the Union County in public involvement and community outreach activities to ensure that the community concerns are considered and addressed in the assessment planning and execution of the The following activities may be included:
   1. Develop a community engagement plan that details a strategy for involving the community in Brownfields activities
   2. Conduct public meetings and hearings to solicit community interest and provide educational information
   3. Develop and implement effective methods of communication information about the Brownfields Program to the public (website, information sheets, mailings, )
   4. Meet with land owners, developers and any other stake holders interested in Brownfields

4. Cleanup and Development Planning: The Consultant will be asked to complete site-specific cleanup and redevelopment planning documents, including Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA), site remediation work plans, conceptual redevelopment site plans, etc. In addition, the Consultant may be asked to conduct community visioning sessions, charrettes, and/or workshops to solicit input and generate redevelopment options regarding the redevelopment of specific properties. The Consultant may also assist in the negotiation of brownfield agreements with the state regulatory
5. Other Brownfield Related Duties: Other duties may be required for a successful program, but have not been anticipated in this call for

III.           Response Format/Evaluation Criteria

One (1) original and four (4) copies of the statements of qualifications and experience shall be submitted in addition to one electronic copy on a CD or flash drive. The submittal shall include a cover letter, not to exceed two pages and not considered part of the narrative.

The proposal narrative shall be no longer than 50 pages and shall include the information outlined below, excluding any required forms. Required forms will not be required in the referenced page count.

To ensure fair and equitable evaluation, proposals must be organized into the following separate sections.

1.0                Experience and Capacity

The response shall include a summary of the following:

• History of the firm’s experience providing Brownfields services as described herein
• Successful Brownfields grant writing experience
• Brownfields grant programmatic experience/capacity
• Description of the firm’s organizational structure and the names and experience of key individuals who will be involved in the successful execution of the grant funded The response shall include an organization chart
• Documented experience working with EPA Brownfields Project Officers and State regulatory agencies
• Project approach
• Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest
• Documentation of insurance

2.0       References

The response shall include at least four (4) references for similar services that have been provided by your firm and the dates of service. Please include the reference name, company, email address, and phone number. Also, include a description of the services provided.

3.0       Proposed Methodology

A description of how the firm will complete the scope of work described herein. Include a description of the relevant services provided by you firm. Finally, include a concise statement of why your firm should be selected by the Union County.

IV.             Selection Criteria

The responding firms will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Experience and ability of firm to complete the work (20%)
• Demonstrated Brownfields experience including successful grant writing and administration along with a demonstrated ability to work with EPA and State Agencies (20%)
• Approach and understanding of the scope of work (15%)
• Proven track record of community engagement (15%)
• Experience of key personnel (10%)
• Quality of past performance on EPA Brownfield projects (20%)

Oral presentations to the Union County may be requested. The request for an oral presentation shall in no way constitute acceptance or imply that an agreement is pending. The Union County reserves the right to award this opportunity based on the initial RFQ response without oral presentations. The Union County will only select one firm under this request for qualifications.

The Union County reserves the right to reject any and all responses and to make an award that is in the best interest of the Union County.  Firms not selected will be notified in writing by the Union County.