Request for Proposals for Professional Services
INTRODUCTION
The City of Gonzales is located 17 miles south of Salinas and is in the heart of the 90-mile long Salinas Valley. The City of Gonzales is called the Wine Capital of Monterey County and the 2020 Federal Census lists a population of 8,647. The city prides itself on being a net-importer of jobs due to the city’s Industrial Business Park attracting a variety of agricultural-related businesses. More information about the city can be found at our website: www.GonzalesCA.gov.
Project Scope:
The City of Gonzales is soliciting a Request for Proposal (RFP) from experienced and qualified planning and/or environmental consultants to provide California Environmental Quality Act and National Environmental Policy Act (“CEQA/NEPA”) services for the proposed Gonzales Community Center Complex project. The selected Consultant shall prepare the necessary and appropriate CEQA/NEPA document, assist with the public review period and adoption of the appropriate environmental documents for CEQA/NEPA clearance for the Gonzales Community Center Complex Project.
The scope of work may include, but is not limited to the following:
• Preparation of CEQA/NEPA documentation according to all applicable State and local requirements, including all notices, Initial Study, Negative Declaration (“ND”), Mitigated Negative Declaration (“MND”), Finding of No Significant Impact or the appropriate document deemed necessary. The consultant will incorporate public comments regarding the potential impacts and analyze ways in which any significant effects/impacts of the project might be avoided or mitigated, as required by CEQA/NEPA.
• Coordinationwith City staff, Swinerton Management & Consulting (Program and Construction Manager) and Others as required to fully comply with CEQA/NEPA requirements. • The Consultant will prepare, initiate and process applicable documentation as required for the appropriate level of environmental review including the Initial Study, Negative Declaration, and Mitigated Negative Declaration. The documentation will include initial studies, notices, technical reports, exhibits, draft and final documents, including findings, and other documentation that may be necessary, and studies as required in satisfactorily completing the CEQA/NEPA process. • The environmental consultant shall prepare the Initial Study checklist to determine the appropriate CEQA/NEPA documentation for the project. Unless otherwise recommended by the consultant, the format shall be based on the most current CEQA/NEPA requirements and checklist per the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
• Based on the Initial Study, the Consultant shall prepare either an Exemption, ND with or without Mitigation Measures (MND), or appropriate draft document suitable for compliance. • The Consultant will prepare necessary CEQA/NEPA findings for the final adoption of CEQA/NEPA documentation.
Project Background:
In 2021, the City retained Swinerton Management & Consulting (SMC) for program and Construction Management of the Community Center Complex. The project is partially funded with Community Development Block Grant monies and therefore must comply with CEQA/NEPA requirements. Group 4 Architects of South San Francisco is under contract to prepare the Design Criteria documents and to date, Group 4 has produced a number of conceptual layouts for the site.
On September 30, 2021, the City received pre-qualification packages from seven Design/Build Entities (DBEs). The City will shortlist three finalists to compete for the design/build contract, release the Council approved Design Criteria in early January 2022 to the three DBEs and will award an agreement to the winning DBE by June 2022.
Background documents are available at the project webpage https://gonzalesca.gov/engagedcommunity/gonzales-community-center-complex
PROPOSAL CONTENT AND REQUIREMENTS
Your Proposal should include the following:
Cover Letter - Provide the following information:
1. Firm name, office location(s), telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of the main contact(s).
2. Staff person we can contact regarding the Proposal
3. Number of years the firm has performed related professional services
4. Type of organization: individual, partnership, corporation, other (please specify).
5. Indicate if your firm has any conflicts of interest related to your current contracts.
Technical Approach
1. Provide a detailed summary of the services your firmcan provide to the city
2. State why your firm is qualified for this contract
3. Describe how your firm will deliver the needed services Relevant Experience and Qualifications
1. Present your firm’s relevant experience similar in scope to those identified in this RFPwith public agencies.Include the magnitude of the contract scope and cost, the name of the agency these services were provided for, and contact information (address, phone, and email address) for the public agency’s project manager. The proposal should include relevant experience with at least five (5) different public agencies where these services were provided.
2. List of personnel along with their expertise and professional background.
3. Provide specific examples of how the firm has successfully prepared NEPA/CEQA documents for other public agencies. This includes: How does your firm adhere to agreed upon schedules?
4. Extensive knowledge of CEQA and NEPA, including preparation of initial studies, addendums, mitigated negative declarations, and EIRs.
5. Up-to-date knowledge about recent CEQA and NEPA case law and changes to requirements.
The Proposal shall be limited to 30 pages excluding the cover letter and resumes.
SCHEDULE
The RFP schedule is:
Milestone Date
Issue Request for Proposal 10/29/2021
Proposal Submittal Deadline 12/15/2021 at 4:00PM
City Staff reviews Proposals 12/20/2021
Approval of Professional Services Contract at City Council Meeting 1/10/2022 Draft Initial Study/ND with or w/o Mitigations/Findings 01/20/2022 to 04/04/2022 Adoption of final environmental document (Consultant shall agree to final adjusted dates during contract negotiations) By April 18, 2022 Provide two separate sealed envelopes (one for the Proposal and the other for the NTE Fee with Consultant Rate Schedule) inside one larger sealed envelope clearly labeled, “PROPOSALTO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICESFOR COMMUNITY CENTER COMPLEX.”
CONTRACT
The City’s standard consultant agreement is attached. Provide a statement of your ability to execute the city’s consultant agreement and include any desired revisions to the city agreement in the separate envelope transmitting the proposed NTE fee with Consultant Rate Schedule.
SELECTION PROCESS
City staff prefers firms with:
1. More than five years of providing the specified services
2. Knowledgeable staff with strong interpersonal skills
3. Depth of experienced staff
4. Local office in Monterey County
5. Timely invoicing in compliance with the executed agreement Proposals submitted by the deadline will be evaluated based upon qualifications, experience, ability to perform and understanding of the city’s project and staff expectations.
SUBMITTAL OF PROPOSAL
Deliver five printed and bound copies and PDF copies of the Proposal and the NTE Fee with Rate Schedule materials on a thumb drive of your Proposal to:
Patrick Dobbins, Public Works Director/City Engineer
City of Gonzales
PO Box 647
147 Fourth Street
Gonzales, CA 93926
CONTACT INFORMATION
Questions regarding this RFP shall be directed to:
Robert Kagiyama, Project Executive
Swinerton Management & Consulting
2880 Lakeside Drive, Suite 300
Santa Clara, CA 95054
M 415.500.1108
[email protected]
Attachments
1. City’s Standard Consulting Agreement