Community Development Agency
www.santa-ana.org/community-development
Item # 24
City of Santa Ana
20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701
Staff Report
June 4, 2024
TOPIC: On-Call Environmental Review Services for Federally Funded Programs
AGENDA TITLE
On-Call Environmental Review Services Agreements with Rincon Consultants, Inc. and Chambers Group, Inc.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Authorize the City Manager to execute agreements with Rincon Consultants, Inc. and Chambers Group, Inc. to provide on-call environmental review consulting services in an amount not to exceed $100,000 per year, for a total amount not to exceed $500,000, for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2024 and expiring June 30, 2027, with an option of two, one-year extensions (Agreement No. A-2024-XXX and A-2024-XXX).
GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes
DISCUSSION
As an entitlement jurisdiction, the City receives an annual allocation of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds, and Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) funds from the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Housing Authority also receives funding from HUD for the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) Program. All projects and programs funded by these federal grants must undergo National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessments and/or reviews.
On March 11, 2024, the City of Santa Ana issued a Request for Proposals (RFP #24- 038A) to retain on-call environmental consultants to provide environmental assessments and/or reviews on an as-needed basis. The RFP was posted on the City's PlanetBids portal and a total of 51 firms were notified who had previously requested to be informed of such opportunities as well as other firms that staff identified through research. The deadline for the submission of complete applications was Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
The Community Development Agency received nine proposals before the submission deadline, which, following a minimum threshold review by staff, met the minimum application requirements of the RFP. For the evaluation of the proposals received under
On-Call Environmental Review Services for Federally Funded Programs June 4, 2024
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2 1
the RFP, staff formed a review panel consisting of four staff from the Community Development Agency.
The review panel met on Monday, April 8, 2024 to review the proposals and then again on Friday, April 19, 2024. Each proposal was evaluated by the review panel based only upon the evaluation criteria in the RFP. The following table summarizes the results of the evaluation by the review panel, providing the average score and ranking for each proposal:
Rank Proposal Submitted By Average Score*
1 Rincon Consultants, Inc. 90.25
2 Chambers Group, Inc. 87.50
3 PSOMAS, Inc. 83.50
4 Ultra Systems 83.50
5 Infrastructure Engineers 80.75
6 SAGECREST 80.50
7 Michael Baker International 79.00
8 WILLDAM 72.25
9 Montrose Environmental 70.50
* Maximum score was 100 points
The top-ranked proposals were from Rincon Consultants, Inc. and Chambers Group, Inc. Following this procurement process, staff recommends that the City enter into an on-call agreement with these top two firms (Exhibits # 1 and 2). Approval of this recommended action will allow staff to comply with NEPA and HUD by conducting the environmental reviews and assessments for projects and programs funded by the CDBG, HOME, ESG, and the HCV Program.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available in the federal grant account programs shown below in the proposed FY 2024-25 City Budget for City Council consideration. The amounts below are estimated projections and are subject to change.
Accounting
Unit-Account Fund Description Accounting Unit, Account
Description Amount
13018780-
62300 HOME Program HOME, Contract Services-
Professional $45,000
13518780-
62300
Community
Development Block
Grant
CDBG, Contract Services-
Professional $5,000
13518785-
62300
Emergency
Solutions Grant
ESG, Contract Services-
Professional $5,000
14018760-
62300
Housing Choice
Vouchers
HCV, Contract Services-
Professional $45,000
Total: $100,000
On-Call Environmental Review Services for Federally Funded Programs June 4, 2024
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EXHIBITS
1. Consultant Agreement with Rincon Consultants, Inc.
2. Consultant Agreement with Chambers Group, Inc.
Submitted By: Michael L. Garcia, Executive Director of Community Development Approved By: Alvaro Nuñez, Acting City Manager