Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Department of General Services

Real Estate Services Division

Project Management and Development Branch

The Department of General Services (DGS), Real Estate Services Division (RESD), Project Management and Development Branch (PMDB) is requesting Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from Environmental Planning firms, pursuant to Government Code §4525 et. seq.

I. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

RESD-PMDB 2023-26 HUMBOLDT DEL NORTE UNIT HEADQUARTERS
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY & FIRE PROTECTION (CALFIRE)
410 4th AVENUE
RIO DELL, HUMBODLT COUNTY, CALIFORNIA 95562

CalFire propose to demolish the existing two structures and then construct a new Region Unit Headquarters at 410 4th Ave in Rio Dell CA. New construction includes: an emergency command center, Fire Station with dozer and dozer transport storage building, other support buildings, covered parking with photovoltaic panels, telecommunication tower, infrastructure/utilities, septic system, domestic water well, water storage tanks, site lighting and fencing, site work, and landscaping and irrigation installation. The project will be a design, bid, build delivery method. The project is approximately 18 acres.

The estimated cost of construction is approximately $39,423,000.

The estimated duration of this contract will be five (5) years.

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The successful firm shall provide professional services and prepare environmental clearance documents and studies as required to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Public Resources Code (PRC) §§ 5024 and 5024.5, and all other relevant environmental laws and regulations, as an environmental consultant for the above referenced project.

The contractor will be expected to provide related support documentation for the environmental review process, assist with securing any necessary State and/or Federal project permits, and assist in preparation and implementation of the mitigation monitoring and reporting plan. The Contractor may provide additional professional environmental services normally and logically associated with, but not limited to, evaluation of applicable Management Plans in the context of how they would affect project design, assistance in coordinating and facilitating meetings, and provide environmental information and analysis. The Contractor will provide these environmental services as defined by, and in conformance with Section 4525(f) of the Government Code.

CEQA/NEPA Environmental Document Expertise. The Contractor shall demonstrate an expert knowledge of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and associated, field surveys, technical memos, and studies. Experience in the preparation of a wide range of environmental documents, to include environmental impact reports, initial studies, and mitigated negative declarations will be a critical selection factor.

The Contractor shall have available a regulatory specialist being a CEQA expertise attorney with expert testimony witness experience and litigation support.

Because federal agencies will have a role in this project review, the Contractor should have demonstrable ability to address State and federal statutory requirements and standards in preparing the environmental documentation.

Contractor must have knowledge of applicable State and federal laws and permits including, but not limited to, the process for obtaining a Streambed Alteration Agreement, Section 7/10 permits, 401/404 permits, various wetland/site grading permits and other possible environmental requirements. Knowledge of the requirements of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System for municipal stormwater and urban runoff discharge will also be important.

Interagency Coordination. Due to the project taking place on Department of Transportation (Caltrans) right-of-way and some sites being in and/or adjacent to Bureau of Land Management (BLM) property. The Contractor should demonstrate ability to work with multiple State and Federal Agencies simultaneously. Contractor should also demonstrate knowledge of Caltrans' project development process and environmental requirements.

Agriculture Resources. Contractor should demonstrate experience in determining whether impacts to agricultural resources are significant environmental effects in assessing impacts on agriculture and farmland pertaining to converting Prime Farmland, Unique Farmland, or Farmland of Statewide Importance involving changes to the existing environment which, due to their location or nature, could result in conversion of Farmland to non-agricultural use.

Community Planning. The Contractor should be able to offer expertise in and knowledge of community planning. This includes analysis of land-use compatibility, general and specific plan processes, evaluating project effects on community plan policies and values, public services and utilities analysis, and demographics analysis.

Cultural Resource Analysis. The Contractor should demonstrate experience in preparation of prehistoric and historic studies for development, site selection, and restoration projects. This includes the ability to conduct full archaeological evaluations and supporting documentation, to evaluate historic structures, and to provide recordation of both prehistoric and historic materials. The Contractor should have knowledge of relevant State and federal laws, regulations, including AB 52 requirements as identified in CEQA section 21082.3(d), and related protocols such as those for the consultation process for the State Office of Historic Preservation and federal historic preservation agencies, the Secretary of Interior Standards, Section 106 of the Historic Preservation Act, and the Historic American Building Survey/Historic American Engineering Record procedures.

Graphics and Visual Simulation. The Contractor should be able to offer assistance in the preparation of graphical materials for use in environmental reports and/or presentations, including site maps, visual simulations, sun and shadow analysis, and resource mapping.

Natural/Biological Resource Expertise. The Contractor should demonstrate broad experience in preparation of natural resource assessments typically used in environmental documents and other baseline project studies, especially for biological resources. Contractor should have a good working knowledge of common habitat types and species that occur throughout California, and familiarity with the State and federally-listed threatened and endangered species typically associated with California. Contractor should have knowledge of wetlands identification and delineation, site inventory techniques, consultation procedures with federal and State agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, as well as the preparation of restoration plans and assistance with mitigation banking.

Noise. The Contractor should be able to offer expertise in the preparation of typical acoustical analysis needed in environmental documents. This includes assessment of existing site and community noise levels, modeling project-induced sound levels, and identification of noise mitigation techniques and measures.

Public Participation and Community Outreach. The Contractor should demonstrate experience in the preparation of public participation materials, organizing public workshops, and providing specialized community involvement assistance and proficient in bilingual communication. The Contractor should be able to create public awareness materials as they relate to the environmental planning process and the community outreach process. Inform target audiences of projects, help the public understand construction activities and construction related impacts.

Traffic/Transportation Analysis. The Contractor should demonstrate experience in traffic and transportation studies typically used in environmental documents and include the reforms identified in Senate Bill 743 to provide an alternative analysis to Level of Service for evaluating transportation impacts. This includes related expertise in trip generation rates; vehicle miles travelled (VMT), travel pattern analysis; level-of-services analysis; traffic congestion planning; transportation demand management, parking analysis; traffic signal warrant analysis; transit corridor planning; peak hour traffic evaluation; and schematic design of intersection, roadway, and project entrance improvements. Contractors should have knowledge of State and federal laws, local traffic regulations, and typical commute/transportation management plans.

Water Quality. Contractor shall have knowledge of water quality and stormwater permits, regulations and policies, and expertise in the preparation and implementation of Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), and water quality testing and monitoring.

These examples of environmental expertise are only provided to assist each potential contractor in the formation of their respective retainer environmental services team. Respondents are also encouraged to clearly delineate the person(s) that will be responsible for being the lead contact with the State and the availability of the firm to respond in a timely manner to service requests.

A Contractor will be selected on the basis of written responses to this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and an oral interview.