NOTICE TO BIDDERS

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) on behalf of the Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission issues this RFP for Business Plan to Determine the Feasibility of a Central Pine Barrens Nature Center.

Deadline for submission - Your proposal must be submitted, not later than July 12, 2024, 11:00 a.m., EST. Bids will only be accepted electronically; prospective bidders must submit their bids via the following website: www.BidNetDirect.com/new-york

Request for Proposal (RFP) documents are available for you to download by login into the following websites: www.scwa.com or www.BidNetDirect.com/new-york. Questions and answers will also be posted on the public websites noted above.

Minority and Women Owned Businesses are encouraged to bid.

Overview of Project

The Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission (CPBC) requests proposals from qualified consultants with extensive experience with the preparation of business plans for interpretive nature centers. The business plan must evaluate the feasibility of the creation of a state-of-the-art, sustainably designed, interpretive nature center (Center) located within the 106,000-acre Central Pine Barrens (CPB) region in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York for Commission purposes.

The center will function as an educational and interpretive nature center that will include the CPBC's operational headquarters with offices for Commission staff and meeting facilities.

Project services requested include planning, project management, GIS analysis, public outreach, programmatic needs analysis, market analysis, and other services as identified in the Scope of Work. The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) provides administrative services under contract to the CPBC and therefore on behalf of the CPBC is acting as its Purchasing agent for this Request for Proposals (RFP). All responses to this proposal must be submitted to the Suffolk County Water Authority Director of Purchasing as indicated in this proposal. The project shall be for a 12 (twelve) month period for an anticipated cost not to exceed $40,000.

Proposal Instructions/ Deadline for Submission: Proposals will be accepted electronically; prospective bidders must submit their proposals via the following website: www.BidNetDirect.com/new-york. Proposals will be received by the Purchasing Manager of said Authority not later than 11:00 a.m. EST on July 12, 2024.

The Suffolk County Water Authority pursuant to an agreement with the Commission provides administrative and back-office support to the Commission. SCWA issues this RFP on behalf of the Commission under this agreement.

Each proposal must include a firm overview, client list, relevant history, and qualifications. Interested bidders are invited to submit via e-mail or through BidNet, any questions on this RFP to Mr. John Deubel, Purchasing Manager at John.Deubel@scwa.com. Questions and answers pertaining to this proposal may be viewed at www.scwa.com by clicking on Vendors. Contractors must be registered and must log in to access contract documents, questions, answers and addenda. It shall be the bidder's responsibility to regularly check the websites, www.BidNetDirect.com/new-york for updated questions and answers, or addenda. Questions must be received no later than 11:00 a.m., three (3) business days prior to bid date.

Bids physically delivered to the SCWA, facsimiles, or emails of unsealed proposals will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Project Schedule

The following Project Schedule is provided for information only. Suffolk County Water Authority/ Central Pine Barrens reserves the option of amending the schedule as deemed necessary.

RFP Transmitted to Proposers Close of Contractor Questions RFP due Date Contract Award Date

June 14, 2024

July 9, 2024

July 12, 2024 TBD

Background

A. Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission

The CPBC was created by the New York State legislature with the adoption of the 1993 the Long Island Pine Barrens Protection Act (the "Act"), later codified in Article 57 of the New York State Environmental Conservation Law. The principal goals of the Act are the protection of groundwater which serves as the drinking water supply for the residents of Suffolk County and the protection of threatened landscapes within the pine barrens. The Act created the CPBC, a State entity with a five-member board composed of representatives from New York State, Suffolk County, and the Towns of Brookhaven, Riverhead and Southampton. The Act and the land use plan charge the Commission with the combined duties of a state agency, a planning board and a park commission. In 1995, the CPBC adopted its Comprehensive Land Use Plan governing land use in the CPS.

For further information on the Commission and its work, visit https://pb.state.ny.us.

As the Commission's activities and scope of services have evolved over its 31-year existence, it is appropriate to investigate whether it is feasible to develop its own facility to house the Commission, its staff, office facilities and equipment, but more importantly serve as an important educational, nature-based community hub for learning about all things related to the CPB.

B. Regional Setting

The CPBC has jurisdiction over land use in the Central Pine Barrens. The CPB occupies portions of the central and eastern Suffolk County on Long Island. It contains portions of eastern Brookhaven Town, western Southampton Town and southern Riverhead Town (see location maps in Appendix A). The CPB is divided into a Core Preservation Area (CPA) in which development is restricted and a Compatible Growth Area (CGA) that generally surrounds the CPA and serves as a buffer or transition area to the CPA. Development is permitted in the CGA, but it must adhere to land use restrictions in the 1995 Central Pine Barrens Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

C. Commission Mission

To manage land use within the Central Pine Barrens to protect its vital groundwater and surface water and the region's vast and significant natural, agricultural, historical, cultural and recreational resources for current and future Long Island residents.

For the full RFP and Submission requirements visit www.scwa.com or www.bidnetdirect.com/new-york