Metropolitan Planning Organizations, Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization  


  • Request for Qualifications Professional Environmental Consulting Service

    EPA Brownfields Assessment Program

    The Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) has received a $1,000,000 Brownfields Coalition Assessment Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is requesting Statements of Qualifications from an experienced environmental consultants/consultant teams to assist with the management and/or execution of this grant for a contract period of approximately three years. The MPO supports diversity in its employees and consultants and therefore encourages qualified minority and disadvantaged firms to apply.

    All submittals shall become property of the MPO and the information therein will be subject to release pursuant to the public records laws of the State of Florida.

    Project Overview

    Brownfields are defined as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. The MPO has received a grant for hazardous-substance and petroleum contamination assessments. The MPO will be the Lead Coalition Partner and will manage the grant on behalf of the other US 41 Tamiami Trail Brownfields Coalition Partners including Manatee and Sarasota counties, and the cities of Palmetto, Bradenton, Sarasota, Venice, and North Port. Grant funds will be used to identify and inventory brownfields sites, conduct Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), plan for remediation and reuse of assessed sites, perform outreach activities to involve the communities in the decision-making process, provide programmatic support and develop a public health monitoring plan.

    Scope of Work

    The MPO is seeking a qualified consultant(s)/consultant team(s) with the ability to manage, provide, oversee, and/or perform the following services in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 104(k):

    1.     Assist with all grant activities to ensure compliance with EPA and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requirements while achieving the MPO’s objectives.

    2.     Serve as technical liaison between the MPO, the Manatee County and Sarasota County Health Departments, the EPA and the FDEP.

    3.     Negotiate assessment requirements on the MPO’s behalf with EPA and FDEP.

    4.     Communicate progress regularly to the MPO, EPA and FDEP.

    5.     Participate in public involvement activities as directed by the MPO.

    6.     Assist in the development of an inventory of potential brownfield properties within the designated target areas.

    7.     Prepare Property Profile Forms for sites designated for assessment activity.

    8.     Perform and complete Phase I and Phase II ESAs at designated sites.

    9.     Provide management and technical oversight as needed.

    10.   Prepare a Quality Management Plan (QMP) as required.

    11.   Prepare Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP) according to EPA and FDEP requirements for sites that require Phase II ESAs.

    12.   Prepare an Environmental Health and Safety Plan (HASP) when a Phase II ESA will be performed.

    13.   Assist with preparing and negotiating Brownfield Site Rehabilitation Agreements (BSRA) as needed.

    14.   Conduct or oversee site-specific risk assessments as needed for designated sites where Phase II ESAs have been completed.

    15.   Develop integrated cleanup and redevelopment plans as needed for designated sites using risk-based corrective action.

    16.   Prepare monthly reports documenting activities and prepare quarterly reports to be submitted to EPA and reports as required by FDEP.

    17.   Prepare all necessary reporting forms to be submitted to the EPA on behalf of the MPO.

    18.   Complete and distribute a final closeout report summarizing all grant activities.

    Schedule

    The project start date is October 1, 2011. Estimated time for the completion of the project is 3 years.

    Project Deliverables

    The selected consultant(s)/consultant team(s) will deliver the following reports/plans to the MPO in conjunction with the scope of work:

    1.     Monthly and Quarterly Reports.

    2.     Entry of information into the Federal Stimulus Online Tracking System.

    3.     Entry of information into EPA Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES).

    4.     Site Inventory.

    5.     Property Profile Forms for each site assessed.

    6.     Generic QAPP.

    7.     Site-specific QAPP Addendum for each property where a Phase II ESA will be performed.

    8.     QMP if required by EPA or DEP.

    9.     Environmental HASP where a Phase II ESA will be performed.

    10.   Risk Assessment Reports.

    11.   Cleanup and Redevelopment Plans.

    12.   Close-out Report.

    Consultant Selection

    The MPO will select a consultant(s)/consultant team(s) based on individual(s) or firm(s) capabilities; past like or similar project experience; key staff assigned to the project; and knowledge of the geographic areas represented by the coalition partners. All selected consultants, team member firms and subcontractors must be registered to do business in the State of Florida.

    The selected consultant(s)/consultant team(s) will have extensive experience managing EPA Brownfields Assessment projects and other EPA Grants and Programs within EPA Region 4 and the State of Florida as well as familiarity with the FDEP rules, regulations and procedures.

    Selected consultant(s)/consultant team(s) will demonstrate a good working knowledge and experience with meeting ASTM International Phase I and Phase II ESA requirements and with EPA and FDEP requirements and regulations.

    Preferred Qualifications

    1.     At least five (5) years of experience working on EPA Brownfields Projects within EPA Region 4 in Florida at hazardous-substance and petroleum sites including experience with conducting Phase I/Phase II ESAs, preparation of Quality Management Plans, Quality Assurance Project Plans, Work Plans, Health and Safety Plans, facilitating community involvement, and preparing Remedial/Corrective Action Plans.

    2.     Personnel with at least five (5) years of experience working in or with city or local governments addressing economic redevelopment issues.

    3.     Five (5) years of environmental consulting experience working in the State of Florida.

    4.     One professionally registered geologist and/or one professionally registered engineer in the State of Florida.

    Responses to this Request for Qualifications shall include the following:

    1.     Consultant/Consultant Team’s Qualifications and Capabilities:

            Describe the qualifications and capabilities of the consultant as they relate to the management of EPA grants, brownfields projects, grant applications, grants management, FDEP’s Brownfields Redevelopment Programs, Enterprise Florida, Inc.’s Brownfields Programs and the demonstrated ability to provide technical oversight of multiple subcontractors.

    2.     Past Project Experience:

            Include summaries of relevant brownfields projects completed in Florida. Summarize the scope of work, and provide client contact information for verification of performance.

    3.     Key Staff Assigned to the Project:

            Identify specific personnel that will be assigned to the following key roles for the project: Project Manager and Lead Technical Staff members. Personnel identified in the proposal must be the principal staff that will work on the project and represent the majority of hours billed to the project. Consultants/Consultant Teams must provide organizational chart and resumes for the Project Manager and the Lead Technical Staff members. Resumes shall not exceed three (3) pages in length. Project staff must meet all local, state, and federal requirements to perform work. Certified or licensed professionals (e.g., Professional Geologist, Professional Engineer, etc.) must be used to perform work as required.

    Point Scoring

    Responses will be evaluated based on the following criteria. The maximum possible score for each section follows.

    1.     Company background and general statement of your firm’s capabilities (10 points).

    2.     Your firm’s qualifications for performing the work (25 points).

    3.     Qualifications of your staff and key personnel who will be performing the work (include resumes of the key personnel proposed for the project) (20 points).

    4.     Specialized experience with EPA Brownfields Assessment projects in Florida (include at least 5 project examples) (25 points).

    5.     Location of the firm (10 points).

    6.     Knowledge and experience working in the project area (10 points).

    Total Maximum Possible Score – 100 points

    Submittal Information

    No questions may be directed to, or contacts made with the members of the MPO Board or Staff, or members of coalition partners concerning this project until a consultant(s)/consultant team(s) is selected. Violation of this prohibition may result in the disqualification of the consultant(s)/consultant team(s) from further consideration. The MPO is not obligated to enter into any contract on the basis of any submittal in response to this RFQ. The MPO reserves the right to request additional information from any firm(s) submitting under this RFQ if the MPO deems such information necessary to further evaluate the qualifications. The MPO reserves the right to interview any consultant(s)/consultant team(s) submitting under this RFQ or to request a formal presentation by one or more firms. Consultant(s)/consultant team(s) shall be responsible for all costs associated with the submittal.

    Any questions concerning the RFQ should be directed in writing to: Mr. Michael Maholtz, Brownfields Project Director, Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization at the address indicated below, or by e-mail: mike@mympo.org by 4:00 p.m., September 14, 2011. Responses, if any, will be posted on the MPO’s website: www.mympo.org.

    The MPO reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to reject all submissions, reissue a subsequent RFQ, terminate, restructure or amend this procurement process at any time. This RFQ is not a bid request, nor a request for a full proposal. Evaluation criteria contained herein shall be used in evaluating qualifications. The MPO may contact any consultant(s)/ consultant team(s) after receiving its submittal to seek clarification of any portion thereof.

    This RFQ shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida. Selected consultants/consultant teams agree to subject themselves to the jurisdiction and venue of the Circuit Courts in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, Florida as to all matters and disputes that may arise under this RFQ.

    Responses to this RFQ must include ten (10) bound copies and must be clearly marked on the outside: Consultant for Brownfields Assessment Project.

    The selection of the Consultant will be based upon a review and scoring of the Statement of Qualifications by a selection committee and approval by the MPO Board.

    The Statement of Qualifications should not exceed fifty (50) pages. Font must not be less than 12 points. Please attach a cover letter including the company name, contact person and title, address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address.

    The deadline for submissions is 4:00 p.m., September 16, 2011. Qualifications received after this date and time will not be considered. Qualification packages should be directed to:

    Sarasota Manatee MPO Consultant for Brownfields Assessment Project, Attn.: Michael Maholtz, Brownfields Project Director, 7632 – 15th Street East, Sarasota, FL 34243.

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