Hudson River Estuary Program (NYSDEC) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Transcription

1 Hudson River Estuary Program (NYSDEC) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Preliminary Design of a Sustainable Shoreline at the Hudson Shores Park in the City of Watervliet, New York June 9, 2017 The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), in cooperation with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation s (NYSDEC) Hudson River Estuary Program and the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve and their partners, is inviting proposals for design of a Sustainable Shorelines demonstration project at the Hudson Shores Park in the City of Watervliet, New York (see maps and images below). The purpose of this project is to work with project partners to produce permit and construction ready plans for the site that incorporate ecologically enhanced, engineered shoreline treatment(s) that resist erosion, enhance accessibility and recreational use by the public, and improve the habitat value of the site for fish and wildlife species of the Hudson River Estuary. The project design will be consistent with existing Federal and State regulatory requirements and address present day conditions as well as account for projected increases in frequency of extreme storms and sea level rise. The design process will require involvement of stakeholders including the New York State DEC s Hudson River Estuary Program and Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve staff as well as State and Federal regulatory staff and the City of Watervliet, NY. The results of the project will be construction, bid ready engineering plans with project specifications and permit application materials completed. The plans will be accompanied by a final engineering report that describes existing conditions, the proposed shoreline treatment(s), justification for the proposed design including addressing regulatory thresholds, estimated construction and maintenance costs, construction timelines, and implementation recommendations. This request for proposals (RFP) includes information on: I. Overview II. III. IV. Project Goal Scope of Work General Guidelines for Applicants V. Proposal Requirements VI. Submission Process VII. Proposal Evaluation Process VIII. Notification of Awards Page 1 of 22

2 IX. Contacts X. Maps and Photos Appendix A. Title Page Format Appendix B. Overall Budget Table Format Appendix C. Task Based Budget Format Appendix D. Project Evaluation and Scoring Criteria I. Overview NEIWPCC NEIWPCC is a not for profit interstate organization, established by Congress in 1947 to serve and assist its member states individually and collectively by providing coordination, research, public education, training, and leadership in the management and protection of water quality in the New England states and New York. NEIWPCC strives to coordinate activities and forums that encourage cooperation among the states, educate the public about key water quality issues, support research projects, train environmental professionals, and provide overall leadership in the management and protection of water quality. The Hudson River Estuary Program The Hudson River Estuary Program protects and improves the natural and scenic Hudson River watershed for all its residents. The program was created in 1987 and focuses on the tidal Hudson and its adjacent watershed from the federal dam at Troy to upper New York harbor. Its core mission is to ensure clean water; protect and restore fish, wildlife, and their habitats; adapt to climate change; and conserve the world famous scenery. The program is guided by New York State s Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda a forward looking plan, developed through significant community participation up and down the river. The Hudson River Estuary Program achieves real progress through extensive outreach, coordination with state and federal agencies, and public private partnerships. In recent years, the Estuary Program has put increasing staff effort and program resources into helping communities adapt to climate change while also improving the long term resiliency of the ecosystem. The project to be implemented through this RFP carries out portions of Benefit #2, Target #2 and Benefit #6, Target #4 of the Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda. Benefit #2, Target #2 strives to conserve, protect, and enhance river and shoreline habitats using management techniques that promote sustainable shorelines, and develop and disseminate guidance on shoreline protection options to respond to increased frequency of extreme storms and sea level rise. Benefit #6, Target #4 seeks to increase public access to the Hudson. (For specifics on the Estuary Program and its Action Agenda see This RFP also helps to implement Governor Cuomo's climate change priorities as expressed in the January 2013 State of the State address. ( State of the State). These recommendations, designed to make New York more resilient to strong storms and climate change, emphasize strengthening existing infrastructure, rebuilding smarter, encouraging the use of green and natural infrastructure, promoting integrated planning and decision making, and enhancing institutional coordination. Page 2 of 22

3 The NYS DEC s Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve & the Sustainable Shorelines Project DEC s Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve has been leading the Hudson River Sustainable Shorelines Project; a collaborative, science based effort to identify shoreline treatments that protect property while providing habitat for fish, birds and invertebrates that live in natural shoreline habitats. The effort accounts for short and long term costs, human use needs, habitat value and structural stability during present day conditions and predicted conditions associated with climate change and sea level rise. The Sustainable Shorelines Project also facilitates the design and construction of new, innovative shoreline designs as demonstration projects. The Hudson River Estuary Program is a partner in the Sustainable Shorelines Project. For more information on the Reserve and the Sustainable Shorelines Project see: river sustainable shorelines. Hudson Shores Park, Watervliet, NY Site Description The Hudson Shores Park is located in the City of Watervliet, Albany County, New York. It is an approximately 1400 foot length of shoreline on the west side of the Hudson River approximately 1.5 miles south of the Federal Dam at Troy (see map). The northern half of the project area consists of a sandy/gravel freshwater intertidal zone with a steep vegetated bank leading to a public park with maintained lawn, benches, a trail, and pavilion (photos 1 & 2). The bank vegetation is dominated by fast growing invasive shrubs and trees. Park maintenance personnel maintain visual access to the river by cutting back the vegetation annually. Small sections of failure can be found at the bank toe. The intertidal shorezone is accessible to park users by a small informal foot path over the bank, from the park lawn. The southern half of the shoreline runs approximately 600 feet from the NY Route 2 (19 th Street) bridge to the southern park boundary. The shoreline consists of a steep vegetated bank with mature trees and shrubs and engineered shoreline including rip rap and historic bulkhead on the southern end. This section also contains the RPI Crew boat house (photo 3) and a public American Disabilities Act compatible kayak launch (photo 4). Bank erosion is evident at a number of locations. Large rock can be found scattered on the bank and shoreline throughout the entire site (photo 3). Additional site information including high resolution benthic mapping, current and wave data, and upland LiDar mapping as well as natural resource inventory maps and reports are available through the New York State GIS Clearinghouse and the Hudson River Estuary Program and Research Reserve. For more information please see: NYSDEC s Hudson River Estuary Program: NYSDEC s Sustainable Shorelines Project: river sustainable shorelines/ NYSDEC s Sustainable Shorelines Project GIS Information and Data: river sustainable shorelines/spatial information designing shoreline/ NYSDEC s Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Stockport Flats Site Description and Resources: II. Project Goal The goal of this project is to design an ecologically enhanced, engineered shoreline treatment for Hudson Shores Park that resists erosion, enhances accessibility for all recreational users, and improves or maintains the habitat Page 3 of 22

4 value of the site for fish and wildlife species of the Hudson River Estuary. The designs produced by this project will address shoreline stabilization, habitat, preservation of natural and cultural resources; as well as human use and accessibility issues. The project will produce construction ready plans with bid specifications and permit materials and a final engineering report that describes existing conditions, the proposed shoreline treatment(s), justification for the proposed design, estimated construction and maintenance costs, construction timelines, and implementation recommendations. III. Scope of Work This RFP is for services to: 1) Produce a Quality Assurance Project Plan (see Task 1 below); 2) Review existing data, documentation, and reports relating to the physical environment, ecological resources and adjacent aquatic habitats as well as current climate change and sea level rise predictions in the Hudson River at the Hudson Shores Park in Watervliet, NY; 3) Perform any additional site assessment or sampling needed, including topographic and hydrographic surveys to develop a plan for stabilizing the shoreline and addressing stakeholder priorities including accessibility for all while incorporating ecologically enhanced engineered shoreline techniques; 4) Coordinate development of designs for each shoreline section with project partners, including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) s Hudson River Estuary Program, the City of Watervliet, and State and Federal regulatory staff; 5) Develop a full set of bid ready construction plans for the site including cost estimates, bid specifications, completed permit forms, and visual renditions of proposed conditions; 6) Produce a final engineering report that describes existing conditions, the proposed shoreline treatment(s), justification for the proposed design, estimated construction and maintenance costs, construction timelines, and implementation recommendations. The report must also include a project monitoring plan with measurable engineering and ecological success criteria for the shoreline site that will be used to assess project success after construction. **Please Note: This request does not include submitting a permit application or construction of the project. However, the justification for the proposed design (Task 6) will be used for the project s permit application narrative. The justification must address project goals, engineering requirements, and regulatory thresholds. The selected contractor will coordinate all work with the New York State DEC s Hudson River Estuary Program, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, and the City of Watervliet to develop a shoreline plan that when implemented will stabilize and enhance the shoreline, enhance the accessibility and intended use of the site by visitors, and minimize impacts to or improve the habitat value of the site. The final designs will account for flooding and erosion caused by projected increases in the frequency of extreme storms and sea level rise (see table below). NYS ClimAid Report, Sea Level Rise Projections for the Hudson River, New York Time Range 2020 s 2050 s 2080 s Sea level rise in inches (Rapid ice melt scenario) Up to 9 Up to 26 Up to 50 Coordination will require review of draft materials by, and meetings with, Estuary Program staff to ensure that final products are consistent with the requirements of this RFP. Project Tasks Page 4 of 22

5 Task 1: Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP): Develop, submit and acquire approval of a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for all project activities involving environmental data operations. This project will involve environmental data operations, and therefore the contractor is responsible for developing the project QAPP and submitting it to New York State and NEIWPCC staff for review and approval (see Quality Assurance Project Plan on page 8). Task 2: Conduct a site assessment of the Hudson Shores Park shoreline in Watervliet, NY that includes identifying existing conditions, and review of existing available and relevant information. Review existing information on physical conditions both on shore and in the adjacent Hudson River as well as natural resource information from publically available sources including the NYSGIS Clearinghouse and the Natural Heritage Database. Conduct a preliminary site visit attended by representatives of project partners including the Hudson River Estuary Program, NYSDEC, and USACOE regulatory staff, and City of Watervliet elected officials. Perform any additional site assessment or sampling needed to develop designs for stabilizing and enhancing the Hudson Shores Park shoreline including topographic and hydrographic surveys. Task 3: Produce preliminary (30%) designs for review by NYSDEC Regulatory, Hudson River Estuary Program staff, and the City of Watervliet. Produce conceptual shoreline designs for the project area based on existing site conditions, site priorities, and input from project partners. Preliminary designs must include visual renditions of proposed conditions and estimated construction costs. Distribute preliminary plans and descriptions to project partners and state and federal regulatory staff. Attend a pre application meeting with State and Federal regulatory staff to review preliminary plans. Task 4: Revise preliminary designs based on regulatory review to address permit related issues and stakeholder feedback. Task 5: Upon approval by Hudson River Estuary Program and NEIWPCC staff, develop full construction plans for the final design including bid specifications, cost estimates and permitting materials including total area to be disturbed, total volume of fill and excavation if applicable, as requested by the USACOE and NYSDEC. Final designs should include information requested in the U.S Army Corps of Engineer s Environmental Questionnaire (as applicable to the specific project): %20Questionaire.pdf Task 6: Deliver Final Plans and Report Deliver final construction plans, bid specifications, and supporting materials described in Task 5. Deliver a final engineering report that describes existing conditions, the proposed shoreline treatment(s), justification for the proposed design, estimated construction and maintenance costs, construction timelines and implementation recommendations. The report must also include a project monitoring plan with measurable engineering and ecological success criteria for the shoreline site that will be used to assess project success after construction. Page 5 of 22

6 Anticipated Project Meetings Meeting Type Purpose Potential Participants Project kick off meeting Site visit to review site conditions and project goals and constraints. Contractor, NYSDEC regulatory staff, Hudson River Estuary Program staff, NYSDEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve staff, City of Watervliet Pre application sketch plan meeting Presentation of final plans Review conceptual plans with regulatory staff. Receive comments on regulatory issues. Present final plans with visual renditions of the shoreline postconstruction Contractor, NYSDEC and ACOE regulatory staff, Hudson River Estuary Program staff, NYSDEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve staff. Contractor, Hudson River Estuary Program staff, NYSDEC Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve staff, City of Watervliet. Desired Outcome The final product will be a set of final construction plans with the materials necessary for obtaining a permit and procuring contractual services to implement a shoreline stabilization project that also improves habitat value for the shore zone, and enhances visitor use of the Hudson Shores Park site including accessibly to the river for the residents of the City of Watervliet, NY. The plans will be accompanied by an engineering report that identifies existing conditions, the rationale for final designs, anticipated costs and next steps necessary to implement the project. Applicants should formulate their approach to provide opportunities for project partners and relevant state and federal agencies to participate in the project design as it evolves over time to ensure that efforts are consistent with state and federal regulations and stakeholder priorities. Applicants that can demonstrate how their proposals support the objectives of the Hudson River Estuary Program s Action Agenda, Benefit #2, Target #2 and Benefit #6, Target #4 will be reviewed favorably. Background information is available as follows: Hudson River Estuary Action Agenda: Sustainable Shorelines Project: river sustainable shorelines/hudson river sustainable shorelines project/ IV. General Guidelines for Applicants Eligibility Applicants who are eligible to submit proposals in response to this RFP include: federal (non EPA), state, or local government agencies; interstate agencies; private non profit organizations and institutions; for profit organizations; and academic or educational institutions. Partnerships are allowed. Page 6 of 22

7 Schedule The project should take no more than 5 months, with all finalized reports and paperwork received by December 31, However, it is desirable for the project to be completed earlier. The schedule* for this RFP is as follows: Proposals Due to NEIWPCC July 17, :00 PM EST (noon) Applicants Notified of Funding Decisions On or about August 4th, 2017 Project Start Date On or about August 14th, 2017 Project Kick Off Meeting TBD Approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) Due TBD Quarterly Reports Due 10 th Day of July, October, 2017 Draft Final Report Due December 7, 2017 Finalized Report Due December 22, 2017 Project End Date December 31, 2017 *Schedule is subject to change. Funding There is $75,000 available for this project and it is anticipated that one successful proposal will be chosen. Proposals with budgets that exceed the identified funding cannot be considered. Awarded funds may be used for expenses specifically related to the proposed project, including wages and consultant fees. Expendable and non expendable equipment directly related to the proposed project may qualify for funding, but requires preapproval (prior to proposal submission) by NEIWPCC and must be justified in the proposal. Indirect costs are allowed, but must be in line with the following procedures: Applicants with a valid Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with their cognizant federal agency must use that rate, and must provide documentation of the negotiated rate. Applicants that do not have a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement may charge a maximum indirect rate of 10 percent of direct costs. Match Although cost share or match is not required, projects providing non federal cost share or match will receive favorable consideration over projects without cost share or match. Cost share or match can be satisfied with cash or in kind services, or a combination of both. Cash contributions are those funds used to purchase goods or services associated with the project. In kind contributions represent the value of non cash contributions provided by the applicant. Any contributions must be clearly explained in the proposal and must be documented. Deliverables The primary deliverables for this project will be the following: 1. Quarterly reports delivered to the NEIWPCC project manager no later than the 10 th day of January, April, July, and October during the duration of the project. 2. Approved Quality Assurance Project Plan. See below for additional information about this deliverable. Page 7 of 22

8 3. Interim Report (End of Task 3) in Adobe.pdf format including: a. Summary of project goals b. Summary of existing site conditions c. Copies of topographic and hydrographic surveys d. Preliminary shoreline plans including existing and proposed conditions, cost estimates and visual renditions of proposed conditions. e. Summary of key findings and proposed responses to regulatory issues identified in preapplication meeting. 4. Delivery of Final Construction Plans with Bid Specification, Engineering Report, and Completed Permit Materials a. Deliver final construction plans, bid specifications, and supporting materials described in Task 5. Final plans will include at least five (5) sets of printed (and one copy in.pdf format) and final CAD files used to produce the plans. b. Deliver a final engineering report that describes existing conditions, the proposed shoreline treatment(s), justification for the proposed design, estimated construction and maintenance costs, construction timelines, and implementation recommendations. The report must also include a project monitoring plan with measurable engineering and ecological success criteria for the shoreline site that will be used to assess project success after construction. 5. Meetings Participate in three project meetings including: a. Project kick off meeting (conference call) b. Pre application sketch plan meeting (in person, Staatsburg, NY) c. Presentation of final plans (in person, Watervliet) All deliverables are to be submitted in draft form in Microsoft Word format for review by project partners and approval by the project manager (See Contact Information in Section IX). All final reports are to be delivered in Adobe.pdf format upon approval by the project manager. Quality Assurance & Quality Control Requirements The NEIWPCC Quality Management Plan requires that Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) are developed and approved for all projects involving environmental data operations (i.e., collection, analysis, and/or manipulation of environmental data). For projects that involve environmental data operations, the contractor will be responsible for developing the project QAPP and submitting it to NEIWPCC staff for review after the start of the contract period. NEIWPCC will provide guidelines for QAPP development. The QAPP must be approved by the NEIWPCC Project Manager, and the NEIWPCC Quality Assurance Program Manager (or designee) prior to any data collection or analysis. If your proposed project will include environmental data operations, development of the QAPP can be completed as a task under this project and should be included in the proposal narrative, timeline, and budget. While preparing your proposal, please account for the additional time and resources necessary for QAPP development. Allow a minimum of 30 days for the development of your QAPP and 90 days for the review and approval of your QAPP by NEIWPCC. It is appropriate for an applicant to utilize or build upon an existing, relevant, approved QAPP if one exists. For more information about QAPPs, see and Deliverables, Ownership, and Credit Due All materials, software, maps, studies, reports, and other products or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, produced as a result of this solicitation and funded, in whole or in part, under an agreement with NEIWPCC shall be made available to NEIWPCC and the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program in the formats in which it is stored or maintained. NEIWPCC and the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program shall have an unrestricted right to use any materials, software, maps, studies, reports, and other products or data generated Page 8 of 22

9 using assistance funds or specified to be delivered. The contractor shall not obtain, attempt to obtain, or file for a patent, copyright, trademark or any other interest in any such materials, software, maps, reports, and other products or data without the express, written consent of NEIWPCC and subject to any other approvals required by state or federal law. Reports and other deliverables will credit NEIWPCC and the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program for any work completed under the award. Geographic Information System (GIS) Data Requirements GIS data produced under this project must adhere to the requirements of EPA s National Geospatial Data Policy (see national geospatial data policy). Specifically, the selected contractor must provide documentation for all produced data, including source information for each digital data layer (i.e., scale and accuracy, map projection, coordinate system, etc.), and specific information about the data layer itself (i.e., method used, geographic extent of data layer, file format, date of creation, staff contact, description and definition of data fields and their contents, related files, if any, and description of data quality and quality assurance methods used). The EPA Metadata Editor (EME) was developed to simplify and standardize metadata development and is a recommended tool for streamlining production of required metadata. The EME and related training materials can be downloaded from Specific technical guidance on geospatial deliverables and acceptable formats can be found at region 2 gis deliverables guidance. GIS data produced under this project will be submitted to NEIWPCC as a deliverable. Insurance Requirements NEIWPCC requires its contractors to maintain workers compensation and liability insurance. More details will be provided to applicants selected for funding. Note this applies for all contractors, including sole proprietors. If you cannot provide proof of insurance, please do not apply for this funding opportunity. V. Proposal Requirements Proposals must include a (1) cover letter, (2) title page with abstract, (3) narrative with citations, (4) timeline, (5) budgets (both overall and task based budget formats), (6) budget justification, (7) description of qualifications, and (8) letters of commitment or support. Page limits for each of these components are provided in the individual descriptions below. Proposals that do not contain all of the information requested and/or do not meet the format requirements will be eliminated from consideration. Pages that exceed the maximum number specified for each section will not be reviewed. Cover Letter Please include a one page cover letter, printed on official letterhead and signed by an authorized representative of the lead agency, firm, or institution, with each proposal. The cover letter must state that: You are applying for funds under this program. You commit to the match you are proposing; if applicable. You acknowledge that funding is provided on a reimbursement basis. Title Page For your convenience, an electronic version of the title page is available as a Microsoft Word document at The title page must adhere to the format provided in Appendix A and include all of the following information, using a maximum of one single spaced, one sided, typed 8.5" x 11" page with 11 point font and 1 inch margins: Project Name: Use the exact project name as it appears throughout the proposal. Primary Investigator Name and Contact Information: Provide the name, title, and affiliation of the primary investigator, as well as mailing address, phone number, and address. Page 9 of 22

10 Financial Contact Name and Contact Information (if applicable): Provide the name, title, and affiliation of the individual responsible for financial/contractual negotiations (if different from primary investigator), as well as mailing address, phone number, and address. Project Partners (if any): Provide the names, titles, affiliations, for each of the additional investigators or support staff who will significantly contribute to the project (if any). Funds Requested: Provide the amount of money you are requesting from NEIWPCC for the project. Matching Funds: Provide the amount of matching funds you and/or your partners will be contributing to the project (if any). Federal Tax Identification Number (FID) DUNS Number 1 : A DUNS number is a unique, non indicative 9 digit identifier that verifies the existence of a business entity globally. Contractors must provide NEIWPCC with a DUNS number to comply with an administrative condition of NEIWPCC s EPA grant (individuals are exempt). Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE): Indicate if your organization is a DBE. Project Location Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude): Provide the latitude and longitude coordinates for the primary location where work will be completed. Abstract: The abstract must accurately describe the project being proposed and include: (1) the objectives of the project, (2) the methodology to be used, and (3) the expected outputs and outcomes of the project and how it addresses this RFP, including environmental benefits to the Hudson River Estuary. The abstract must fit within the title page. Proposal Narrative The proposal narrative must not exceed 5 consecutively numbered, single spaced, typed 8.5" x 11" pages with 11 point font and 1 inch margins. The narrative must include all of the following information: Problem Description: Briefly describe the project and its relevance to the Sustainable Shorelines project, and the objectives of the Hudson River Estuary Program s Action Agenda, Benefit #2, Target #2 and Benefit #6, Target #4. This section can also include brief background or introductory information. Objectives: Outline how the project will achieve the goal of this RFP. Methodology: Outline the project s design and describe the methods and techniques that will be used to meet the project s goal and tasks. Expected outputs and outcomes: Describe the project s expected outputs and outcomes, and list and describe each of the specific deliverables and end products. Briefly discuss the process to be used to evaluate the effectiveness and success of the project. Roles and Responsibilities: Define the roles and responsibilities of all project participants. Citations: Include references as appropriate within the proposal narrative. Timeline Provide a detailed timeline for meeting identified tasks and completing deliverables, with a completion date no later than December 22, All timelines should be stated in terms of Month #1, #2, #4, etc. rather than specific dates, e.g. March 5, Although the project start date is anticipated to be on or about August 14, 2017, this date may change based on the time the actual agreement is established. The timeline must be no more than one 8.5 x 11 page with 1 margins and 11 point font. Budget 1 Obtaining a DUNS number is free for all entities doing business with the Federal government. Under normal circumstances the DUNS number is issued within 1 2 business days when using the web form process ( Page 10 of 22

11 The project budget must be provided in two formats: First, provide a complete, detailed budget using the format provided in Appendix B. For your convenience, an electronic version of the budget form is available at The budget must be no more than one 8.5 x 11 page with 1 margins and 11 point font. Along with this budget, provide a brief justification (one page maximum) for the proposed costs in terms of meeting project objectives. Include an explanation of how indirect costs are calculated. Justify subcontracts, if any. Identify and describe current and pending financial resources (including the source) for non federal cost share or matching funds that are intended to support the project. Entities intending to use a Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate must provide documentation of their rate. This documentation does not count toward the page limit. Second, prepare a budget that is broken down by project, as shown in Appendix C. For your convenience, an electronic version of the budget form is available at As you develop this budget, keep in mind that contractual payments will be made based on this budget. This budget must be no more than two 8.5 x 11 pages with 1 margins and 11 point font. Matching funds should not be included in the task based budget. Qualifications The applicant chosen for this project should possess the academic and professional expertise and certifications in the relevant subject areas, and have a strong track record in delivering projects of this nature. Applicants must demonstrate understanding of the Hudson River estuarine environment, shoreline ecology, erosion processes, environmental restoration, shoreline engineering, climate change and sea level rise and accessibility standards consistent with the American with Disabilities Act. Applicants should have experience and capacity to conduct and manage effective meetings with agency staff and partners. Applicants with experience utilizing a wide range of shoreline stabilization techniques including soft or green shorelines are encouraged to apply. Applications must include identification of a New York State licensed engineer and landscape architect as the project leader or support staff. Applicants must be able to demonstrate extensive experience in coastal erosion issues, shoreline design, habitat enhancement as well as understanding of the physical conditions and biota of the Hudson River estuary. Attention to detail in documenting qualifications that meet the scoring requirements is strongly advised. The qualifications section, including resumes, CVs, descriptions of past projects, etc. must not exceed 3 pages. Letters of Support Projects undertaken in partnership with other organizations, particularly where the partner will provide a service or action must include support letters from each partner stating their specific commitments. If your project includes matching funds and the match is to be provided by partners, letters of commitment for the match from those partners must be included. General letters of support should not be included with the application. VI. Submission Process Proposals must be submitted by no later than 12:00 PM EST (noon) on July 17, No late submissions will be considered. Applicants must submit their proposals electronically through the NEIWPCC website. Unless prior approval is given, proposals received through e mail, postal delivery, or any other delivery method will not be accepted. To submit your proposal, go to and follow the instructions provided for uploading your file(s). The proposal and all supporting information must be submitted as a single PDF document. The file name should be in the following format: Hudson Shores Park Shoreline Design_NAME OF YOUR ORGANIZATION. Page 11 of 22

12 Once you have clicked the submit button, please allow adequate time for your submission to process and do not hit the back button or close your browser window. The process is not considered complete until you have reached the confirmation page. If submitted successfully, you will receive an from NEIWPCC with the subject line RFP Submission Confirmation confirming your submission. For questions regarding submission of proposals, contact Michael Jennings, NEIWPCC, (978) VII. Proposal Evaluation Process NEIWPCC will screen all proposals to ensure that they meet all requirements of this RFP. If a proposal is found to be incomplete, the proposal will be eliminated from the competition and NEIWPCC will notify the applicant. To be considered complete, proposals must include all of components described in Section V. Proposal Requirements. Pages in excess of the limits specified for each component will not be reviewed. Complete and eligible proposals will be reviewed by a panel composed of scientists and managers from NEIWPCC and partner agencies. Proposals may also be submitted for external peer reviews. The review team will evaluate the proposals based upon the following criteria: See Appendix D. VIII. Notification of Awards Award notification to applicants is expected by August 4, Award recipients may be asked to submit a revised work plan, timeline, and budget at this time. Projects cannot start until the contract is signed by both parties. If your project includes environmental data operations, this work may not begin until the QAPP is approved. NEIWPCC will not pay for expenses incurred prior to the contract start date. Payment for costs incurred will be on a reimbursement basis per the contract payment schedule and contingent upon completion of quarterly progress reports and project deliverables. IX. Contacts NEIWPCC and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation will accept questions about this RFP by or phone through 12:00 Noon on June 30, For information regarding the application process, contact: Michael Jennings, NEIWPCC New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission 650 Suffolk Street, Suite 410 Lowell, MA (978) mjennings@neiwpcc.org For information regarding the RFP topic, contact the NEIWPCC Project Manager: Daniel Miller New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission New York State Department of Environmental Conservation/Hudson River Estuary Program P.O. Box 315 Staatsburg, NY (845) ext. 110 Daniel.miller@dec.ny.gov Page 12 of 22

13 Page 13 of 22

14 X. MAPS AND PHOTOS Figure 1: Hudson Shores Park, Watervliet, NY Page 14 of 22

15 Figure 1: Hudson Shores Park, Watervliet, NY Page 15 of 22

16 Photos 1 & 2: Hudson Shores Park Intertidal Shore Zone and Bank Page 16 of 22

17 Photo 3: Hudson Shores Park, RPI Boat House Photo 4: Hudson Shores Park, ADA Access Point on Southern End Page 17 of 22

18 Appendix A: TITLE PAGE FORMAT Title: Project Leader: Project Financial Contact: Contact Information: Project Support: Project Cost: $ Total matching funds: $ Federal Tax Identification Number: DUNS Number: Project Abstract The abstract must fit within this title page, using a maximum of one single spaced, one sided, typed 8.5" x 11" page with 11 point font and one inch margins (remove this instructional text when completing page and prior to submitting proposal) Page 18 of 22

19 Appendix B: OVERALL BUDGET TABLE PROJECT BUDGET BUDGET CATEGORY (Add/remove itemizing lines below major categories as necessary, but do NOT delete major categories) MATCH PROJECT REQUEST A. PERSONNEL (list individual names and titles below) TOTAL: B. FRINGE BENEFITS % of (e.g., 10% of total personnel costs) TOTAL: TOTAL: C. TRAVEL (estimate number/purpose of trips below) TOTAL: D. EQUIPMENT (itemize below) TOTAL: E. SUPPLIES (itemize below) TOTAL: F. CONTRACTS (identify & itemize below) TOTAL: G. OTHER (identify & itemize below) TOTAL: H. TOTAL DIRECT COSTS (SUM OF A G) I. INDIRECT COSTS % of (e.g., 10% of total direct costs) TOTAL: J. TOTAL PROJECT COST (SUM OF H+I) Page 19 of 22

20 Appendix C: TASK BASED BUDGET FORMAT Task Number Task Name Expected Date of Completion Cost Page 20 of 22

21 Appendix D: PROJECT EVALUATION AND SCORING CRITERIA Note: An average review team score of zero in any category will disqualify the project from being funded Experience and Qualifications (Points for category) For the person principally assigned to utilize this expertise: Knowledge of Hudson River freshwater tidal shoreline habitats, their history, role in the ecosystem and vulnerability to sea level rise Score None/unknown/ inadequate for the task 0 Limited 3 Adequate 7 Exemplary 10 Experience of team educating and working with local municipalities, state and federal agencies, and natural resource managers to develop and design ecologically enhanced shoreline stabilization projects that protect property and protect or improve aquatic habitat Experience of the candidate team managing technical information. Narrative and resumes should describe total experience with data collection, processing, analysis, and reporting technical information. Candidate team includes a licensed professional engineer and landscape architect each with experience working on tidal shorelines in the Hudson River or similar environments. Page 21 of 22

22 Appendix D: PROJECT EVALUATION AND SCORING CRITERIA (continued) Note: An average review team score of zero in any category will disqualify the project from being funded Technical Methodology and Feasibility (Points for category) Task 1: Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP): Develop, submit, and acquire approval of a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for all project activities involving environmental data operations. Task 2: Conduct a site assessment of the Hudson Shores Park shoreline in Watervliet, NY, that includes identifying existing conditions, and review of existing available and relevant information. Task 3: Produce preliminary (30%) designs for review by NYSDEC Regulatory, Hudson River Estuary Program staff and the City of Watervliet. Task 4: Revise preliminary designs based on regulatory review to address permit related issues and stakeholder feedback. Task 5: Develop full construction plans for the final design including bid specifications, cost estimates and permitting materials. Task 6: Deliver Final Plans and Report. Explanation of implementation methods missing or is inappropriate for the task 0 Provides unclear explanation of methods or methodology is not well designed 3 Provides adequate explanation of methods, and/or methodology is appropriate 7 Provides a detailed explanation of proposed methods and/or methodology as described is exemplary 10 Financial Review (25 points possible) Lowest cost proposals receives 25 points. All other proposals use the following formula: Lowest cost/cost being evaluated*25. Total Score: Page 22 of 22