REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EASTERN COACHELLA VALLEY S ACTION PLAN FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE BACKGROUND AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Transcription

1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS EASTERN COACHELLA VALLEY S ACTION PLAN FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE NOTICE BACKGROUND AND GENERAL DESCRIPTION The Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), in partnership with the City of Coachella, is soliciting technical proposals to retain a firm who can research and complete the Eastern Coachella Valley s Action Plan for Climate Resilience (Action Plan). The Action Plan is envisioned as the definitive document that results from a year-long planning effort funded by a Strategic Growth Council s Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) grant. The work will include reviewing existing transportation, housing and general plans that relate to cap-and-trade type projects and meeting with local jurisdictions. Based on this work, the Action Plan will be developed to help communities in the eastern Coachella Valley compete for future funding opportunities, particularly those associated with disadvantaged communities. PROJECT BACKGROUND The State of California funds a number of programs through cap-and-trade revenues. One of those programs is the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC), which is administered by the Strategic Growth Council. The TCC program is designed to empower communities that are impacted by pollution by having them choose their own goals, strategies, and projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution. In January 2018, CVAG and the City of Coachella were awarded one of 10 TCC planning grants, which are intended to fund activities that are defined in an existing regional or local plan and that will occur in disadvantaged communities that may be eligible for future TCC Implementation Grants, or other California Climate Investment (CCI) programs. The application outlines the development of the Eastern Coachella Valley s Action Plan for Climate Resilience. The Action Plan is a planning effort to identify and prioritize affordable housing, transportation, green infrastructure, and park projects that would be competitive for future TCC funding cycles and other climate investments opportunities. The proposed Action Plan will create a consistent regional plan that identifies existing and new projects related to cap and trade funding opportunities, including affordable housing, transportation and urban greening. By working with the regional leaders and community members through public outreach, the Action Plan will also identify the projects that, either because of preliminary work or community need, should be prioritized in upcoming funding cycles. PROJECT PARTNERS CVAG will serve as the agency spearheading and overseeing grant-related activities. The City of Coachella is serving as the co-applicant and Riverside County is serving as a project partner. The chosen consultant will also work with Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, a nonprofit that was identified in the grant application to conduct public outreach and community engagement efforts. RFP for TCC planning grant 1 OF 4 8/14/2018

2 PROJECT OVERVIEW The Coachella Valley s total population is comparable with that seen in a single big city, yet it is divided into nine cities, three tribal nations, three school districts as well as unincorporated communities. Over the years, each of these agencies, numerous, but separate, planning documents have identified opportunities and challenges for sustainable communities. Some of these efforts have led communities to compete against themselves. The consultant will review existing transportation, housing and general plans that relate to capand-trade type projects and meet with local jurisdictions. The Action Plan will create regional consistency by combining existing plans, not to be limited to the following: General plans for Riverside County and Coachella; CVAG Active Transportation Plan; SunLine Transit Agency Short Range Transit Plan; emerging mobility plans, as well as regional and city-specific Climate Action Plans. The Action Plan activities will identify existing and new projects related to cap and trade funding opportunities, including but not limited to affordable housing with mixed-use development, promoting active transportation and supporting urban greening. The planning activities will advance the Strategic Growth Council s sustainable communities objectives by highlighting opportunities for investments and development in existing communities to serve existing populations. Specifically, the planning activities will improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by increasing access to active transportation infrastructure and transit and reducing dependence on single occupancy vehicles. The planning activities also will focus on increasing and improving access to quality housing for all income levels including extremely low-income households currently dependent on substandard and/or overcrowded housing. Similarly, the Action Plan activities will identify and plan for active transportation, fixed transit, and flexible transit options which will increase access to economic opportunities and services while reducing reliance on single occupancy vehicles. The regional Action Plan can use existing planning efforts, such as the CVAG Active Transportation Plan, as a starting point. The Action Plan and related activities should also help identify new opportunities that will take advantage of proposing compact transit-oriented development. This would ensure accessibility of housing, employment centers, and key destinations through Zero Carbon transportation options such as biking, walking and/or hydrogen or electric bus transit. Based on their evaluation of existing plans and in conjunction with a related community engagement effort the consultant will condense the information into a planning document that can help communities in the Coachella Valley compete for future funding opportunities, particularly those associated with disadvantaged communities. The consultant will also work with Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability, a nonprofit that was identified in the grant application to conduct public outreach and community engagement efforts. PROJECT TASK LIST The task list below is a general outline of the scope of work. The consultant is encouraged to review and add to or revise this list as experience and expertise would dictate. The overall project goals are the guiding factor. The completeness of the task list will be one of the proposal evaluation criteria. The work includes: RFP for TCC planning grant 2 OF 4 8/14/2018

3 Project meetings with governing agencies and school districts Evaluating existing plans to identify opportunities & policy gaps Compiling documents into new master plan Working with Leadership Counsel to integrate feedback from Community Outreach Plan Incorporate input into master plan & circulate draft to stakeholders Finalize Action Plan and produce digital copies In addition, the consultant will be asked to produce project meeting lists and provide feedback for the grant s monthly progress reports. These efforts will focus on the City of Coachella and the unincorporated communities southeast of the City. A map is attached showing the planning boundary. PROJECT TIMELINE The TCC grant provides funding for one year. Work for this consultant shall commence no later than October The review and evaluation period of existing plans should be completed in six (6) months with the new Eastern Coachella Valley s Action Plan for Climate Resilience completed within three (3) months after that. PROPOSAL FORMAT The consultant s proposal should describe the methodology to be used to accomplish each of the project tasks as well as the qualifications of the individuals who will perform the tasks and prepare written and oral reports to CVAG and the City of Coachella. The proposal should also describe the work which shall be necessary in order to satisfactorily complete the task requirements. These descriptions should include the strategy and method which will be utilized in selecting, implementing, and evaluating the network system. The proposal should be no more the 15 pages in length, excluding the cost proposal. Front and rear cover will not be included in the 15-page count. The contract shall be a lump sum (firm fixed price). EVALUATION CRITERIA A Consultant Selection Committee, appointed by the CVAG Executive Director, shall review each Technical Proposal and, if necessary, will conduct an interview with the consultant's project management and key personnel of the most qualified firm(s). The Consultant Selection Committee shall rate each interviewed firm's technical proposal and identify the ranking of proposals in a selection order based upon the following criteria: Project meetings with governing agencies and community stakeholders Understanding of the work to be done (15 points possible) Experience with similar kinds of work. (10 points possible) Quality of staff for work to be done (10 points possible) RFP for TCC planning grant 3 OF 4 8/14/2018

4 Familiarity with related planning procedures (10 points possible) Completeness of task items list (5 points possible) PROPOSAL SUBMISSION & DEADLINE All Technical Proposals and accompanying materials shall become the property of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments upon submittal. Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to CVAG Governmental Projects Manager Erica Felci at the address listed below or via at All requests for clarification and comments must be provided in writing to CVAG on or before August 24 by 5:00 pm. Answers/Clarifications shall be provided in the form of formal Addenda and shall be issued to the short-listed firms in a timely manner. Technical Proposals must be received and date stamped at CVAG no later than 5:00 p.m. on September 7, Four (4) copies of each proposal should be clearly marked "Technical Proposal for the Eastern Coachella Valley s Action Plan for Climate Resilience and delivered to: SELECTION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE Coachella Valley Association of Governments Attn: Erica Felci Fred Waring Drive, Suite 200 Palm Desert, CA A selection committee will evaluate each proposal according to the criteria set forth in this RFP. The Agency will then perform a reference verification process by contacting and interviewing the references provided by the firms. Following this reference verification process, the firm(s) receiving the highest evaluation from the selection panel will be invited to interview. RFP for TCC planning grant 4 OF 4 8/14/2018

5 Eastern Coachella Valley Climate Resilience Action Plan } COACHELLA THERMAL 469 MECCA Riverside County 10 ^_ CVAG Boundary Legend CalEnviroscreen Disadvantaged Communites AB 1550 Low-Income Communities Plan Boundary Regional Boundary Census Tracts Highways OASIS } 86 SALTON } 111 SEA NORTH SHORE Source: CalEnviroScreen 3.0 and AB 1550 Mapping Tool for TCC Miles Ü