10200505_-_Info_Letter__Addendum_3.pdf

STATE OF CALIFORNIA – CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY GAVIN NEWSOM,

Governor

DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES

715 P STREET, P.O. BOX 942836

SACRAMENTO, CA 94236-0001

(916) 653-5791

August 21, 2024

RFQ No. 10200505 Division of Engineering

Engineering and Environmental Services

This information letter contains two sections and an attachment:

Section 1 – General Questions and Answers Section 2 – Addendum 3 Containing Revisions to (RFQ) No. 10200505

Attachment A - Pre-SOQ Conference List of Attendees Attachment B – Central Valley Flood Protection Board Organizational Chart

Section 1 – General Questions and Answers –

Q1. Section V, Staff Availability: Please clarify if you are requesting the availability of KEY staff only or all staff listed on the organization chart?

A1. All staff listed on the organizational chart are part of the team and are expected to work on the contract based on contract needs.

Q2. Section V, Can we use 11x17 sheets for matrices or other graphics, in addition to the organizational chart? An example would be an 11x17 sheet to layout/summarize the collection of project examples.

A2. Yes, for reference documents, matrices or other graphics, and organizational charts folded sheets to 8-1/2” x 11”, not to exceed 11” x 17” can be used.

Q3. Section V, References: Can the references be for the same projects as used in the Firm’s Team Project Experience section?

A3. Yes, the same projects may be used for experience projects and reference contacts.

Q4. Section V, Qualification of Firm’s Key Personnel (Includes Subcontractors): Please clarify the reference to “Selection Criteria Sections A.1a-F”. This does not appear to align with the Selection Criteria Section labeling.

A4. Please see Addendum 2, Item 1, dated August 16, 2024.

Q5. Section V, Qualification of Firm’s Key Personnel (Includes Subcontractors): Please clarify what classifications you would like to have staff arranged by.

RFQ 10200505

Letter of Information & Addendum 3

A5. It is understood each firm may have a different classification system. The classifications are determined by the firm as long as the equivalent qualifications and experience meet the requirements for the work.

Q6. Section V, Qualification of Firm’s Key Personnel (Includes Subcontractors): Please clarify if you want resumes for just key staff or for everyone on the organizational chart.

A6. As per Section V, 4 a, provide resumes of all Key Personnel on the organizational chart.

Q7. Section VI, 2 d (i), Contract Manager (page 15) reads:

i. Contract Manager will have at least five (5) years cumulative experience, verifiable via submitted resumes, in the following:

1. Economics

2. Public Policy

3. Planning related to Flood Management within the jurisdiction of the Sacramento-San

Joaquin Draining District or the Central Valley of California

4. Managing large, complex, multidisciplinary projects with a strong emphasis on

Stakeholder engagement

5. Responsible for development of reports containing the required detail and complexity to formulate realistic recommendations.

The typical required skills/duties of Contract Managers include managing the consulting team staff, developing and securing approval for task orders (scopes of work, schedules, and budgets), preparing the necessary program/project plans and reports, maintaining necessary project controls, identifying and resolving issues, and much more. Please clarify, is this RFQ requiring that the Contract Manager possess experience in the additional 5 areas listed above?

Or, can item d. (i) be satisfied by including this additional expertise via other individuals on the consulting team who support the Contract Manager?

A7. The Contract Manager should demonstrate at least 5 years’ cumulative experience in the 5 identified categories. The scoring of the statement of qualifications package will reflect how well the submitted Contract Manger has met or exceeded these criteria.

Q8. Re: 4a. (pg.8) – Please clarify reference to A.1a-F? “F” is not identified in the “Selection criteria”

(pgs. 8-16)

A7. Please see Addendum 2, Item 1, dated August 16, 2024.

Q8. May we add a section at the end, “Firm Qualifications” to respond to items listed under “Selection Criteria”

A9. Per Section V, SOQ Requirements, each SOQ should contain information for an objective evaluation of the Firm’s qualifications as it relates to Section, VI, Selection Criteria, and each Firm’s SOQ will be scored in accordance with the criteria therein. The Firm may provide their qualifications anywhere within the 50 page limit.

Q9. Re: 4b (pg.8) – Is it acceptable to identify Key Staff for critical fields of expertise (requested in the RFQ) that do not include required licenses or desired certifications listed in the RFQ?

A10. Yes, depending upon your team structure, not all those identified classifications would be required to be licensed. Alternatively, those licenses/certifications/registrations listed as required for the contract should be clearly identified.

Q10. How will the rate negotiation process be applied to sub-consultants? Will sub-consultants be required to submit financial information to DWR to determine rates, or will sub-consultant rates be handled as direct costs to the Prime?

A11. Subcontractors will be required to submit rates/costs and financial documents also. In other words, all of the firms that make up the most qualified team, no matter if they are the prime or a subcontractor, will be required to submit true and actual rates/costs and financial documents to substantiates such rates/costs.

Q11. How will DWR handle S-Corporations or closely held firms where owners are consultants providing professional services and the Net Income of the firm is generally considered part of the owner’s compensation? Will the Net Income be considered part of the loaded rates? Please explain how DWR will determine the costs of the firm, in the context of a small businesses structured as an S-Corporation or closely held firms, where Net Income is part of the expected compensation received by an owner-employee.

A12. It is the Contractor's responsibility, if selected, as Most Qualified to provide proof of true and actual costs. Until DWR has an opportunity to review the documents provided by the selected contractor, it is unknown as to what costs will be acceptable. The DWR negotiation team will work with the Most Qualified firm to determine if a fair and reasonable cost can be achieved.

Q12. With respect to the Indemnity Provision, the language currently indicates - “INDEMNIFICATION:

Contractor agrees to indemnify, defend and save harmless the State, its officers, agents and employees from any and all claims and losses accruing or resulting to any and all contractors, subcontractors, suppliers, laborers, and any other person, firm or corporation furnishing or supplying work services, materials, or supplies in connection with the performance of this Agreement, and from any and all claims and losses accruing or resulting to any person, firm or corporation who may be injured or damaged by Contractor in the performance of this Agreement.” Would the State be willing to accept either one or both of the following modifications that would limit the indemnity provided by the Contractor?

A) Claims arising out of or related to the performance of services under this Agreement, to the extent caused by the negligent, reckless, or willful misconduct of CONTRACTOR and its employees."

B) Except claims arising from the negligent, reckless, or willful misconduct of the STATE and its employees."

A13. The Department of Water Resources (“DWR”) currently is not considering modifying its indemnification provision. DWR thanks Larsen Wurzel & Associates, Inc. for submitting its question.

END OF INFORMATION LETTER

Section 2 – Addendum 3, revised and replaced Selection Criteria and Scope of Work

Item 1: Request for Qualifications, Section VI. Selection Criteria is revised as written below. The strikeout denotes the deletions and the bold underline denotes the additions as follows:

VI. Selection Criteria

A. Each Firm’s SOQ for this proposed contract service will be evaluated and scored in accordance with the below selection criteria. These criteria will also be used during the interview process.

1. Professional qualifications demonstrated competence, training, education, and experience of the Firm in relation to the work to be performed, including appropriate licenses. Each SOQ should clearly delineate and address the firm’s relevant experience and how that experience fulfills the requirements of the work as described in Exhibit A, Scope of Work (SOW), specifically in the following four three areas of service:

a. Strategic Engineering and Environmental Planning Analysis Planning Assistance:

i. Demonstrated experience in developing edited, grammatically correct and concise plans and project documents including relevant charts, maps, graphs, images, photos, tables, spreadsheets, dashboards, and PowerPoint presentations.

ii. Demonstrated experience in reviewing, assessing, analyzing, and providing recommendations on technical and policy documents, guidelines and guidance documents, implementation strategies, communication and engagement plans, activity tracking and reporting documents, and project management documentation.

iii. Demonstrated experience and understanding of high-level strategic and policy-oriented planning with familiarity with State and federal requirements associated with the following:

1. Water resources and watershed strategic planning;

2. Agricultural analysis, assessments, and strategy;

3. Recreation analysis, assessments, and strategy;

4. Stormwater resource planning / drainage assessments;

5. Economic and financing assessments and strategy;

6. Climate vulnerability assessments and adaptation strategies;

7. Hazard mitigation planning and disaster response; and Program/project management;

8. Equity and environmental justice analysis, assessments, and strategic planning.

iv. Demonstrated understanding of CVFPB’s regulatory programs (permitting, enforcement, and inspection) and SSJDD Assessment District Feasibility Study effort and experience conducting assessments, engineering evaluations, and developing recommendations on implementation strategies for these programs.

v. Demonstrated understanding of the CVFPB’s priorities included in the CVFPB’s resolution of adoption of the 2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update and demonstrated experience providing engineering assistance and planning services in support of the implementation of those priorities, including:

1. assessing and developing procedures to State Plan of Flood Control’s (SPFC) modification, addition, removal, or repurposing;

2. evaluating and analyzing unacceptable encroachments in the SPFC, and reviewing engineering proposals to bring encroachments to compliance;

3. providing guidance and developing strategies for non-eligible LMAs to regain and maintain USACE PL 84-99 rehabilitation eligibility for all SPFC levees.

4. analyzing CVFPB’s standards and guidance documents in support of prioritizing of systemwide improvements, multi-benefit projects, and projects that consider multi-benefit features;

5. analyzing future modeled climate scenarios and understanding of how those can be integrated into existing CVFPB standards and guidance;

6. evaluating the adequacy and level of flood protection of existing flood protection facilities (levees, weirs, etc.);

7. developing hydrology based future climate scenarios to support sufficient levels of flood protection for Central Valley communities.

vi. Demonstrated understanding of policies and processes related to multi-benefit flood improvements with experience reviewing, investigating, and evaluating engineering and environmental planning, feasibility studies and design projects that support implementation of multi-benefit flood improvements that mitigate and rehabilitate flood system deficiencies or improve performance and reliability of the existing flood system.

vii. Demonstrated experience conducting planning and engineering analysis to support alignment and coordination of federal, State, and regional flood management plans and multi-benefit initiatives to improve integrated flood management.

viii. Demonstrated understanding of the USACE Section 408 permitting process and relevant federal policies and requirements and experience in conducting engineering analysis and planning required to develop a USACE section 408 multi-phased review.

ix. Demonstrated understanding of Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) policies and groundwater recharge effort, the CVFPB’s Designated Floodway program, and the strategy to integrate both efforts to help groundwater and flood risk management.

b. Environmental Compliance: The CVFPB’s Regulatory Operations:

Demonstrated experience and knowledge of in the following areas:

i. Hydraulics: Review and assess hydraulic modeling data; evaluate project's potential impact on flood water levels, flow velocities, and scour related to flood control features;

assess project's compliance with hydraulic design criteria and standards; have experience evaluating hydraulic structures to assess fish passage.

ii. Geotechnical: Review and assess geotechnical reports; evaluate the project's potential impact on the stability of levees, embankments, and other geotechnical features; assess the project's compliance with relevant geotechnical design criteria and standards.

iii. Report and Compliance Documentation: Prepare concise and informative reports summarizing the findings of the engineering analyses and environmental compliance review including graphics and maps as necessary. Experience providing technical briefings, presentations, and support for implementation of CVFPP flood system alteration projects at meetings and workshops.

iv. Encroachment Removal: Provide engineering and construction support on encroachment removal including pre-removal engineering assistance, construction consulting and monitoring, and field support.

v. Designated Floodway (DF) Program: Perform hydrological and hydraulic modeling and analysis and floodplain mapping necessary to support the Board’s designated floodway program.

vi. Compliance Inspections: develop pre-inspection planning, conduct field inspections including use of drones on project footage and use of camera for pipe video inspections in accordance with NASSCO PACP Standards, and process inspection records and reports. Provide recommendations for resolution of design and construction issues encountered in the field.

vii. Data Management and Database Application Development: develop and maintain databases, update database records, software applications, web-based software applications, and develop Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant web-based applications of the databases.

viii. Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of Title 23 regulations.

c. Technical Environmental Activities: Technical Assistance for Environmental Services:

i. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with developing and reviewing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance documents necessary for CVFPB’s regulatory programs and programmatic flood planning.

ii. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in leading CEQA-mandated public engagement, and communications support, including workshops with interested parties and Tribes, and public notices and mailings; and development of engagement and partnership program documents.

iii. Demonstrated knowledge and experience preparing and managing all records, reports, documents, graphics, and other required documentation necessary to complete and submit regulatory compliance documents.

iv. Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting mitigation and construction monitoring for construction activities, construction sites, or project locations at or near biologically or ecologically sensitive areas, or areas with archeological or cultural resources.

v. Demonstrated knowledge and experience providing cultural resources evaluations, assessments, and reports for environmental permitting compliance, including built environment and historic structure assessments for levees and other applicable structures. Comply Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and CEQA, including early consultation with Native American tribes in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 52 and the California Natural Resources Agency’s Tribal Consultation Policy (Gatto, 2014).

vi. Demonstrated knowledge and experience providing planning and technical services for the development and/or continued implementation of programmatic approaches (i.e., permit agreements, authorizations), project permitting, and agency consultations, to comply with all State and federal environmental requirements.

vii. Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting environmental mitigation and restoration planning, evaluations, design, and monitoring.

viii. Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting hazardous material environmental assessments, including performing site investigations of toxic substances; assist with determining the type and extent of contamination and actions necessary for clean-up.

ix. Demonstrated knowledge and experience performing biological resources assessments, including field surveys, and other field work; biological analyses; and preparing biological reports, including specialized reports for special-status species, habitats, and projects.

d. Program/Project Management and Coordination Activities in support of supporting Sections 1 through 3, as described in Exhibit A, SOW:

i. Demonstrated experience developing strategic plans, implementation plans, work plans, and program management plans, for applications and programs of state agencies.

Demonstrated understanding of CVFPB mission, priorities, programs, and procedures.

ii. Demonstrated experience preparing legislative briefing materials and budget status reports for flood management programs and the CVFPB.

iii. Demonstrated understanding of CVFPB partnerships, programs, and meetings.

Demonstrated experience developing strategies, documents, and communications tools to effectively convey engineering, environmental, and other technical information in support of engagement with local, state, and federal agencies and increased comprehension of technical data. This may include preparation for and facilitation of public meetings, agency meetings, workshops, forums, symposia, conferences, and webinars.

iv. Demonstrated understanding of the Yolo Bypass Cache Slough (YBCS) Partnership, the CVFPB’s role in the YBCS Partnership, the YBCS Mater Plan, and the federal Yolo Bypass Comprehensive Study. Experience conducting planning, program management, project management, and implementation support inter-agency partnerships.

v. Demonstrated expertise and experience in identifying and documenting flood management program resourcing needs, tracking expenditures, and preparing accomplishment reports.

vi. Demonstrated expertise in flood management and water-related issues and experience attending and providing planning support for flood management meetings.

vii. Demonstrated experience in reviewing, assessing, analyzing, and providing recommendations on technical and policy documents, guidelines and guidance documents, implementation strategies, communication and engagement plans, activity tracking and reporting documents, and project management documentation.

viii. Demonstrated experience tracking, coordinating and creating reports for flood management activities.

ix. Demonstrated experience performing project management functions for flood management programs, including development of proposals for scopes of work, schedules, and budgets, concise plans and project documents including relevant charts, maps, graphs, images, photos, tables, spreadsheets, dashboards, and PowerPoint presentations.

2. Key personnel’s P professional experience and training in relation to the work to be performed, including appropriate licenses of key personnel, including the following required licenses and certifications.

a. Strategic Engineering and Environmental Planning Analysis Planning Assistance:

i. Demonstrates understanding of the legislative process and how to affect legislative change.

ii. Demonstrates appropriate use of terms, procedures, and documentation.

iii. Demonstrates extensive knowledge, ability, planning, and resourcefulness to achieve project goals and deliverables within a deadline.

iv. Has experience with USACE ER 500-1-1, USACE Policy for Development and

Implementation of System-Wide Improvement Frameworks (SWIFs) dated November 29, 2011.

v. Demonstrates understanding of SGMA and relevant legislation, experience engaging with GSAs, experience reviewing Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP).

b. Environmental Compliance CVFPB’s Regulatory Operations:

i. Key personnel need to have demonstrated experience of the competences shown in

Section A.21 and have necessary professional licenses and certificates.

ii. For engineering activities, a registered professional engineer in the State of California shall be used.

iii. Video inspection services shall be provided by a certified NASSCO PACP contractor.

iv. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) pilots shall be FAA-Certified Drone Pilots in accordance with 14 CFR Part 107 and abide by all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

c. Technical Assistance for Environmental Services:

i. Provide qualifications for a professional archaeologist for archaeological, historic, pre-historic, and architectural resources. A copy of membership in the Register of Professional Archeologists is desirable.

ii. Personnel with expertise in wetland delineations familiar with United States Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency standards.

iii. Qualified botanists possessing the knowledge of and experience with California plant taxonomy and natural community ecology, aquatic and terrestrial invasive plants and treatments for invasive plants.

d. Program/Project Management and Coordination Activities in support of above Service Areas:

i. Contract Manager will have at least five (5) years cumulative experience, verifiable via submitted resumes, in the following:

1. Engineering P planning related to Flood Management within the jurisdiction of the

Sacramento-San Joaquin Draining District or the Central Valley of California or equal.

2. Managing large, complex, multidisciplinary projects with a strong emphasis on Stakeholder engagement

3. Public Policy

4. Economics

5. Managing large, complex, multidisciplinary projects with a strong emphasis on

Stakeholder engagement

6. Responsible for development of reports containing the required detail and delivering complex, dynamic information and ideas to convey and formulate realistic recommendations.

ii. Personnel must demonstrate multiple years’ experience in applicable laws, public policy, data analysis, research, and writing reports.

iii. Demonstrated competence and relevant experience engaging with stakeholders. Highlight experience and methods used resolving complex, controversial issues verified via submitted resumes and written narratives of previous project and program work.

Demonstrates understanding of key stakeholders and public policies. .

iv. Project management expertise includes developing project plans, charters, schedules, and budgets to implement program and project deliverables.

v. Demonstrated competence and relevant experience to proficiently develop the work plans and schedules - demonstrating the ability to perform the scope of Work and meet the project deliverables.

vi. Demonstrates understanding of project management, relevant parameters, procedures, policies, and documentation of process and results. Identifies major tasks/milestones and subtasks by which progress can be measured. Includes a clear description of approach, analysis, and project design to achieve project goals and deliverables crucial to perform the required services.

3. Nature and quality of completed work that is similar to work described in Exhibit A, Scope of Work:

a. Strategic Engineering and Environmental Planning Analysis Planning Assistance: The firm must have proven success in California water and flood sector programs including feasibility, strategy and policy documents; hydraulics, and hydrology reports; mapping; project technical review documents, technical review strategic reports, development flood management plans and initiatives; implementation, resource plans and documents; program and project tracking expenditure reports and accomplishment reports; and other related documents.

b. Environmental Compliance The CVFPB’s Regulatory Operations: The firm must have demonstrable knowledge of planning, writing, and assisting in the writing of regulations to be approved by the Office of Administrative Law.

c. Environmental Technical Activities Assistance for Environmental Services: The firm must have demonstrable knowledge and experience in the preparation and review of environmental compliance documentation and applications necessary for obtaining local, State, and federal permits.

d. Program/Project Management and Coordination Activities in support of above Service Areas:

i. The firm must demonstrate proficiencies in drafting of briefing materials; developing communication, engagement, and outreach plans and strategic documents; Flood and water-related expertise to produce reports, presentations, and other communication documents and providing expert graphic, editorial, and report design for finalizing publications; implementation, resource plans and documents; program and project tracking expenditure reports and accomplishment reports; and other related documents.

ii. Demonstrable knowledge and experience with the facilitation and public outreach for complex and potentially contentious public projects, programs, and topics.

iii. The firm must demonstrate the ability to meet deadlines and provide deliverables for Board-related planning and program management coordination activities including briefing materials, presentations, communication, engagement, and outreach plans and response to public comment; engagement strategic documents and plans; scopes of work, schedules, and budgets, implementation and resource plans, program development, and project tracking expenditure reports; accomplishment reports; and other related documents.

4. Reliability of firm and continuity of proposed firm’s staff and subcontractors included in the team.

The firm shall demonstrate reliability and continuity of staff and subcontractors.

5. Firm’s workload and demonstrated ability to meet the Board’s potential needs, including ability to adequately service multiple projects concurrently.

6. The firm shall demonstrate staff capacity adequately service multiple projects concurrently.

7. Location of firm office(s) for contract manager and services.

a. The firm and its contract manager will have an office in northern California, approximately within 2-hour driving distance from the City of Sacramento.

Request for Qualifications, Section VI. Selection Criteria clean version is as follows:

VI. Selection Criteria

A. Each Firm’s SOQ for this proposed contract service will be evaluated and scored in accordance with the below selection criteria. These criteria will also be used during the interview process.

1. Professional qualifications and experience of the Firm. Each SOQ should clearly delineate and address the firm’s relevant experience and how that experience fulfills the requirements of the work as described in Exhibit A, Scope of Work (SOW), specifically in the following three areas of service:

a. Strategic Engineering and Environmental Planning Analysis:

i. Demonstrated experience and understanding of high-level strategic and policy-oriented planning with familiarity with State and federal requirements associated with the following:

1. Water resources and watershed strategic planning;

2. Agricultural analysis, assessments, and strategy;

3. Recreation analysis, assessments, and strategy;

4. Stormwater resource planning / drainage assessments;

5. Economic and financing assessments and strategy;

6. Climate vulnerability assessments and adaptation strategies;

7. Hazard mitigation planning and disaster response; and Program/project management;

8. Equity and environmental justice analysis, assessments, and strategic planning.

ii. Demonstrated understanding of CVFPB’s regulatory programs (permitting, enforcement, and inspection) and SSJDD Assessment District Feasibility Study effort and experience conducting assessments, engineering evaluations, and developing recommendations on implementation strategies for these programs.

iii. Demonstrated understanding of the CVFPB’s priorities included in the CVFPB’s resolution of adoption of the 2022 Central Valley Flood Protection Plan Update and demonstrated experience providing engineering assistance and planning services in support of the implementation of those priorities, including:

1. assessing and developing procedures to State Plan of Flood Control’s (SPFC) modification, addition, removal, or repurposing;

2. evaluating and analyzing unacceptable encroachments in the SPFC, and reviewing engineering proposals to bring encroachments to compliance;

3. providing guidance and developing strategies for non-eligible LMAs to regain and maintain USACE PL 84-99 rehabilitation eligibility for all SPFC levees.

4. analyzing CVFPB’s standards and guidance documents in support of prioritizing of systemwide improvements, multi-benefit projects, and projects that consider multi-benefit features;

5. analyzing future modeled climate scenarios and understanding of how those can be integrated into existing CVFPB standards and guidance;

6. evaluating the adequacy and level of flood protection of existing flood protection facilities (levees, weirs, etc.);

7. developing hydrology based future climate scenarios to support sufficient levels of flood protection for Central Valley communities.

iv. Demonstrated understanding of policies and processes related to multi-benefit flood improvements with experience reviewing, investigating, and evaluating engineering and environmental planning, feasibility studies and design projects that support implementation of multi-benefit flood improvements that mitigate and rehabilitate flood system deficiencies or improve performance and reliability of the existing flood system.

v. Demonstrated experience conducting planning and engineering analysis to support alignment and coordination of federal, State, and regional flood management plans and multi-benefit initiatives to improve integrated flood management.

vi. Demonstrated understanding of the USACE Section 408 permitting process and relevant federal policies and requirements and experience in conducting engineering analysis and planning required to develop a USACE section 408 multi-phased review.

vii. Demonstrated understanding of Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) policies and groundwater recharge effort, the CVFPB’s Designated Floodway program, and the strategy to integrate both efforts to help groundwater and flood risk management.

b. Environmental Compliance:

Demonstrated experience and knowledge of in the following areas:

i. Hydraulics: Review and assess hydraulic modeling data; evaluate project's potential impact on flood water levels, flow velocities, and scour related to flood control features;

assess project's compliance with hydraulic design criteria and standards; have experience evaluating hydraulic structures to assess fish passage.

ii. Geotechnical: Review and assess geotechnical reports; evaluate the project's potential impact on the stability of levees, embankments, and other geotechnical features; assess the project's compliance with relevant geotechnical design criteria and standards.

iii. Report and Compliance Documentation: Prepare concise and informative reports summarizing the findings of the engineering analyses and environmental compliance review including graphics and maps as necessary. Experience providing technical briefings, presentations, and support for implementation of CVFPP flood system alteration projects at meetings and workshops.

iv. Encroachment Removal: Provide engineering and construction support on encroachment removal including pre-removal engineering assistance, construction consulting and monitoring, and field support.

v. Designated Floodway (DF) Program: Perform hydrological and hydraulic modeling and analysis and floodplain mapping necessary to support the Board’s designated floodway program.

vi. Compliance Inspections: develop pre-inspection planning, conduct field inspections including use of drones on project footage and use of camera for pipe video inspections in accordance with NASSCO PACP Standards, and process inspection records and reports. Provide recommendations for resolution of design and construction issues encountered in the field.

vii. Data Management and Database Application Development: develop and maintain databases, update database records, software applications, web-based software applications, and develop Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant web-based applications of the databases.

viii. Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of Title 23 regulations.

c. Technical Environmental Activities:

i. Demonstrated knowledge and experience with developing and reviewing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)/National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance documents necessary for regulatory programs and programmatic flood planning.

ii. Demonstrated knowledge and experience in leading CEQA-mandated public engagement, and communications support, including workshops with interested parties and Tribes, and public notices and mailings; and development of engagement and partnership program documents.

iii. Demonstrated knowledge and experience preparing and managing all records, reports, documents, graphics, and other required documentation necessary to complete and submit regulatory compliance documents.

iv. Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting mitigation and construction monitoring for construction activities, construction sites, or project locations at or near biologically or ecologically sensitive areas, or areas with archeological or cultural resources.

v. Demonstrated knowledge and experience providing cultural resources evaluations, assessments, and reports for environmental permitting compliance, including built environment and historic structure assessments for levees and other applicable structures. Comply Compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and CEQA, including early consultation with Native American tribes in accordance with Assembly Bill (AB) 52 and the California Natural Resources Agency’s Tribal Consultation Policy (Gatto, 2014).

vi. Demonstrated knowledge and experience providing planning and technical services for the development and/or continued implementation of programmatic approaches (i.e., permit agreements, authorizations), project permitting, and agency consultations, to comply with all State and federal environmental requirements.

vii. Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting environmental mitigation and restoration planning, evaluations, design, and monitoring.

viii. Demonstrated knowledge and experience conducting hazardous material environmental assessments, including performing site investigations of toxic substances; assist with determining the type and extent of contamination and actions necessary for clean-up.

ix. Demonstrated knowledge and experience performing biological resources assessments, including field surveys, and other field work; biological analyses; and preparing biological reports, including specialized reports for special-status species, habitats, and projects.

d. Program/Project Management and Coordination Activities supporting Sections 1 through 3, as described in Exhibit A, SOW:

i. Demonstrated experience developing strategic plans, implementation plans, work plans, and program management plans, for applications and programs of state agencies.

Demonstrated understanding of CVFPB mission, priorities, programs, and procedures.

ii. Demonstrated experience preparing legislative briefing materials and budget status reports for flood management programs and the CVFPB.

iii. Demonstrated understanding of CVFPB partnerships, programs, and meetings.

Demonstrated experience developing strategies, documents, and communications tools to effectively convey engineering, environmental, and other technical information in support of engagement with local, state, and federal agencies and increased comprehension of technical data. This may include preparation for and facilitation of public meetings, agency meetings, workshops, forums, symposia, conferences, and webinars.

iv. Demonstrated understanding of the Yolo Bypass Cache Slough (YBCS) Partnership, the CVFPB’s role in the YBCS Partnership, the YBCS Mater Plan, and the federal Yolo Bypass Comprehensive Study. Experience conducting planning, program management, project management, and implementation support inter-agency partnerships.

v. Demonstrated expertise and experience in identifying and documenting flood management program resourcing needs, tracking expenditures, and preparing accomplishment reports.

vi. Demonstrated expertise in flood management and water-related issues and experience attending and providing planning support for flood management meetings.

vii. Demonstrated experience in reviewing, assessing, analyzing, and providing recommendations on technical and policy documents, guidelines and guidance documents, implementation strategies, communication and engagement plans, activity tracking and reporting documents, and project management documentation.

viii. Demonstrated experience performing project management functions for flood management programs, including development of proposals for scopes of work, schedules, budgets, concise plans and project documents including relevant charts, maps, graphs, images, photos, tables, spreadsheets, dashboards, and PowerPoint presentations.

2. Key personnel’s professional experience and training in relation to the work to be performed, including appropriate licenses.

a. Strategic Engineering and Environmental Planning:

i. Demonstrates understanding of the legislative process and how to affect legislative change.

ii. Demonstrates appropriate use of terms, procedures, and documentation.

iii. Demonstrates extensive knowledge, ability, planning, and resourcefulness to achieve project goals and deliverables within a deadline.

iv. Has experience with USACE ER 500-1-1, USACE Policy for Development and

Implementation of System-Wide Improvement Frameworks (SWIFs) dated November 29, 2011.

v. Demonstrates understanding of SGMA and relevant legislation, experience engaging with

GSAs, experience reviewing Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP).

b. Environmental Compliance:

i. Key personnel need to have demonstrated experience of the competences shown in

Section A.1 and have necessary professional licenses and certificates.

c. Program/Project Management and Coordination Activities in support of above Service Areas:

i. Contract Manager will have at least five (5) years cumulative experience, verifiable via submitted resumes, in the following:

1. Engineering planning related to Flood Management within the jurisdiction of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Draining District or the Central Valley of California or equal.

2. Managing large, complex, multidisciplinary projects with a strong emphasis on Stakeholder engagement

3. Public Policy

4. Economics

5. Responsible for delivering complex, dynamic information and ideas to convey and formulate realistic recommendations.

ii. Personnel must demonstrate multiple years’ experience in applicable laws, public policy, data analysis, research, and writing reports.

iii. Demonstrated competence and relevant experience engaging with stakeholders. Highlight experience and methods used resolving complex, controversial issues verified via submitted resumes and written narratives of previous project and program work.

Demonstrates understanding of key stakeholders and public policies. .

iv. Demonstrated competence and relevant experience to proficiently develop the work plans and schedules - demonstrating the ability to perform the scope of Work and meet the project deliverables.

v. Demonstrates understanding of project management, relevant parameters, procedures, policies, and documentation of process and results. Identifies major tasks/milestones and subtasks by which progress can be measured. Includes a clear description of approach, analysis, and project design to achieve project goals and deliverables.

3. Nature and quality of completed work that is similar to work described in Exhibit A, Scope of Work:

a. Strategic Engineering and Environmental Planning: The firm must have proven success in California water and flood sector programs including feasibility, strategy and policy documents; hydraulics, and hydrology reports; mapping; project technical review documents, technical review strategic reports, development flood management plans and initiatives;

implementation, resource plans and documents; program and project tracking expenditure reports and accomplishment reports; and other related documents.

b. Environmental Compliance: The firm must have demonstrable knowledge of planning, writing, and assisting in the writing of regulations to be approved by the Office of Administrative Law.

c. Environmental Technical Activities: The firm must have demonstrable knowledge and experience in the preparation and review of environmental compliance documentation and applications necessary for obtaining local, State, and federal permits.

d. Program/Project Management and Coordination Activities in support of above Service Areas:

iv. The firm must demonstrate proficiencies in drafting of briefing materials; developing communication, engagement, and outreach plans and strategic documents; Flood and water-related expertise to produce reports, presentations, and other communication documents and providing expert graphic, editorial, and report design for finalizing publications; implementation, resource plans and documents; program and project tracking expenditure reports and accomplishment reports; and other related documents.

v. Demonstrable knowledge and experience with the facilitation and public outreach for complex and potentially contentious public projects, programs, and topics.

vi. The firm must demonstrate the ability to meet deadlines and provide deliverables for Board-related planning and program management coordination activities including briefing materials, presentations, communication, engagement, and outreach plans and response to public comment; engagement strategic documents and plans; scopes of work, schedules, and budgets, implementation and resource plans, program development, and project tracking expenditure reports; accomplishment reports; and other related documents.

4. Reliability of firm and continuity of proposed firm’s staff and subcontractors included in the team.

The firm shall demonstrate reliability and continuity of staff and subcontractors.

5. Firm’s workload and demonstrated ability to meet the Board’s potential needs, including ability to adequately service multiple projects concurrently.

6. The firm shall demonstrate staff capacity adequately service multiple projects concurrently.

7. Location of firm office(s) for contract manager and services.

a. The firm and its contract manager will have an office in northern California, approximately within 2-hour driving distance from the City of Sacramento.

Item 2: Request for Qualifications, Exhibit A, Scope of Work is revised as written below. The strikeout denotes the deletions and the bold underline denotes the additions as follows:

I. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

To carry out the CVFPB duties pursuance to Water Code sections 8534, 8608 and 8710 – 8723 In support of CVFPB, on an as-needed, as directed basis the Contractor will provide engineering and environmental expertise, in the following area(s):

1. Strategic Engineering and Environmental Planning Analysis Planning Assistance:

a. Review and analyze proposed strategies, plans, and flood control project designs to support CVFPB’s regulatory operations including permitting, enforcement, and inspection of encroachments to the Adopted Plan of Flood Control.

b. Review, evaluate, and provide recommendations to CVFPB regarding engineering, strategic, and planning guidance documents published by federal, state, and local agencies that may affect CVFPB’s regulatory programs.

c. Review and assess engineering evaluations for the SSJDD Program, including updating the Report of Findings and developing recommendations on the implementation strategy of the SSJDD feasibility study.

d. Review, investigate, and evaluate engineering and environmental planning, feasibility studies and design projects that support implementation of multi-benefit flood improvements that mitigate and rehabilitate flood system deficiencies or improve performance and reliability of the existing flood system.

e. Planning and engineering analysis to support alignment and coordination of federal, State, and regional flood management plans and multi-benefit initiatives to improve integrated flood management.

f. Investigate and evaluate federal policy and requirements to support development of a USACE section 408 multi-phased review.

g. Conduct engineering analysis and planning required to develop a USACE section 408 multi-phased review, which will include hydrologic and hydraulic (H&H) models, development of H&H and ecosystem baselines, evaluation of ecosystem benefits, conducting and analyzing flood risk and life loss models, and producing engineering cost estimates of flood management and multi-benefit improvements, preparation of permit applications and required documentation.

h. Provide engineering assistance for CVFPB review of Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSP) for consistency with CVFPB regulations and mission and for multi-benefit projects or programs that support implementation of the Sustainability Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). This will include geographic information system (GIS) analysis; evaluation of findings from GSP review, engaging and coordinating with Groundwater Sustainability Agencies and state agencies overseeing SGMA implementation to identify areas common to CVFPB regulatory authority and SGMA’s interests to support action items, engaging and coordinating with RFMPs, and research of proposed projects in the Central Valley that integrate groundwater recharge with flood risk reduction.

i. Provide engineering assistance and strategic planning services in support of CVFPP implementation.

This will include:

i. review and analyze design and specifications activities affecting SPFC modification of flood protection facilities;

ii. evaluate and analyze of unacceptable encroachments in the SPFC and review engineering proposals to bring these encroachments to compliance;

iii. review and investigate factors affecting LMA eligibility for the USACE PL84-99

Rehabilitation Program;

iv. analyze and evaluate to provide recommendations for modernization of CVFPB standards and guidance documents to support prioritization of systemwide improvements, multi-benefit projects, and projects that consider multi-benefit features;

v. evaluate hydrologic responses to climate change scenarios;

vi. analyze how future modeled climate scenarios can be integrated into existing CVFPB standards and guidance;

vii. evaluate of the adequacy and level of flood protection of existing flood protection facilities

(levees, weirs, etc.);

viii. develop hydrology based future climate scenarios to support sufficient levels of flood protection for Central Valley communities.

2. Environmental Compliance CVFPB’s Regulatory Operations:

a. Conduct hydraulic and geotechnical analyses, environmental compliance review, and report development for the CVFPB’s encroachment permitting program, including permitting process for permit applications as part of Middle-Mile Broadband Network initiative, mandated by Senate Bill 156 (2021).

b. Provide engineering assistance and field support for encroachment removals due to enforcement action.

c. Provide technical support and recommendations for inspection compliance verification activities including video and drone services to supplement CVFPB’s expertise, including construction inspections of projects as part of Middle-Mile Broadband Network initiative, mandated by Senator Bill 156 (2021).

d. Provide engineering analysis and policy recommendations to support implementation of the CVFPB’s DF program. Conduct hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and floodway mapping;

provide engineering support for coordination with other state/regional initiatives that overlap with the DF program; support drafting engineering part of regulation updates to integrate these initiatives with DF program; conduct engagement and outreach with stakeholders.

e. Develop database application tools to support CVFPB’s retention and use of data and records of engineering analysis, designs, plans, as-builts to support engineering reviews, information tracking, scanning of historical documents, Americans with Disability Act document compliance.

f. Review, assess, and provide recommendations regarding the engineering aspects of draft updates to regulations specifically impacting CVFPB, contained in California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Waters, Division 1 (Title 23), Article 8.

3. Technical Environmental Activities Technical Assistance for Environmental Services:

a. Review and provide recommendations for California Environmental Quality Act/National Environmental Policy Act (CEQA/NEPA) compliance documents necessary for CVFPB’s regulatory programs and programmatic flood planning.

b. Provide assistance to CVFPB to comply with CEQA-mandated public engagement, and communications support, including workshops with interested parties and Tribes, and…