24ISD003_RFP_Final.pdf

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (SECONDARY METHOD)

Notice to Prospective Proposers RFP No. 24ISD003

January 6, 2024

You are invited to review and respond to this Request for Proposal (RFP) No. 24ISD003, titled, “California Shrubland Carbon Sampling Framework”. In submitting your proposal, you must comply with the instructions found herein.

This RFP is published online in the California State Contracts Register (CSCR) at https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx. To ensure receipt of any addenda to this RFP that may be issued, interested parties are encouraged to register online at:

https://caleprocure.ca.gov

The California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) deadline for receipt of proposals is February 3, 2025, no later than 5:00 p.m. All proposals received late will be rejected. File size cannot exceed 50 Mega Bytes (MB). The naming convention of the proposal must be in the following format: “RFP 24ISD003 [Insert vendor name] Proposal”. Proposals must be received on or before the date and time specified herein at email addresses provided below:

EMAIL RFP Proposal to:

Purchasing@arb.ca.gov CC: sakinah.carter@arb.ca.gov CC: vikki.dyachuk@arb.ca.gov

You are advised that you are responsible for ensuring that your proposal is received by the above listed contact person by the time and date required. Any proposal reaching the contact person after the deadline date and time will be rejected.

In the opinion of CARB, this RFP is complete and without need of explanation. However, if you have questions, notice any discrepancies or inconsistencies, or need any clarifying information, contact the person listed below. All questions must be submitted in accordance with the RFP instructions contained herein and sent via email directly to the below listed contact person and not through the Cal eProcure system.

Contact: Sakinah Carter Email: sakinah.carter@arb.ca.gov

We appreciate your interest in this project and hope to receive a proposal from you if this is within your area of expertise.

California Air Resources Board RFP No. 24ISD003

Table of Contents

SECTION PAGE

I. PURPOSE / BACKGROUND / SCOPE OF WORK 3

A) Purpose 3 B) Background 4 C) Scope of Work 4

II. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (GENERAL) AND INFORMATION 5

A) Key Action Dates 5 B) Questions Regarding RFP Requirements 6 C) General Proposal Requirements 6 D) Submission of Proposals 7 E) Modification and/or Withdrawal of Proposals 7 F) Proposer Responsibilities 8 G) Signature 10 H) Disposition of Proposals 10 I) Socio-Economic and Preference Programs 10

III. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (TECHNICAL) 13

A) Technical Proposal Requirements 13

1) Minimum Qualifications 13

2) Title Page 14

3) Cover Letter / Letter of Commitment 14

4) Table of Contents 15

5) Summary 15

6) Minimum Qualifications Response 15

7) Required Attachments 15

8) References 15

9) Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement 15

10) Subcontracts / Subcontractors 15

11) Technical Portion 16

a. Management Plan 16

b. Methodology (Approach to Work) 16

c. Work Plan and Work Schedule 16

d. Personnel / Experience 22

e. Page Headers and Page Numbering 22

B) Cost Proposal Requirements 22

1) Cost Detail 23

2) Page Headers and Page Numbering 23

IV. EVALUATION, SELECTION, AND AWARD 23

A) Administrative Evaluation (Phase 1) 23 B) Technical Evaluation (Phase 2) 23

1) Scoring Criterion Guidelines 24

2) Cost Points 24

3) Proposal Evaluation Form 26 C) Proposal Rejection 28 D) Selection 28 E) Notice of Proposed Award 29 F) Standard Conditions of Service 29 G) Post Award Requirements 30

ATTACHMENTS

1) Required Attachment Checklist 31

2) Draft Standard Agreement (STD 213) 32 Exhibit A, Scope of Work 33 Exhibit A, Attachment 1 – Technical Proposal 47 Exhibit B, Budget Detail and Payment Provisions 48 Exhibit B, Attachment 1 – Contractor Cost Sheet 49 Exhibit C, General Terms and Conditions (GTC 04/2017) 50 Exhibit D, Special Terms and Conditions 51 Exhibit E, Additional Provisions 57

Exhibit E, Attachment 1 – Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement 60 Exhibit F, Progress Report Template 61

Exhibit G, Final Report Format 62

3) Proposer References Form 71

4) Payee Data Record (STD 204) 72

5) Payee Data Record (STD 205) 74

6) Contractor Certification Clauses (CCC 04/2017) 76

7) California Civil Rights Laws Certification 80

8) Darfur Contracting Act Certification 81

9) Bidder Declaration Form 82

10) CA DVBE Bid Incentive Instructions 85

11) Contractor Cost Sheet 89

12) Detailed Response for Minimum Qualifications 91

13) COVID-19 Prevention Contractor Self-Certification 92

14) Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement 93

15) Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Disclosure & Fact Sheet 94

I. PURPOSE / BACKGROUND / SCOPE OF WORK

A. Purpose

This Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit competitive proposals from experienced and qualified contractors to quantify biomass carbon for shrubland ecosystems plots across California, to be developed through field inventories and related to remote sensing metrics.

This collection of biomass carbon data will be of sufficient quantity, spatial extent, and variation to represent the broad range of California’s shrublands across existing climate, edaphic conditions, and disturbance regimes. This data will update entries within the State’s Natural and Working Lands (NWL) Inventory methodology and support ongoing modeling of annual carbon stock change related to nature-based solution (NBS) implementation and climate change.

For a detailed description of the work to be performed, please refer to Attachment 2, Draft Standard Agreement. No work shall begin until all required signatures and approvals are obtained and the CARB Project Manager provides direction.

The work of this contract is expected to require twenty-seven (27) months. The total budget for the entire contract is $900,000.00. Proposals exceeding this amount may be deemed non-responsive and ineligible for award.

Provided the Contractor has performed satisfactorily during the term of the contract, CARB reserves the right to amend the Agreement for time only, for up to twelve (12) months.

B. Background

CARB has been directed through Assembly Bill (AB) 1757[1] to quantify and report the carbon stocks in, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from, and co-benefits provided by all natural and working lands over time as part of the NWL Carbon Inventory. Within NWL, shrublands have the largest extent of any vegetation category within California, currently comprising 28% of the state, and these ecosystems may be expanding into areas previously occupied by other ecosystems. In shrublands, inventory modeling of carbon stocks and carbon stock change is limited by a lack of field-collected biomass carbon data and corresponding allometric equations that can be used within large-scale carbon inventories. These field-based collections form the basis for statewide scaling of biomass carbon pools, and the lack of data hinders current inventories for shrubland ecosystems.

The deliverables resulting from this proposed agreement will enhance CARB’s NWL inventory methods and will be explicitly designed to link to other data products including Landscape Fire and Resource Management Planning Tools (LANDFIRE) and National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery. These improvements to carbon inventory methods include the establishment of key metrics for estimating shrubland biomass carbon, and a protocol using these metrics to generate carbon data at county to statewide scales. Where key knowledge gaps exist, direct sampling will generate needed allometric equations. In addition, the protocol developed as part of this RFP will highlight and support the measurement of consistent metrics that should be reported by agencies and groups implementing NBS projects across the State.

These reported metrics, facilitated by a non-technical carbon density measurement protocol, will help translate project-scale impacts to cumulative, state-wide accounting efforts.

C. Scope of Work

The overarching purpose of this project is to enhance CARB’s ability to measure, monitor and model shrubland biomass carbon stocks over time. This will be done by establishing representative sampling plots where biomass carbon will be measured using a combination of approaches, including direct sampling and plot-scale measurements connected to remote sensing data products. This collection of biomass carbon data will be of sufficient quantity, spatial extent, and variation to represent the broad range of California’s shrublands across existing climate, edaphic conditions, and disturbance regimes. The data will facilitate estimates of biomass within CARB’s current accounting framework, help to ensure quality within third-party carbon accounting models/estimates, and facilitate future improvements to interannual, remotely sensed estimates and modeling of carbon stocks.

The quantity and scale of inventory plots generated by this project is paramount to quickly and accurately inform CARB efforts in monitoring shrubland biomass carbon. An integrated sampling approach shall be used, combining existing literature with direct sampling to develop plot scale (30m x 30m) measurements of carbon density with a high degree of accuracy and explicit uncertainty. Within this method, a literature review will inform sampling knowledge gaps and determine methods for estimating below-ground, vegetative biomass (which will not be explicitly sampled). Targeted direct sampling, narrowed to key, under-studied ecosystems through the literature review, will determine allometric equations for calculating carbon density at plot scales, which in turn will be connected to remotely sensed data. For this purpose, collaboration between contractors in multiple regions of the state is encouraged to facilitate representative sampling across spatially distant shrubland communities.

The collected data will further inform CARB efforts in NWL by updating the LANDFIRE-C model.

LANDFIRE-C is a model developed from FIA plot data to estimate carbon stocks and carbon stock change under CARB’s NWL Inventory. LANDFIRE-C produces estimates of aboveground live and dead carbon pools using a consistent methodology. This consistent methodology allows

CARB to track changes in natural and working lands carbon stocks over time, while still incorporating new research and science. Plot-scale measurements from this project will be used in conjunction with LANDFIRE cover type (EVT), shrub percent coverage (EVC), and canopy height (EVH) and disturbance data products to refine LANDFIRE-C estimates for shrubland communities.

For a detailed description of the work to be performed, please refer to Attachment 2, Draft Standard Agreement.

D. Supporting Documentation

1. 2022 - Assembly Bill 1757

a. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/2022-assembly-bill-1757-garcia-cristina-california-global-warming-solutions-act-2006-climate-goal

II. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (GENERAL) AND INFORMATION

This section contains instructions for the submission of your proposal. It is the responsibility of the proposer to carefully read and follow all proposal requirements within this RFP. Compliance with the RFP instructions is mandatory for your proposal to be considered for award. Failure to comply with the RFP instructions may cause your proposal to be deemed non-compliant and non-responsive, thus ineligible for award.

A. Key Action Dates

Below is the tentative time schedule for this RFP. CARB reserves the right to modify the RFP and/or change dates and times at its sole discretion, prior to the date fixed for submission of proposals, by the issuance of an addendum that will be posted on the California State Contracts Register (CSCR) at: https://caleprocure.ca.gov.

1. CARB reserves the right to modify or cancel in whole or any part of this solicitation.

2. Clarifications to the solicitation will only be provided in the form of a written addendum to all Proposers.

Key Actions Dates Time RFP available to prospective Proposers 01/06/2025 N/A Written Questions Submittal Deadline 01/13/2025 5:00 p.m.

Question and Answers Addendum Posted 01/27/2025 5:00 p.m.

Final Date for Proposal Submission/Receipt by CARB

02/03/2025 5:00 p.m.

Complete Evaluation of Proposals 02/05/2025 - 02/11/2025

N/A

Posting of Intent to Award Notice(s) (Notice is posted for five [5] business days) 02/13/2025 N/A

Agreement sent to successful Proposer 02/21/2025 N/A Signed Agreement returned to CARB for counter-signature

02/28/2025 N/A

Agreement Approved and Executed – work begins

03/31/2025 N/A

RFP Key Action Dates listed above are estimates only, and subject to change at CARB’s sole discretion. No work shall begin until all required approvals and signatures, including the Department of General Services (DGS) Office of Legal Services, if applicable, are obtained.

B. Questions Regarding RFP Requirements

All questions or concerns related to the RFP requirements must be directed electronically to:

Fiscal Services Division Acquisitions Branch Contact: Sakinah Carter Email: sakinah.carter@arb.ca.gov

Questions must be received by the date and time specified under Section II, A. Key Action Dates. Answers to all questions submitted will be in the form of an addendum posted to the DGS California State Contracts Register (CSCR) website https://caleprocure.ca.gov/pages/index.aspx by the date and time specified under Section II, A. Key Action Dates. Please note that no verbal information given will be binding upon the State unless such information is issued in writing as an official addendum to all parties/participants. All questions must be submitted referencing the RFP number in the subject line, directly to the above listed contact person and not through the Cal eProcure system.

C. General Proposal Requirements

1. Proposals should provide straightforward and concise descriptions of the Proposer’s ability to satisfy the requirements of this RFP. The proposal must be complete and accurate.

Omissions, inaccuracies or misstatements will be sufficient cause for rejection of a proposal.

2. Proposals must be submitted for the performance of all services described herein. Any deviation from the work specifications (Section Ill, Proposal Requirements, and Attachment 2, Draft Standard Agreement) may cause a proposal to be rejected.

D. Submission of Proposals

1. Proposals must be submitted no later than the date and time indicated in Section II.A. Key Action Dates, and must be addressed as follows in Item 2.

Proposals received after this date and time will not be considered and will be rejected.

2. Delivery Instructions

Responses to this RFP shall be submitted to CARB at the following email addresses provided in Section 2.b. below and include:

a. One (1) copy containing the Technical Proposal and all other required elements along with the Cost Proposal.

b. Submit to the following email addresses and reference the RFP number in the subject line.

Purchasing@arb.ca.gov CC: sakinah.carter@arb.ca.gov

3. Each proposal will be reviewed to determine if it meets the proposal requirements contained in Section lV, Proposal Requirements (Technical). Failure to meet the requirements for the RFP may be cause for rejection of the proposal.

4. A proposal may be rejected if it is conditional or incomplete, or if it contains any alterations of form or other irregularities of any kind. The State may reject any or all proposals and may waive any immaterial deviation in a proposal. The State’s waiver of immaterial defect shall in no way modify the RFP document or excuse the Proposer from full compliance with all requirements if the Proposer is awarded the Agreement.

5. CARB may modify the RFP up to the specified time of the date fixed listed for submission of proposals by the issuance of an addendum to all parties who received a proposal package. Any addendum(s) will be issued through the Cal eProcure system.

6. The State reserves the right to reject all proposals.

7. More than one (1) proposal from an individual, firm, partnership, corporation or association under the same or different names, will not be considered. Reasonable grounds for believing that any Proposer has submitted more than one proposal for the work contemplated herein will cause the rejection of all proposals submitted by that Proposer. If there is reason to believe that collusion exists among the Proposers, none of the participants in such collusion will be considered, in this or future procurements.

E. Modification and/or Withdrawal of Proposals

1. A Proposer may modify a proposal after its submission by withdrawing its original proposal and resubmitting a new proposal prior to the proposal submission deadline. Proposer modifications offered in any other manner, oral or written, will not be considered.

2. A Proposer may withdraw its proposal by submitting a written withdrawal request to CARB signed by the Proposer or an agent authorized in accordance with Section II.G., titled “Signature”. A Proposer may thereafter submit a new proposal prior to the proposal submission deadline. Proposals may not be withdrawn without cause subsequent to proposal submission deadline.

F. Proposer Responsibilities

1. Proposers should carefully examine the entire RFP, with special attention to the tasks and deliverables found in Attachment 2, Draft Standard Agreement (STD 213). Proposers shall investigate obstacles that might be encountered. No additions or increases to the agreement amount will be made due to a lack of careful examination of the requirements.

2. Before submitting a response to this RFP, Proposer(s) should review their response, correct all errors, and confirm compliance with the RFP requirements. It is the Proposer’s responsibility to complete and submit all required attachments as listed on Attachment 1, Required Attachment Checklist.

3. Costs incurred for developing proposals and in anticipation of award of the Agreement are entirely the responsibility of the Proposer and shall not be charged to CARB.

4. It is the Proposer’s responsibility to promptly notify CARB’s contract analyst identified in the solicitation, in writing, by e-mail, if the Proposer believes that the solicitation is unfairly restrictive, contains errors or discrepancies, or is otherwise unclear. Notification must be done immediately upon receipt of the solicitation in order that the matter may be fully considered and appropriate action taken by CARB prior to the closing time set to receive solicitation responses. Such notification must be submitted no later than the question and answer period referenced in Section II.A., Key Action Dates. All such correspondence received after the question and answer deadline will not be considered.

5. Proposer is responsible to review, read, understand, and comply in full with the State’s

General Terms and Conditions along with the Contractor’s Certification Clauses (CCC) as listed at: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal-Services- Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language.

6. Each proposal must constitute an irrevocable offer for a period of at least 180 working days after proposal submission.

7. The Proposer must provide evidence to show that members of the team possess the specific qualifications, competence, experience, resources, and business integrity necessary to carry out the work under the contract as expected. Examples of evidence include, but are not limited to: résumés, letters of reference, project summaries that highlight the team’s specific experience. Proposers must complete Attachment 3, Proposer References Form.

8. The Proposer must own and operate a legitimate business. If required by law, the

Proposer must be registered and in good standing within the California Secretary of State.

All businesses that are required to be registered with the California Secretary of State must be registered prior to date of Agreement award. Evidence of registration shall be submitted with the proposal.

9. In the event that any license(s) and/or permit(s) expire at any time during the term of this agreement, Proposer agrees to provide agency a copy of the renewed license(s) and/or permit(s) within thirty (30) days following the expiration date. In the event the Proposer fails to keep in effect at all times all required license(s) and permit(s), the State may, in addition to any other remedies it may have, terminate this Agreement upon occurrence of such event.

10. It is unlawful for any person engaged in business within this state to sell or use any article or product as a “loss leader” as defined in Section 17030 of the Business and Professions Code.

11. The Proposer must complete and submit to CARB, Attachment 4, Payee Data Record

(STD 204), to determine if the selected proposer is subject to state income tax withholding, pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Code, Section 18662. This form can be found on the Internet at http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fm c/pdf/std204.pdf . No payment shall be made unless a completed STD 204 has been returned to CARB. Payee Data Record Supplemental Std. 205 (if applicable) Attachment 5, has been returned to CARB. This form can be found on the Internet at https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std205.pdf

12. The Proposer must sign and submit to CARB, page one (1) of the Attachment 6, Contractor Certification Clauses (CCC 04/2017), or the form can be obtained via the Internet at: https://www.dgs.ca.gov/OLS/Resources/Page-Content/Office-of-Legal- Services-Resources-List-Folder/Standard-Contract-Language.

13. The Proposer must sign and submit to CARB, Attachment 7, California Civil Rights Laws

Certification.

14. The Proposer must sign and submit to CARB, Attachment 8, Darfur Contracting Act Certification.

15. The Proposer must sign and submit to CARB, Attachment 9, the Bidder Declaration Form

(GSPD-05105).

16. The Proposer must complete and submit to CARB, Attachment 11, Contractor Cost Sheet,. Failure to fully complete and return this attachment with your proposal will cause your bid to be rejected and deemed non-responsive.

17. The Proposer must complete and submit to CARB, Attachment 12, Detailed Response for Minimum Qualification. Failure to fully complete and return this attachment with your proposal will cause your bid to be rejected and deemed non-responsive.

18. As part of CARB’s ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of its employees, CARB is requesting all vendors / Contractors who perform work in person or on site to provide certification that the vendor’s / Contractor’s employees and subcontractors have provided documentation to the vendor / Contractor that the employees are either fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (as defined by the CDC), or have obtained a negative COVID-19 test result within seventy-two (72) hours of in-person or on-site work. The vendor / Contractor does not need to provide the documentation of employees’ or subcontractors’ vaccination status or negative test result to CARB. If no employees or subcontractors of the vendor / Contractor will interact with any CARB employees or perform work on site, CARB requests the vendor / Contractor certify to this effect.

Additionally, all Contractors who perform services under a contract with CARB are expected to, at their own expense, comply with all applicable health and safety laws and regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, all laws, regulations, and public health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Proposer must sign and submit to CARB, Attachment 13, COVID-19 Prevention Contractor Self-Certification.

19. The Proposer must sign and submit to CARB, Attachment 14, Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement. The Proposer shall require each of its employees or officers who will be involved in the performance of this Agreement to agree to the terms and the terms of the Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement.

20. The Proposer must sign and submit to CARB, Attachment 15, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Reporting and Factsheet.

The State of California seeks to realize the potential benefits of GenAI, through the development and deployment of GenAI tools, while balancing the risks of these new technologies.

Bidder / Offeror / Contractor must notify the State in writing if their solution or service includes, or makes available, any GenAI, including GenAI from third parties or subcontractors.

The State has developed a GenAI Reporting and Factsheet (STD 1000), Attachment 15, to be completed by the Bidder / Offeror / Contractor .

Failure to submit the GenAI Reporting and Factsheet (STD 1000) will result in disqualification of the Bidder / Offeror / Contractor.

Failure to report GenAI to the State may void any resulting contract. The State reserves its right to seek any and all relief it may be entitled to as a result of such non-disclosure.

Upon receipt of a Bidder / Offeror / Contractor GenAI Reporting and Factsheet (STD 1000), the state reserves the right to incorporate GenAI Special Provisions into the final contract or reject bids/offers that present an unacceptable level of risk to the state.

G. Signature

1. All documents requiring signatures contained in the original proposal package must have original or electronic signatures.

2. Only an individual who is authorized to bind the proposing firm contractually shall sign the required Cover Letter for the proposal. The signature must indicate the title or position that the individual holds in the firm. An unsigned proposal may be rejected.

H. Disposition of Proposals

Upon proposal opening, all documents submitted in response to this RFP will become the property of the State of California, and will be regarded as public records under the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.) and subject to review by the public. The State cannot prevent the disclosure of public documents.

I. Socio-Economic and Preference Programs

1. Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Incentive – Optional This solicitation does not require a minimum amount of DVBE participation. However, you are strongly encouraged to either become certified, if eligible, or to subcontract a portion of the work to a certified DVBE. If a prime bidder is a certified DVBE or commits to subcontracting with DVBE(s), the bid may be eligible to receive a bid preference provided that the DVBE provides a commercially useful function as defined in California Code of Regulations, Title 2, Section 1896.61(l). For evaluation purposes only, the State shall apply an incentive to bids that propose California certified DVBE participation as identified on Attachment 10, titled California Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) Bid Incentive Instructions and confirmed by the State. Proposers claiming the DVBE incentive must complete and return the Disabled Veteran Business Declarations form found at:

http://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/gs/pd/pd_843.pdf.

The incentive amount varies in conjunction with the percentage of DVBE participation offered. The minimum requirement is 1% with a maximum of 5% DVBE participation and the incentive will be equal to the participation offered as defined below:

Confirmed DVBE Participation of:

DVBE

Incentive:

1% to 1.99% inclusive 1% 2% to 2.99% inclusive 2% 3% to 3.99% inclusive 3% 4% to 4.99% inclusive 4%

5% or Over 5%

2. Small Business (SB) or Microbusiness (MB) Preference – Optional

If Proposer is claiming the 5% certified SB or MB preference, or is committing to subcontract 25% or more of their net bid price to one or more certified SB or MB (Non-small business preference [NSB]), list firm names on Attachment 9 Bidder Declaration (GSPD-05-105) and attach a copy of the certification. Additional References:

http://www.dgs.ca.gov/PD/.

Questions regarding the certification approval process or the SB program should be directed to the Department of General Services, Procurement Division at (800) 559-5529 or (916) 375-4940. For the 24-Hour Recording & Mail Request call (916) 322-5060.

SB, MB or NSB bidders or proposers using the SB preference shall be granted a preference consisting of 5% of the highest responsible bidder’s total score.

3. Target Area Contract Preference Act (TACPA)

a. Government Code (GC) Section 4530 (TACPA) provides that California based companies shall be granted a 5% preference whenever a state agency prepares a solicitation for services in excess of $100,000. The preference(s) shall apply if the worksite is not fixed by the government agency and the proposer can demonstrate and certify, under the penalty of perjury, that at least 90% of the total labor hours required to perform the services shall be performed at an identified worksite located in a distressed area (TACPA). TACPA preferences will only be applied if this procurement results in more than one responsive proposal receiving a passing narrative proposal score.

b. Additional work force preferences ranging from 1% to 4% can be earned by eligible proposers that agree to hire 5% to 20% of persons with a high risk of unemployment or those living in a targeted employment area or that are enterprise zone eligible to perform a specified percentage of the contract work.

c. The granting of TACPA preference cannot displace an award to a certified small business.

d. Proposers seeking TACPA preference must submit a completed STD 830 - Target Area Contract Preference Act Request https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/pdf/std830.pdf. Preference Request https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/gs/pd/gspd0525.pdf https://www.documents.dgs.ca.gov/dgs/fmc/gs/pd/gspd0526.pdf with their proposal. The applicable preference request form must include the following:

i. All appropriate certifications. (TACPA). The proposing firm’s name and the name of all suppliers and subcontractors that will work with the proposer to fulfill the terms of the contract along with the addresses of each of the worksite(s) and estimated labor hours;

ii. County census tract number and block group number;

iii. Proposer’s original signature; and

iv. A checkbox marked to identify the additional 1% to 4% preference sought for hiring persons with a high risk of unemployment.

e. TACPA preference cannot be granted if:

i. The lowest proposed cost does not equal or exceed $100,000 for the entire term;

ii. The work site or any part thereof is fixed or preset by the State;

iii. The services involve construction or a public works project; or

iv. A proposer who has claimed a TACPA preference and is awarded the contract will be obligated to perform in accordance with the preference(s) requested, provided the preference was granted in obtaining the contract.

f. Firms receiving preference must:

i. Report their labor hours to the State and reference the state contract on which the award is based for the specific reporting requirements.

g. Proposers wishing to learn more about TACPA requirements, designated work site(s) or enterprise zones in California should contact the appropriate office of the Department of General Services at (916) 375-4940. DGS will attempt to determine TACPA eligibility within two working days.

4. Preference and Incentive Application – Optional

a. DVBE Incentive Points are factored by multiplying a Proposer’s DVBE participation commitment percentage (%) by the total possible points that could be awarded (see Table 1 below). This amount is then added to the proposer’s total points. In the Table 2 sample below, Proposer B received a 60-point incentive (.05% commitment x 1200 total points available), which was added to its total points resulting in its proposal ranking as first in line for award. Proposer C’s 2% commitment resulted in its receiving 24 incentive points, and making its proposal rank as second in line for award.

b. Preference is calculated by multiplying 5% of the highest scoring NSB proposer, and adding those points to SB proposers and NSBs subcontracting 25% or more to a SB.

In the Table 2 sample below, the calculation is based on Proposer B’s 1155 points x .05 resulting in 57.75 additional points added to the certified SBs (A and C).

c. Under the High Score Method, it is possible to displace a high point certified SB with the application of the DVBE Incentive.

TABLE 1: HIGH SCORE METHOD SAMPLE

Available points example using sliding scale:

Administrative: 200 points Technical: 400 points

Cost: 600 points Total: 1200 points

Possible Maximum 60 points DVBE incentive calculated as follows:

Confirmed DVBE Participation Possible Points Calculation:

1% - 1.99% inclusive 1% X 1200 = 12 2% - 2.99% inclusive 2% X 1200 = 24 3% - 3.99% inclusive 3% X 1200 = 36 4% - 4.99% inclusive 4% X 1200 = 48

5% and Higher 5% X 1200 = 60

TABLE 2: HIGH SCORE METHOD SAMPLE RESULTS

Proposer A B C

Responsive/Responsible Yes Yes Yes Total Points 1050 1155 1125

Eligible Preference SB None SB SB Preference Points

Applied

57.75 0 57.75

Subtotal 1107.75 1155 1182.75 Rank 3 2 1

Confirmed DVBE Participation

No (0%) Yes (5%) Yes (2%)

Incentive Points Applied None 60 24 Adjusted Points 1107.75 1215 1206.75

New Rank 3 1 2

III. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS (TECHNICAL)

A. Technical Proposal Requirements

The proposal must contain the following components, information and documents outlined below. Each requirement’s location must be listed in the Proposal’s Table of Contents. Also see Section II. D. Submission of Proposal, for general submittal details.

1. Minimum Qualifications

The Proposer must provide a detailed response, outlining information as to how the Proposer meets each of the minimum qualifications listed below. The Proposer must provide their detailed response on Attachment 12, Detailed Response for Minimum Qualifications. Proposals that do not meet the minimum qualifications will be determined non-responsive and ineligible for award.

a. Proven knowledge and experience in shrubland ecosystems and their management.

b. Proven knowledge and experience working with statewide scale or larger temporal and spatial data.

c. Proven knowledge in integrating field sampling with remote sensing analysis and statistical methods to estimate changes in ecosystem function and state.

d. Proven experience in field collection and laboratory processing of destructive plant sampling for carbon quantification and/or allometric equation development.

e. Proven experience in field plot data collection and existing equipment for such fieldwork.

f. Proven experience in biostatistics and plot and landscape scale sampling design.

g. Proven experience incorporating equity and environmental justice into science and/or policy development.

h. Sufficient reserves, access agreements, or other land holdings/access to support the proposed sampling efforts.

i. Proven access to (or relationships with) adequate facilities to process collected samples.

j. Proven experience relating remotely sensed data to plot-level data.

k. If utilizing drone sampling, possession of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) part 107 certified operator’s license.

2. Title Page

The purpose of this page is to provide information needed by CARB administrative staff. It must contain the following items:

a. The title of the proposal, which must be the same as the title of the RFP;

b. The number of the RFP, 24ISD003; and

c. The date of proposal.

3. Cover Letter / Letter of Commitment

The cover letter must not be more than two (2) pages, in Arial size-11 point font or similar, and must include the following paragraph and the signature of the representative authorized to make the proposal on behalf of the firm:

“The enclosed proposal is submitted in response to the above referenced Request for Proposal 24ISD003, including any addenda. Through submission of this proposal, we agree to all of the terms and conditions of the Request for Proposal, and agree that any inconsistent provisions in our proposal may result in a lower score, up to and including disqualification. We have carefully read and examined the Request for Proposal, and have conducted such other investigations as were prudent and reasonable in preparing the proposal. We agree to be bound by statements and representations in our proposal.”

The cover letter must be provided on the company’s letterhead and include the following information and statements:

a. The name and address of your company [NOTE: You may use a Post Office box, but please provide your company's street address]; and

b. The name, title, and signature of a company official authorized to bind the proposal.

c. Name, email and/or phone number for the Proposer’s contact for CARB inquiries related to the proposal.

4. Table of Contents

5. Summary

The abstract shall be not longer than one (1) page. Include a brief description of the proposed project briefly summarizing the main point of the various sections of the proposal, including the features and benefits of the proposal.

6. Minimum Qualifications Response

Provide a response, outlining detailed information demonstrating how the Proposer meets each of the minimum qualifications listed in Section III.A. Submit all applicable documentation on Attachment 12, Detailed Response for Minimum Qualifications.

7. Required Attachments

The Technical Proposal must include all of the completed attachments listed in Attachment 1, Required Attachment checklist.

8. References

Each proposer must provide at least three (3) references detailing previous experience related to the goals and objectives outlined in the RFP.

References must be provided using Attachment 3, Proposer References Form.

Submission of this attachment is mandatory. Failure to fully complete and return this attachment with your proposal may cause your proposal to be rejected and deemed non-responsive. Attachment 3 may be copied for additional references.

9. Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement

Proposer and each member of Proposer’s technical staff proposed to work on this project must sign and submit Attachment 14, Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Statement with your proposal.

10. Subcontracts/Subcontractors

If subcontractors are to be used, the Proposer must include in the Technical Proposal, a description of each person or firm and the work to be done by each subcontractor. Please use Attachment 9, Bidder Declaration Form (GSPD 05-105), to list all subcontractors used for this project. All subcontracts must be approved by CARB, and no work shall be subcontracted without the prior written approval of the State. The cost of the subcontract work is to be itemized in the Cost Proposal as described below in the section entitled Cost Proposal Requirements, and not in the Technical Proposal.

11. Technical Portion

Proposer shall demonstrate their understanding of the questions, or needs, that CARB is seeking to have addressed. The technical approach and work plan are considered the heart of the proposal and will receive a high level of scrutiny. This part of the proposal will be evaluated to ensure all tasks and deliverables, listed in the Scope of Work, are included and responsive. The technical portion of the Proposal must include a written response to all scoring elements listed in the sample Proposal Evaluation form, Section IV.B.3, and must include the following:

a. Management Plan

The Proposer shall provide a project management plan including the management structure and project organization. The Proposer shall designate, by name, the Project Manager to be employed. The selected Proposer shall not cause the substitution of the Project Manager without prior written approval of the State. Proposers should include methods to measure project progress against the project management plan to maintain project schedule.

b. Methodology (Approach to Work)

The Proposer shall describe their methodology and approach to the work, identify specific techniques and methodologies that will be used and specific administrative and operational management expertise that will be employed in order to accomplish the tasks listed in this RFP under Attachment 2, Draft Standard Agreement. Proposer shall indicate how skills developed in previous related work will be applied to the work described in this RFP.

The Proposer shall demonstrate their knowledge in the subject of the RFP and lay the groundwork for the actual work to be performed for this project. The Proposer shall provide a detailed description of the overall approach and methodologies utilized to accomplish the tasks listed in Attachment 2, Draft Standard Agreement, Exhibit A, Scope of Work.

c. Work Plan and Work Schedule

The Proposer shall develop a Work Plan and Work Schedule that allows all tasks to be completed within the timeframes outlined in the Scope of Work. The Work Plan and Work Schedule shall identify each major task, necessary subtasks, and milestones by which progress can be measured and payments made. The Work Plan shall specify the estimated hours to accomplish each task and the Work Schedule shall provide the responsible party for performing the task, and anticipated dates of completion.

The Work Plan and Work Schedule must reflect the total project timeline of twenty-seven months.

The Work Plan shall indicate how the supervision and oversight will be conducted for ensuring that the project will remain on schedule and that the distribution of workload is appropriate.

See Attachment 2, Draft Standard Agreement, for details on the tasks required. A work plan schedule format is provided below:

Task 1 Deliverable Title Deliverable Description Due Date

1.1 Draft Literature

Review and Meta-analysis (PDF and Excel)

Provide to CARB staff a draft written literature review and meta-analysis of the existing allometric equations used to estimate shrubland carbon within plots and with remote sensing data. This will also outline where these equations are valid. The review will also map the areas that do not have sufficient data to estimate carbon within or between plots. This information will be used to identify which shrubland communities require additional allometric equation sampling and development. The review will also include sampling designs that have been used in the past to link plots to remote sensing products along with recommendations on how these methods can be improved for this project. The review will include a specific focus on below-ground vegetative biomass sampling studies, highlighting the current state of the science, limitations, existing estimates, root:shoot ratios, and data from comparable ecosystems outside California

2 months after start date

1.2 Final Literature

Review and Meta-analysis (PDF and Excel)

A final version of the draft developed in deliverable 1.1 that is responsive to CARB staff comments and is in a publicly sharable state and format on CARB’s website, which includes being ADA compliant.

3 months after start date

Task 2 Deliverable Title Deliverable Description Due Date

2.1 Statewide

shrubland map for representative sampling design

Provide a map of the segmentation used for stratifying/identifying unique shrubland communities across the range of climate/edaphic conditions, disturbance, and vegetation age classes. This map will distinguish communities with sufficient allometric equations provided from the literature review from communities with insufficient research (e.g. those requiring additional sampling within this contract). This segmentation scheme will be compared with LANDFIRE categories for shrublands, and differences in interpretation will be specifically identified. Provide a draft document for CARB review, after review provide a final document incorporating CARB comments.

Mapping products must be provided in a format compatible with ESRI ArcGIS Pro as either a raster or shapefile.

3 months after start date

2.2 Draft Statewide

map of planned sampling points

Provide a draft map of planned sampling sites and plot-scale measurement sites. Planning documentation will highlight how this design constitutes a representative sampling design (as defined in the RFP). Provide written documentation specifying the number and location of sites to be sampled for both allometric equation generation and plot-scale measurements.

Documentation must also include a metric assessing spatial representativeness. This metric must have a basis in published literature. If destructive sampling is planned, this map must highlight land ownership and define the required permits/approvals required for each sampling point. Mapping products must be provided in a format compatible with ESRI ArcGIS Pro as either a raster or shapefile.

4 months after start date

2.3 Final Statewide

map of planned sampling points

Provide an electronic document containing a final map of planned sampling sites and plot-scale measurement sites. This report will be responsive to CARB feedback from Task 2.2 and be sufficient as justification for the approach taken for the remainder of the project.

5 months

2.4 Draft Statewide

representative sampling design protocol

Provide a detailed written framework describing the sampling required to generate needed allometric equations. Sampling may include any method that generates the required carbon pools (stem wood, live leaf, coarse woody debris, dead leaf (litter), soil organic carbon, and belowground vegetative biomass carbon stocks) and morphological covariates. Common methods include but are not limited to destructive sampling, hemispherical leaf area index correlations, and soil cores. The sampling must detail a sampling timeline, identify scaling factors to be measured at each site, and define how uncertainty will be calculated. Cost-effective options that could expand the sampling size with similar accuracy will be prioritized.

4 months after start date

2.5 Final Statewide

representative sampling design protocol

A final version of the draft developed in deliverable 2.4 that is responsive to CARB staff comments and is in a publicly sharable state and format on CARB’s website, which includes being ADA compliant.

5 months after start date

2.6 Draft Plot scale

measurements protocol for 30x30m plots

Provide a written protocol used to measure 30m x 30m plot-level carbon using allometric equations generated from the literature and project sampling. Documentation must be implementable by non-technical staff with limited instrumentation and will be in a language sufficient for non-scientific field technician understandability. The protocol must include all necessary information to determine the biomass of a plot-scale area in any of the state's shrubland ecosystems, including propagated uncertainty calculation and evaluation of all required carbon pools.

6 months after start date

2.7 Final Plot scale

measurements protocol for 30x30m plots

A final version of the draft developed in deliverable 2.6 that is responsive to CARB staff comments and is in a publicly sharable state and format on CARB’s website, which includes being ADA compliant.

9 months after start date

2.8 Scaling factors Provide a written report describing how scaling factors will be utilized to relate sampling and measurement data with statewide datasets. Scaling factors translate input data into plot-scale landscape scale biomass carbon densities. Scaling factors should be based around primary remote sensing datasets (NAIP, LANDFIRE, LANDSAT, and LiDAR) that correlate with key morphological metrics for biomass. Morphological metrics could include cover type (EVT), shrub percent coverage (EVC), canopy height (EVH), disturbance, shrub crown diameter, etc. Utilized factors should have a sufficient basis in the literature and sampled sites to accurately estimate biomass carbon densities across all unique shrubland communities defined in Task 1.1.

8 months

Task 3 Deliverable Title Deliverable Description Due Date

3.1 Permits, Access

Agreements, and Facilities

Provide evidence through complete written documentation of access agreements, permits, or land holdings that will facilitate planned sampling. For any proposed destructive methods, permission for sampling must be explicitly stated by the landowner and follow all local, state, and federal regulations. Plot measurement sites must be accessible, and the proposed methodology must be allowable by the landowner and applicable regulations. Access agreements and permits must be valid for the duration of the contract. Any facilities required for sample processing (either by the contractor or through an outsourced lab) must be shown to be operational and available.

8 months after start date

3.2 Sampling

Progress Report (PDF and Photos)

Provide a written report or presentation demonstrating the progress in sampling to date. Provide photos and documentation of sampling that has occurred. The contractor will work with CARB staff to identify the appropriate amount of information.

12 months after start date

3.3 Allometric

Equations

Provide a data table including generated allometric equations and quantification of each required carbon pool from the implementation of the sampling framework detailed in Task 2.4.

Provide preliminary results and analysis of biomass carbon patterns across sampling plots. The dataset -combined with literature review values - should be of sufficient size and complexity to determine allometric equations for all relevant shrubland communities defined in task 2.1. All relevant carbon pools must be included, and data must follow the RFP Data, Communication, and Documentation Standards. If any analysis included outsourced lab work (such as soil carbon content estimation), receipts of ordered work must be provided.

Photographs will be inclusive in this deliverable.

16 months after start date

3.4 Scaling Factor

Connection

Provide written documentation on how produced allometric equations relate to scaling factors determined in Task 2.8.

Correlation between sampled/literature allometric equations and scaling factors should be explicitly compared with an uncertainty analysis. The connection to scaling factors must be sufficient as justification for the approach taken for the remainder of the project, particularly for Task 5. Provide a draft document for CARB review, and after review provide a final document incorporating CARB comments.

17 months

Task 4 Deliverable Title Deliverable Description Due Date

4.1 Plot

Measurement Progress Report 1 (PDF or Presentation)

Provide a written report or presentation demonstrating the…