3000026542.RFQ Permit Support for LDEQ.pdf

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REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

(RFQ)

“Permit Processing Support”

LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

RFQ No: 3000026542

Response Due Date/Time: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 at 4:00 pm CT Issue Date: July 30, 2026 ii

Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

PART I. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

1.1 Purpose

1.2 Term of Contract

1.3 Compensation

1.4 Definitions

1.5 Schedule of Events

1.6 SOQ Clarifications Prior to Submittal

1.6.1 Pre-SOQ Conference

1.6.2 Offerors’ Written Inquiries

1.7 SOQ Submittal

1.8 RFQ Coordinator

1.9 Errors and Omissions in SOQ

1.10 Changes or Addenda

1.11 Withdrawal of SOQ

1.12 Waiver of Administrative Informalities

1.13 SOQ Rejection/RFQ Cancellation

1.14 Ownership of SOQ

1.15 Cost of Offer Preparation

1.16 Taxes

1.17 Security

PART II. GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1 Corporation Requirements

2.2 Code of Ethics for State Employees

2.3 Insurance Requirements

2.4 Performance Standards

2.4.1 Performance Requirements

2.4.2 Performance Measurement/Evaluation/Monitoring Plan

PART III. SOQ PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

3.1 SOQ Content

3.2 Elements for SOQ

3.2.1 SOQ Offeror Cover Sheet/Certification Statement

3.2.2 Scope of Services

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3.2.3 Personnel Qualifications and Experience

3.2.4 Company Qualifications and Experience

3.2.5 Use of Subcontractors

3.2.6 Former Public Employees

3.3 SOQ Format

3.4 Confidential Information, Trade Secrets, and Proprietary Information

PART IV. SOQ EVALUATION AND SELECTION

4.1 Mandatory SOQ Content

4.2 Evaluation and Selection Process

4.3 Evaluation Criteria

4.4 Additional Information or Clarifications

4.5 Notice of Selection

4.6 Negotiation of Standard Rate Sheet

4.7 Contract Award and Execution

Appendices to this RFQ:

Appendix A ...................................................... SOQ Offeror Cover Sheet / Certification Statement Appendix B ............................................................................................. Offeror Experience Table Appendix C ............................................................................................................. Sample Contract

Attachments to this RFQ:

Attachment 1 ....................................................................................................... Statement of Work

Form A ..................................................................................................... Monitoring Report Form B ............................................................................................ LDEQ Work Order Form

Attachment 2 ........................................................................................... Sample Schedule of Prices

RFQ No. 3000026542

PART I. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to solicit written Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), from qualified contractors who are interested in providing consulting services for technical support services for permitting activities. The goals are to increase efficiency of the Expedited Permit Processing Program. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ or Department) invites all qualified parties (companies and individuals) to submit SOQs for providing these services.

LDEQ is seeking one or more contractors to perform the respective Task Areas listed in Attachment 1, Statement of Work, Section 2.0, Contractor Tasks, of the RFQ. Any Offeror(s) who meets the requirements of the selection process of this RFQ for the corresponding respective Task Areas may be selected as a qualified contractor to perform consulting services to support LDEQ.

Being selected as a qualified contractor in no way guarantees that such Offeror(s) will be selected to perform a specified amount of work under this RFQ and any resulting contract.

1.2 Term of Contract

The term of any contract resulting from this RFQ is anticipated to begin on or about January 1, 2027, and is anticipated to end on December 31, 2027. The Department shall have the right to contract for up to a total of three years with the concurrence of the Contractor and all appropriate approvals.

1.3 Compensation

The purpose of any contract awarded from this RFQ is to establish terms, conditions, and rates to be paid by the Permittee/Applicant. The contract and any amendments require the approval of the Department. At no time shall the Department be billed for any activities associated with the contract.

The compensation for services requested under this RFQ will be based on hourly rates negotiated collectively with the selected Offeror(s) (see RFQ Section 4.6). A rate sheet should not be submitted as part of the SOQ.

The final negotiated rate sheet shall be incorporated into the awarded contract as Attachment 2, Schedule of Prices.

1.4 Definitions

Contractor – Any person or firm having a contract with a governmental body; a selected Offeror

CT – Central Time

Department or LDEQ – Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

Discussions – For the purposes of this RFQ, structured means of conducting written communications with responsible Offerors who submit SOQs in response to this

RFQ

EPA – Environmental Protection Agency

LaPAC – The State’s online electronic bid posting and notification system website https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/osp/lapac/pubMain.cfm

OES – Office of Environmental Services within LDEQ

Offeror or Vendor – A firm or individual who responds to this RFQ

Permittee/Applicant – A firm or individual who submits a permit application to LDEQ

RFQ – Request for Qualifications

Shall, Will, Must – Denotes a mandatory requirement

Should, Can, May – Denotes a preference, not a mandatory requirement

SOS – Scope of Services, part of the Offeror’s SOQ

SOQ – Statement of Qualifications, the Offeror’s response to this RFQ

SOW – Statement of Work, Attachment 1 to this RFQ

State – The term “State” shall mean the State of Louisiana and its departments, agencies (including the LDEQ), boards, and commissions as well as their officers, agents, servants, employees, and volunteers.

Task Area – See Attachment 1, Statement of Work; permit category including Environmental Air

Permitting, Environmental Water Permitting, Solid Waste Permitting and Other Authorizations, or Hazardous Waste Permitting.

Work Order – Method of assignment of work by the Department to the Contractor including a written description of required tasks, deliverables, and due dates.

1.5 Schedule of Events

Event Date CT RFQ posted to LaPAC July 30, 2026

Deadline for receipt of written inquiries August 31, 2026 4:00 p.m.

Deadline for Statement of Qualifications Submission September 29, 2026 4:00 p.m.

Notice of Selection announcement (on or about) November 6, 2026

Contract execution on or about January 1, 2027

The Department reserves the right to revise this schedule. Revisions, if any, before the SOQ Submission Deadline will be formalized by the issuance of an addendum to the RFQ.

LaPAC is the State’s online electronic bid posting and notification system website. In that LaPAC provides an immediate e-mail notification to subscribing Vendors/Offerors that a solicitation and any subsequent addenda have been let and posted, notice and receipt thereof is considered formally given as of their respective dates of posting. To receive the e-mail notification, Vendors/Offerors must register in the LaGov portal. Registration is intuitive at the following link:

https://lagoverpvendor.doa.louisiana.gov/irj/portal/anonymous?guest_user=self_reg.

Help scripts are available on the following website under Vendor Resources, Vendor Portal Help scripts at: https://www.doa.la.gov/doa/osp/vendor-resources/.

1.6 SOQ Clarifications Prior to Submittal

All communications relating to this RFQ must be directed to the RFQ Coordinator named in RFQ Section 1.8. Any communications between Offerors and LDEQ staff members concerning this RFQ will be strictly prohibited.

1.6.1 Pre-SOQ Conference

NOT REQUIRED FOR THIS RFQ

1.6.2 Offerors’ Written Inquiries

Offerors may submit written inquiries to the RFQ Coordinator via email according to the Schedule of Events provided herein.

LDEQ shall provide responses to all written inquiries, in the form of an RFQ addendum, posted to the LaPAC.

Questions submitted in any other manner or to any other address, email, or telephone number will not be answered.

1.7 SOQ Submittal

Firms or individuals who are interested in providing services requested under this RFQ must submit a SOQ containing the mandatory information specified below. The SOQ must be received on or before the date and time specified in the RFQ Section 1.5, Schedule of Events, according to the following instructions.

Submissions are accepted via email only with a maximum file size of 30mb per email. If the file size of the submission exceeds email server requirements, the SOQ may be broken into smaller files with “Part X of Y” included at the end of each original file name (e.g. SOQ# _______ [Proposer Name] – Part 1 of 3).

All submittals must be received by the due date and time indicated on the Schedule of Events.

Responses received after the due date and time may not be considered. It is the sole responsibility of each Offeror to assure that its response is delivered by email prior to the deadline.

The SOQ shall contain original signatures, electronic signatures, or scans of original signatures of those company officials or agents who are duly authorized to sign SOQs or contracts on behalf of the organization. An electronic signature as provided by LAC 4:I.701 et seq. is considered an original signature. A certified copy of a board resolution granting such authority should be submitted if the Offeror is a corporation. The SOQ will be retained for incorporation into any contract resulting from this RFQ.

1.8 RFQ Coordinator

Written questions and SOQ submittals for this RFQ must be submitted to Robyn Geddes via e-mail at _DEQ-Sect-Procurement@la.gov.

Subject Line of all e-mails pertaining to this RFQ should be:

Inquiries for Permit Processing Support RFQ or Submittal to Permit Processing Support RFQ

1.9 Errors and Omissions in SOQ

The Department reserves the right to seek clarification of any SOQ for the purpose of identifying and eliminating minor irregularities or informalities.

1.10 Changes or Addenda

The Department shall reserve the right to change the schedule of events or revise any part of the RFQ by issuing an addendum to the RFQ at any time. Addenda, if any, will be posted on LaPAC.

It shall be the responsibility of the Offeror to check the website for addenda to the RFQ, if any.

1.11 Withdrawal of SOQ

An Offeror may withdraw a SOQ that has been submitted at any time up to the date and time the SOQ is due. A written request with electronic signature or scan of an original signature by the authorized representative of the Offeror must be submitted to the RFQ Coordinator.

1.12 Waiver of Administrative Informalities

The Department shall reserve the right, at its sole discretion, to waive minor administrative informalities contained in any SOQ.

1.13 SOQ Rejection/RFQ Cancellation

Issuance of this RFQ in no way shall constitute a commitment by the Department to award a contract. The Department shall reserve the right to accept or reject, in whole or part, all SOQs submitted and/or cancel this RFQ if it is determined to be in the Department’s best interest.

1.14 Ownership of SOQ

All materials submitted in response to this RFQ shall become the property of the Department.

Selection or rejection of a SOQ shall not affect this right. SOQs received in response to this RFQ are subject to the Louisiana Public Records Law, La. R.S. 44:1, become the property of the Department, and will not be returned. Any copyrighted materials in the proposal are not transferred to the State.

1.15 Cost of Offer Preparation

The Department shall not be liable for any costs incurred by Offerors prior to issuance of or entering into a contract. Costs associated with developing the SOQ and any other expenses incurred by the Offeror in responding to this RFQ shall be entirely the responsibility of the Offeror and shall not be reimbursed in any manner by the Department.

1.16 Taxes

Contractor shall be responsible for payment of all applicable taxes from the funds to be received under contract awarded from this RFQ.

1.17 Security

Contractor’s personnel shall comply with all security regulations in effect at the State’s premises and externally for materials and property belonging to the State or to the project. Where special security precautions are warranted (e.g., correctional facilities), the State shall provide such procedures to the Contractor, accordingly.

The Contractor shall comply with the Office of Technology Services’ Information Security Policy at http://www.doa.la.gov/Pages/ots/InformationSecurity.aspx.

PART II. GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1 Corporation Requirements

In accordance with Louisiana law, all corporations (see La. R.S. 12:262.1) and limited liability companies (see La. R.S. 12:1308.2) must be registered and in good standing with the Louisiana Secretary of State in order to hold a purchase order and/or a contract with the State.

If the Offeror is a corporation not incorporated under the laws of the State of Louisiana, the Contractor shall obtain a Certificate of Authority pursuant to La. R.S. 12:301-302 from the Louisiana Secretary of State, Corporations Division, 3851 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70809, (225) 925-4704. The Certificate of Authority must be provided prior to contracting with the Department.

If the Offeror is a for-profit corporation whose stock is not publicly traded, the Offeror shall file a Disclosure of Ownership form with the Louisiana Secretary of State's office before contracting with state government. The Disclosure of Ownership Affidavit must be provided prior to contracting with the Department.

2.2 Code of Ethics for State Employees

Offerors are hereby advised that contractors may, in certain circumstances, be deemed "public employees" as interpreted by the Louisiana Board of Ethics. Offerors are responsible for determining that there will be no conflict or violation of the Ethics Code if their company is awarded the contract. The Louisiana Board of Ethics shall be the only entity which can officially rule on ethics issues.

If an Offeror who has provided consulting work in Louisiana environmental permitting creates a subsidiary company in an effort to reduce or eliminate conflicts of interest for this project, there may be potential implications related to the Louisiana Code of Ethics. In this situation, the onus will be on the company and its subsidiary to obtain the proper ethics determination from the board before proceeding (See Appendix C, Sample Contract, Article 29).

2.3 Insurance Requirements

Offerors are encouraged to carefully examine the insurance coverages that will be required by the contract. (See Appendix C, Sample Contract, Article 30). Certificates of insurance, signed by a person authorized by that insurer to bind coverage on its behalf, must be provided by the successful contractor and approved by the Department before work begins. Furthermore, the successful contractor must include all subcontractors as insured under its policies or shall be responsible for verifying and maintaining the Certificates provided by each subcontractor before work begins.

Insurance shall be placed with insurers with an A.M. Best’s rating of no less than A-: VI. This rating requirement shall be waived for Workers Compensation coverage only.

2.4 Performance Standards

Offerors are encouraged to carefully examine the performance standards that will be required by the contract when preparing its response.

2.4.1 Performance Requirements

The performance requirements are identified in Attachment 1, Statement of Work (SOW), Section 2.0, Contractor Tasks; Section 3.0, Project Schedule; and Section 5.5, Deliverables.

2.4.2 Performance Measurement/Evaluation/Monitoring Plan

The performance measurement/evaluation/monitoring plans are identified in Attachment 1, Statement of Work, Section 7.0, Monitoring and Methods to Measure Performance.

PART III. SOQ PREPARATION INSTRUCTIONS

3.1 SOQ Content

SOQs submitted in response to this RFQ should include as much detail as practicable to provide a straightforward, clear, and concise description of the Offeror’s ability to meet the requirements of the RFQ. The Offeror should demonstrate their understanding of the Department’s requirements.

Each Offeror is solely responsible for the accuracy and completeness of their SOQ.

3.2 Elements for SOQ

Each Offeror should address the elements described by this section in their SOQ in the order listed.

3.2.1 SOQ Offeror Cover Sheet/Certification Statement

Each Offeror must complete and submit a signed (electronically signed or scanned signature) Appendix A, SOQ Offeror Cover Sheet/Certification Statement, indicate the Task Area(s) that the Offeror is submitting qualifications for and requests to be evaluated under this RFQ, and provide a list of current or previous clients to identify any potential conflicts of interest. SOQs lacking a cover sheet/certification statement shall be rejected.

3.2.2 Scope of Services

Each Offeror should submit a Scope of Services (SOS) that clearly and concisely describes their technical and management approach to completing the requirements described in Attachment 1, Statement of Work (SOW). The Offeror’s SOS should be presented in as much detail as judged necessary by the Offeror. An unsupported statement that the Offeror will comply with all the requirements of this solicitation is not acceptable.

Each Offeror's SOS should include a brief introduction followed by a discussion of the following technical elements, in the order listed.

(1) Project Management

The Offeror should describe the proposed approach to project management, including the following information:

(a) Project organization

Provide a project-specific organizational chart identifying the Offeror’s key project personnel, other project personnel, and any key subcontractor personnel proposed to work on this project as identified in Attachment 1, SOW, Section 4.0, Minimum Qualifications of Contractor’s Personnel. Show the lines of authority and lines of communication among all participants, points of contact for the Department, and any subcontractor relationships.

The organizational chart should be accompanied by a narrative identifying the functions and responsibilities of each position identified, including Task Area(s) as applicable, and the names of specific personnel proposed for assignment to these positions (include dual assignments, multiple individuals assigned to one (1) position, and subcontractors).

(b) Management approach

The Offeror should describe the proposed approach to project management. Project management shall include, but is not limited to, supervision of the Contractor's personnel, communication between the Contractor and the Department, meetings, contract administration, including Work Orders, and preparation and submission of submittals and deliverables in general.

(2) Performance of Project Tasks

The Offeror should describe the proposed approach to the performance of the technical tasks described in Attachment 1, SOW.

For each Task Area indicated by the Offeror in Appendix A, SOQ Offeror Cover Sheet/Certification Statement, the Offeror shall provide a narrative detailing the following:

A clear understanding of the scope of the Task Area and related objectives;

The ability to staff and perform the work in an expeditious manner;

Documentation of Offeror’s key personnel and subcontractors for the Task Area (see

RFQ Section 3.2.3);

Documentation of company qualifications and experience in similar work or related industry or programs to perform the Task Area (see RFQ Section 3.2.4).

Familiarity with LDEQ permitting processes, regulations, permit requirements, and data systems;

The ability to provide the appropriate technology and techniques, and other resources available to perform the Task; and

Project management experience utilizing available staff and resources to perform the Task.

3.2.3 Personnel Qualifications and Experience

The Offeror should provide evidence that its proposed staff meet or exceed the minimum education and experience requirements described in Attachment 1, SOW, Section 4.0 Minimum Qualifications of the Contractor’s Personnel. The Department will consider only experience that is relevant to the tasks listed in Attachment 1, SOW.

For all key project personnel designated in the project-specific organization chart (provided under RFQ Section 3.2.2, Item 1a.), the Offeror should describe their qualifications and experience. The Offeror should include résumés for key project personnel only showing each assigned individual’s education, certifications, registrations, accomplishments, and experience.

3.2.4 Company Qualifications and Experience

The Offeror should describe the company’s qualifications and experience that are relevant to the Task Areas listed in Attachment 1, SOW. Experience will be considered relevant if the prior project’s major features include environmental permitting, permit development, or permit-review services to federal, state, or local regulatory agencies, or to industrial clients subject to permitting under the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), or an analogous state program. Both government and privately-sponsored work may be included. Experience gained through previous contracts or projects with the Department may be considered by the Department for SOQ evaluation, whether or not listed by the Offeror.

The Offeror should describe at least three (3) projects of comparable scope and complexity to each proposed Task Area for which the Offeror has undertaken by their company during the past five (5) years from the SOQ submittal date.

Experience gained through joint ventures by the company may be included. In the event that the company has not done business under its present organizational name and status for five (5) years, other corporate experience brought to the company through mergers or similar corporate creations may be added.

The Offeror's experience information should be submitted in the format provided in Appendix B, Offeror Experience Table. The table may be enlarged or duplicated as necessary to provide all required information. For each listed project, the Offeror should provide:

(1) The name and address of the client (sponsoring agency or company);

(2) The name, telephone number, and email address of the client's contact person;

(3) The project title and contract number;

(4) The starting and ending dates of the project (contract term);

(5) The total dollar amount of the project; and

(6) A brief description of the project.

Each Offeror may include as many entries as it desires; however, only complete entries will be considered. Because the Department may contact a representative sample of the listed clients as references during the evaluation process, Offerors should verify that all client contact information and telephone numbers are current.

3.2.5 Use of Subcontractors

The Department shall have a single prime contractor as the result of any contract negotiation, and that prime contractor shall be responsible for all deliverables specified in the RFQ and SOQ. This general requirement notwithstanding, Offerors may enter into subcontractor arrangements, however, Offerors shall acknowledge in their SOQs total responsibility for the entire contract.

If the Offeror intends to subcontract for portions of the work, the Offeror should identify the subcontractor(s) on Appendix A, SOQ Offeror Cover Sheet/Certification Statement.

The prime contractor shall be the single point of contact for all subcontract work. Unless provided for in the contract with the Department, the prime contractor and/or subcontractors shall not have contact with any other party for any of the services herein contracted without the express prior written approval of the Department.

3.2.6 Former Public Employees

The Offeror should disclose whether any key personnel or subcontractors are former public employees. Offeror should include the names, dates of employment, and government entity.

3.3 SOQ Format

SOQs submitted for consideration should follow the format and order of presentation provided in RFQ Sections 3.1 and 3.2. Offerors must submit a SOQ, in accordance with RFQ Section 1.7, SOQ Submittal. The SOQ should be typed and provided in PDF, Microsoft Word, and/or Microsoft Excel formats, as applicable. Pages of the SOQ should be numbered consecutively and each section should be marked. SOQs should be prepared simply, legibly, and economically.

Elaborate color pictures and promotional material are neither necessary nor desired.

3.4 Confidential Information, Trade Secrets, and Proprietary Information

The designation of certain information as trade secrets and/or privileged or confidential proprietary information shall only apply to the technical portion of the SOQ. Any SOQ copyrighted or marked as confidential or proprietary in its entirety may be rejected without further consideration or recourse.

For the purposes of this RFQ, the provisions of the Louisiana Public Records Act (La. R.S. 44.1 et.

seq.) shall be in effect. Pursuant to this Act, all proceedings, records, contracts, and other public documents relating to this RFQ shall be open to public inspection. Offerors are reminded that while trade secrets and other proprietary information they submit in conjunction with this RFQ may not be subject to public disclosure, protections must be claimed by the Offeror at the time of submission of its SOQ. Offerors should refer to the Louisiana Public Records Act for further clarification.

The Offeror shall clearly designate the part of the SOQ that contains a trade secret and/or privileged or confidential proprietary information as “confidential” in order to claim protection, if any, from disclosure. The Offeror shall mark the cover sheet of the SOQ with the following legend, specifying the specific section(s) of the SOQ sought to be restricted in accordance with the conditions of the legend:

“The data contained in pages _____of the SOQ have been submitted in confidence and contain trade secrets and/or privileged or confidential information and such data shall only be disclosed for evaluation purposes, provided that if a contract is awarded to this Offeror as a result of or in connection with the submission of this SOQ, the State of Louisiana shall have the right to use or disclose the data therein to the extent provided in the contract. This restriction does not limit the State of Louisiana’s right to use or disclose data obtained from any source, including the Offeror, without restrictions.”

Further, to protect such data, each page containing such data shall be specifically identified and marked “CONFIDENTIAL”.

If an Offeror wishes to secure nondisclosure of information contained in its SOQ, the Offeror must also submit a written request to the Secretary of the Department in accordance with LAC 33:I.

Chapter 5 and applicable laws. Upon review of the written request, the Secretary of the Department will determine if the information requires confidentiality.

If the Offeror’s response contains confidential information, the Offeror should also submit a redacted copy of their SOQ along with their original SOQ. When submitting the redacted copy, the Offeror should clearly mark the cover as such - “REDACTED COPY”. The redacted copy should also state which sections or information has been removed. The redacted copy of the SOQ will be the copy produced by the State if a competing Offeror or other person seeks review or copies of the Offeror’s confidential data.

If the Offeror does not submit the redacted copy, it will be assumed that any claim to keep information confidential is waived.

Offerors must be prepared to defend the reasons why the material should be held confidential. By submitting a SOQ with data, information, or material designated as containing trade secrets and/or privileged or confidential proprietary information, or otherwise designated as “confidential”, the Offeror agrees to indemnify and defend (including attorney’s fees) the State and hold the State harmless against all actions or court proceedings that may ensue which seek to order the State to disclose the information.

The State reserves the right to make any SOQ, including proprietary information contained therein, available to the Office of the Governor or other State Agencies or organizations for the sole purpose of assisting the State in its evaluation of the SOQ. The State shall require said individuals to protect the confidentiality of any specifically identified proprietary information or privileged business information obtained as a result of their participation in these evaluations.

Additionally, any SOQ that fails to follow this section and/or La. R.S. 44:3.2.(D)(1) shall have failed to properly assert the designation of trade secrets and/or privileged or confidential proprietary information, and the information may be considered public records.

PART IV. SOQ EVALUATION AND SELECTION

4.1 Mandatory SOQ Content

All SOQs will be reviewed to determine compliance with administrative and mandatory requirements as specified in the RFQ. SOQs that are not in compliance will be rejected from further consideration.

Any SOQ that does not provide the following mandatory item shall be rejected by the Department and shall not be evaluated by the Selection Committee:

(1) A SOQ Offeror Cover Sheet/Certification Statement (RFQ Section 3.2.1).

4.2 Evaluation and Selection Process

A Selection Committee composed of Department personnel will evaluate the SOQs according to the criteria listed in RFQ Section 4.3. SOQs will be evaluated in light of the material and the substantiating evidence presented in the SOQ, not on the basis of what can be inferred.

Additionally, the Department may contact a representative sample of the clients provided to describe the company’s experience as references during the evaluation process. Experience gained through previous or current contracts and/or projects with the Department may be considered by the Department for SOQ evaluation, whether or not listed by the Offeror (see RFQ Section 3.2.4.)

The Selection Committee may consult subject matter expert(s) to serve in an advisory capacity regarding any Offeror or SOQ. Such input may include, but not be limited to, analysis and review of technical requirements.

The scores will be compiled and the responsible and qualified Offeror(s) may be recommended for tentative selection for the program. Multiple awards may be made. The Selection Committee will report its comments and recommendations to the Department Secretary or their designee. The tentative selection is subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Department or their designee.

Any other commitment, either explicit or implied, is invalid.

4.3 Evaluation Criteria

The Selection Committee will evaluate and score the SOQs using the criteria and scoring as follows:

CRITERIA MAXIMUM SCORE

1. Merit of the Offeror's SOS (RFQ Section 3.2.2) and overall quality of the SOQ (RFQ Sections 3.1 through 3.4).

2. Qualifications and relevant experience of the Offeror's key personnel assigned to the project (including subcontracted personnel as allowed) (RFQ Sections 3.2.3 and 3.2.5).

3. Qualifications and relevant experience of the Offeror in providing services that include environmental permitting, permit development, or permit-review services to federal, state, or local regulatory agencies, or to industrial clients subject to permitting under the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), or an analogous state program (RFQ Sections

3.2.4 and 3.2.5).

TOTAL SCORE 100

Offeror must receive a minimum score of 60 points (60% of the total available points), to be considered responsive to the RFQ. SOQs not meeting the minimum score shall be rejected.

4.4 Additional Information or Clarifications

Offerors may be requested to provide additional information or clarifications to enhance the Department understanding of their SOQs prior to the final selection of the Contractor(s).

SOQs may be accepted without such clarifications and selection may be made on the basis of initial offers received. Therefore, SOQs should be complete as submitted and reflect the most favorable terms available.

4.5 Notice of Selection

The Selection Committee shall compile the scores and make a recommendation to the head of the Department on the basis of the responsive and responsible Offeror(s).

The Department will provide a Notice of Selection, according to the RFQ Part I, Section 1.5, Schedule of Events, in the form of an RFQ addendum, posted to LaPAC.

4.6 Negotiation of Standard Rate Sheet

LDEQ will provide selected Offeror(s) with a rate sheet to request hourly rates by job classifications. The rates will be evaluated to develop a standard rate sheet applicable to the services provided under this RFQ. The standard rate sheet shall be incorporated into each contract as Attachment 2, Schedule of Prices (see RFQ Section 1.3 and Appendix C, Sample Contract, Article 5, Payment Terms). Selected Offeror(s) may decline entering into a contract with LDEQ if the standard rate sheet is not suitable.

4.7 Contract Award and Execution

The Department reserves the right to enter into a contract based on the initial submittals received without further discussion of the SOQs submitted. The Department reserves the right to contract for all or a partial list of services offered in the SOQs.

A selected Offeror(s) shall be expected to enter into a contract that is substantially the same as Appendix C, Sample Contract. An Offeror shall not submit its own standard contract terms and conditions as a response to this RFQ. The Offeror should submit in its SOQ any exceptions or contract deviations that its firm wishes to negotiate.

APPENDIX A

OFFEROR COVER SHEET / CERTIFICATION STATEMENT

As part of the Offeror’s Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), this document must be completed and signed by the company’s authorized representative.

OFFEROR INFORMATION:

Company Name:

Company Address:

Do you intend to use any former public employees* on this contract? (Y/N)

*See Section 3.2.6 of this RFQ for more information.

OFFICIAL CONTACT – The Department requests that the Offeror designate one (1) person to receive all documents. The Offeror should identify the Contact name and fill in the information below:

Official Contact Name:

Title:

Email Address:

Telephone No. ( )

TASK AREAS:

Indicate the Task Area(s) that the Offeror is submitting qualifications for and requests to be evaluated under this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) by marking the boxes provided. LDEQ will only evaluate the Task Area(s) and sub-category(s) that have been marked below.

The Offeror must comprehensively and separately address the elements of the RFQ for each Task Area (see RFQ Part III, SOQ Preparation Instructions) and describes their approach to completing the requirements described in Attachment 1, Statement of Work, Section 2.0, Contractor Tasks.

Task Area 1 – Environmental Air Permitting ☐ Part 70 (Title V) Operating Permits ☐ State Air Permits (including Synthetic Minor Air Permits) ☐ Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permits ☐ Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) Permits (as a component of a Title V

Operating Permit) ☐ Acid Rain Permits

Task Area 2 – Environmental Water Permitting ☐ Louisiana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (LPDES) Individual Permits ☐ Section 401 Water Quality Certifications

Task Area 3 – Solid Waste Permitting and Other Authorizations ☐ Type I (Industrial) Solid Waste Disposal Facilities (LAC 33:VII) ☐ Type I-A (Industrial) Solid Waste Processing Facilities ☐ Type II (Non-industrial) Solid Waste Disposal Facilities ☐ Type II-A (Non-industrial) Solid Waste Processing Facilities ☐ Type III Construction and Demolition Debris or Woodwaste Disposal, or Processing, Separation or Composting Facilities ☐ Waste Tire Processing Facilities (La. R.S. 30:2418; LAC 33:VII, Subpart 2) ☐ Waste Tire Collection Center Facilities (Non-Governmental) ☐ Standard Permits ☐ Permit Renewals (on a case by case basis) ☐ Eligible Permit Modifications

Task Area 4 – Hazardous Waste Permitting ☐ Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) Permits ☐ Post-Closure Permits ☐ Permit Renewals ☐ Class 3 Modifications

CURRENT AND PREVIOUS CLIENTS / CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

The Offeror must provide a list of current or previous clients, a description of the work provided in the past two (2) years from the SOQ submittal date, and identify any potential conflicts of interest due to previous work or that may arise during the contract duration (duplicate table as necessary and add as attachment).

Client (current or previous)

Description of work provided within the past two (2) years

Description of potential conflicts of interest

Selected Offerors will be required to maintain a list of other clients for review by LDEQ.

OTHER SUBMITTAL INFORMATION

Licenses:

Type of License License Number (s) Louisiana Professional Engineer (P.E.) License Louisiana Professional Geologist/Geoscientist License

Subcontractors (duplicate table as necessary and add as attachment):

Subcontractor (include Company Name, Address, and

Contact Person)

Description of Services to be provided by Subcontractor

By its submission of this SOQ and authorized signature below, Offeror shall certify that:

1. The information contained in its response to this RFQ is accurate.

2. Offeror shall comply with each of the mandatory requirements listed in the RFQ and will meet or exceed the functional and technical requirements specified therein.

3. Offeror shall accept the procedures, evaluation criteria, mandatory contract terms and conditions (Appendix C) and all other administrative requirements set forth in this RFQ.

4. Offeror’s response shall be valid for at least one hundred eighty (180) calendar days from the date of Offeror’s signature below.

5. Offeror will be ready and able to begin work by the approved contract start date.

6. By submitting a SOQ, the Offeror certifies that it is not currently debarred from submitting

SOQ for contracts issued by any political subdivision or agency of the State of Louisiana and that it is not an agent of a person or entity that is currently debarred from submitting SOQ for contracts issued by any political subdivision or agency of the State of Louisiana.

The undersigned hereby acknowledges they have read and understands all requirements and specifications of the Request for Qualifications (RFQ), including appendices and attachments.

Signature of Offeror or Authorized Representative:

Typed or Printed Name:

Date:

Title:

Enlarge or duplicate table as necessary

APPENDIX B

OFFEROR EXPERIENCE TABLE

Offeror should describe at least three (3) projects of comparable scope and complexity to each Task Area for which the Offeror is proposing, undertaken by their company during the past five (5) years from the SOQ submittal date.

Offeror Name: Task Area #

Client Name and Address

Contact Person, Phone Number and email address

Project Title and Contract Number

Dates of Project/ Dollar Amount of

Contract

Description of Project

APPENDIX C

SAMPLE CONTRACT

THIS CONTRACT, made and entered into this day of , 202X, by and between the Department of Environmental Quality of the State of Louisiana, hereinafter referred to as “the Department”, and Contractor Name, Contractor Address, Federal Tax ID No. _________, hereinafter referred to as the "Contractor".

The Department hereby contracts and retains the Contractor who agrees to proceed, after proper notice and receipt of written authorization by the Department with all services necessary to the performance, in proper sequence and in the time specified, of the items of work for the project as hereinafter set forth.

1. PROJECT IDENTITY

This contract shall be identified as “Permit Processing Support” with the LaGov Number assigned as set forth above. All invoices and other correspondence submitted to the Department in connection with this contract shall be identified by this LaGov Number.

2. CONTRACT TERM

The term for the fulfillment of services to be performed pursuant to this contract shall be from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2027. The Department has the right to extend this Contract up to a total of three years with the concurrence of the Contractor and all appropriate approvals.

3. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Contractor shall provide the necessary personnel, materials, services and facilities to perform the work as set forth in Attachment 1, Statement of Work, attached hereto and made a part hereof.

4. NOTICE TO PROCEED

This contract is not effective until executed by all parties and approved in writing by the Department. The Contractor shall proceed with the work only after receipt of an executed contract and participation in a Commencement Conference to be scheduled by the Department at its offices.

5. PAYMENT TERMS

Payment to the Contractor shall be the responsibility of the Permittee/Applicant. Work performed by the Contractor during the term of the Contract shall be paid at the rates listed in Attachment 2, Schedule of Prices.

The Contractor shall not perform out-of-scope work not authorized by written amendment prior to the expiration date of the contract. Any out-of-scope work performed by the Contractor without written authorization from the Department in the form of an approved contract amendment shall not entitle the contractor to any compensation for any corresponding effort. Verbal directives from any employee of the Department that would result in the performance of out-of-scope work shall carry no authority.

a. Payment:

Payment to the Contractor for services rendered shall be made according to the rates in Attachment 2, Schedule of Prices. Payment shall be made by Permittee/Applicant upon completion of each Work Order. A partial payment by Permittee/Applicant may be pursued as described in Attachment 1, Statement of Work.

The rates for each line in Attachment 2, Schedule of Prices shall include all associated direct costs (labor, supplies, equipment, incidentals and expendables, duplication/copying, communications, postage, shipping and handling, transportation, taxes, etc.), all indirect costs (fringe, overhead, general and administrative costs), travel expenses associated with each line item and profit.

b. Invoicing Procedure:

The procedure for payment shall be arranged between the Contractor and the Permittee/Applicant, with assistance by the Department only as required, and shall be consistent with Attachment 1, Statement of Work, Section 8.0 Measurement and Payment.

6. DELIVERABLES

The Contractor shall provide to the Department the deliverables specified in Attachment 1, Statement of Work, as products of the services rendered under this contract. The Department reserves the right to reject any deliverable that is unsatisfactory. The Contractor shall correct any omissions or errors and resubmit the deliverable.

7. OWNERSHIP OF WORK PRODUCT

All software, data files, documentation, records, worksheets, or any other related materials developed under this Contract shall become the property of the Department upon creation.

All material related to the Contract and/or obtained or prepared by Contractor in connection with the performance of the services contracted for herein shall become the property of the Department, and shall be returned by Contractor to the Department, at Contractor's expense, at termination or expiration of the Contract. In addition, at any time during the contract period, the Department shall have the right to require the Contractor to furnish copies of any or all data and all documents, notes and files collected or prepared by the Contractor specifically in connection with this contract within five (5) business days of receipt of written notice issued by the Department.

8. RECORD OWNERSHIP

All records, reports, documents and other material delivered or transmitted to Contractor by the Department shall remain the property of the Department, and shall be returned by Contractor to the Department, at Contractor's expense, at termination or expiration of the Contract. All material related to the Contract and/or obtained or prepared by Contractor in connection with the performance of the services contracted for herein shall become the property of the Department, and shall be returned by Contractor to the Department, at Contractor's expense, at termination or expiration of the Contract.

9. CORRECTION OF DEFICIENT WORK

If required by the Department, prior to payment, the Contractor shall promptly, without cost to the Department, correct any deficient work performed by him or his subcontractors.

Deficient work is defined as work that is (a) unsatisfactory, faulty, or defective, or (b) does not conform to the requirements of the contract documents. If the Contractor does not correct such deficient work within the time specified by the Department, the Department may have the deficiency corrected by a separate party. All direct and indirect costs for such correction shall be paid by the Contractor. If corrections made to deficient work interfere with any other Department work by other parties, the Contractor shall also bear the expenses caused by that interference.

10. ASSIGNABILITY

With prior written consent of the Department, the Contractor may assign its interest in the proceeds of this Contract to a bank, trust company, or other financial institution. Within ten (10) calendar days of the assignment, the Contractor shall provide notice of the assignment to the Department. The Department will continue to pay the Contractor and will not be obligated to direct payments to the assignee until the Department has processed the assignment.

Except as stated in the preceding paragraph, Contractor shall only transfer an interest in the Contract by assignment, novation, or otherwise, with prior written consent of the Department. The Department’s written consent of the transfer shall not diminish the Department’s rights or the Contractor’s responsibilities and obligations.

11. AUDIT OF RECORDS

The State, through the Legislative Auditor, and/or the Office of the Governor, Division of Administration, the Department’s Audit Services, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall be entitled to audit the books, documents, papers, and records pertaining to services rendered under this contract for a period of five years from the date of final payment under the prime contract and any subcontract. The Contractor and any subcontractor shall maintain such books, documents, papers and records for this five-year period and cooperate fully with the authorized auditing agency. Contractor and subcontractor shall comply with federal and state laws authorizing an audit of their operations as a whole, or of specific program activities.

12. DATA/RECORDS RETENTION

The Contractor and its subcontractors shall maintain all books, documents, papers, accounting records and other evidence pertaining to costs incurred and shall make such materials available at their respective offices at all reasonable times during the contract period and for five (5) years from date of final payment under this contract for inspection or audit, and copies thereof shall be furnished if requested.

Contractor shall comply with all applicable State and Federal laws regarding data retention and provide for a transition period that accommodates all data retention requirements of the State, including data retained and length of retention, following Contract termination, regardless of the reason for Contract termination. Additionally, all State data must be sanitized in compliance with the most currently approved revision of NIST SP 800-88, Rev. 1.

13. TERMINATION FOR CAUSE

Should the Department determine that the Contractor has failed to comply with the Contract’s terms, the Department may terminate the Contract for cause by giving the Contractor written notice specifying the Contractor’s failure. If the Department determines that the failure is not correctable then the Contract shall terminate on the date specified in such notice. If the Department determines that the failure may be corrected, the Department shall give a deadline for the Contractor to make the correction. If the Department determines that the failure is not corrected by the deadline, then the Department may give additional time for the Contractor to make the corrections or the Department may notify the Contractor of the Contract termination date.

If the Contractor seeks to terminate the Contract, the Contractor shall file a complaint with the Chief Procurement Officer under La. R.S. 39:1672.2-1672.4.

14. TERMINATION FOR CONVENIENCE

The Department may terminate the contract at any time without penalty by giving thirty

(30) calendar days written notice to the Contractor of such termination or negotiation with the Contractor a termination date. If the contract is terminated by the Department, as provided herein, the Contractor shall promptly submit a statement to the Department showing in detail the actual services performed for each Work Order to date of termination.

The Department will review documented work performed by the Contractor and, upon approval, send to the Contractor written acceptance of the work performed. The Contractor shall invoice the Permittee/Applicant for approved work in accordance with Contract Article 5.b Invoicing Procedures.

15. REMEDIES FOR DEFAULT

Any claim or controversy arising out of this contract shall be resolved by the provisions of LSA-R.S. 39:1672.2 through 1672.4.

16. OTHER REMEDIES

If the Contractor fails to perform in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Contract, or if any lien or claim for damages, penalties, costs and the like is asserted by or against the Department, then, upon notice to the Contractor, the Department may pursue all remedies available to it at law or equity, including retaining monies from amounts due the Contractor and proceeding against any surety of the Contractor.

17. GOVERNING LAW

This Contract shall be governed by…