5-Attachment B Scope of Work.docx

Attachment B Scope of Work

NC27-116

Non-Functional Turf Case Study Issuing Agency: Great Salt Lake Advisory Council (GSLAC), through the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands Background The Great Salt Lake faces severe ecological and economic risks due to low water levels, prompting state-wide efforts to optimize water allocation across all sectors. Urban water conservation, particularly the reduction of ornamental or non-functional turf grass, presents a major opportunity for immediate and long-term water savings within the Great Salt Lake watershed. While legislation and regional policies increasingly target non-functional turf, key gaps remain in clear definitions, accurate spatial auditing, institutional case studies, and syntheses of the current state of science.

To support data-driven decision-making and policy implementation, the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council (GSLAC), through the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, seeks a contractor to conduct a comprehensive study on non-functional turf across one “set” of Utah public institutions, where the specifics of the case study can shed light on the broader challenges faced by many people in the basin.

Scope of Work The selected contractor will establish a baseline framework for non-functional turf management in Utah and conduct a deep-dive technical and economic case study on one set of selected public or private institutions (e.g., several university campuses, a municipal facility network, a school district, etc.) located within the Great Salt Lake watershed.

The scope of work includes four main tasks:

1. Definition & Classification Framework: Establish clear, standardized criteria defining "non-functional turf" versus functional/active turf for Utah's climate and urban environment, benchmarking against regional standards in other Western states.

2. Spatial & Water Turf Audit: Partner with selected institutions (subject to approval from GSLAC) to audit and quantify functional turf footprints. This includes:

· Classifying functional vs. non-functional turf across the institutions’ properties using existing spatial data, high-resolution aerial imagery, targeted ground-truthing, etc.

· Calculating the estimated current water consumption allocated to non-functional turf and projecting total water savings from potential replacement or conversion.

3. Deep-Dive Institutional Case Study: Analyze the selected institution's operational realities, including:

· Financial requirements (upfront conversion costs, rebate/incentive applicability, and long-term maintenance costs/ROI).

· Implementation barriers (institutional policies, public/user perception, maintenance staff training, and irrigation system retrofits).

· Actionable lessons learned and a step-by-step conversion roadmap that can serve as a template for other Utah institutions.

4. State of the Science & Future Research Needs: Synthesize current peer-reviewed and regional literature regarding turf removal impacts (e.g., net water savings, urban heat island tradeoffs, stormwater management, and soil health) and identify key knowledge gaps that require future state research.

Deliverables

· Definition & Science Synthesis Report: A clear, concise literature review and policy framework recommending a definition of non-functional turf that can be applied across the basin. The report would also summarize the state of the science on turf removal in arid climates.

· Institutional Case Study & Audit Report: A detailed technical report on the target institutions, featuring spatial mapping graphics of functional/nonfunctional turf, water-budget calculations, cost-benefit analyses, and practical implementation recommendations.

· Institutional Conversion Toolkit: A plug-and-play guidance document (4–8 pages) or short informational film designed for facility managers, municipal leaders, etc. outlining how to audit and execute non-functional turf removal based on the case study findings.

· Presentation to GSLAC: A formal presentation summarizing the research, case study outcomes, and future research priorities for the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council and key state stakeholders.

Timeline

· Award Date: As soon as possible following proposal evaluation.

· Completion Deadline: All contract work and final deliverables must be completed no later than June 30, 2027.

· Agency Budget: $45,000