Environmental_Permitting_RFP.docx

Request for Proposals Wetlands Evaluation Phase Services and Permitting Phase Services Robertson Way Bridge Replacement Project, Greenville, SC I. Introduction.

The Greenville County Engineering & Maintenance Division is seeking proposals from an experienced wetlands consultant to perform wetlands evaluation phase services and permitting services as they pertain to the Robertson Way Bridge Replacement project in Greenville County, South Carolina. The Division will rely on the consultant to provide a wetlands evaluation report and pertinent exhibits, maps, worksheets, photos, etc. to thoroughly document their findings in accordance with methodology and reporting standards promulgated by the USACE. The Division will rely on the consultant to provide recommendations for the best plan of action to follow the USACE's jurisdictional determination process and identify permitting requirements based on the findings of the wetland evaluation. In the permitting phase, to be negotiated based on the consultant's proposed hourly rate and material cost schedule, the consultant shall be responsible for submitting documents for USACE wetlands verification, submitting documents to meet Section 404/401 requirements, preparing a USACE Preconstruction Notification (PCN) or a USACE Nationwide Permit (NWP) or an Individual Permit (IP) package for wetland impacts and mitigation, where applicable. The design and construction of the new bridge is being performed in-house. The Greenville County Engineering and Maintenance Division will be the permittee for any federal/state permits, certifications or notifications, as required.

II. Bridge Replacement Project Description.

The Robertson Way bridge replacement project is located on Robertson Way, off State Park Road, approximately 2 miles east of Travelers Rest. The existing 45' single span over Beaverdam Creek will be replaced with a 60' single span. In the process, the new bridge will be realigned and relocated slightly to improve traffic safety. New abutments will be built on each side of the creek and raised 3' higher than the existing abutments. The badly eroded streambanks on the upstream and downstream sides of the bridge will be cut back, sloped and armored with rip rap. The channel cross section on the upstream and downstream sides of the bridge will be enlarged to improve the channel's hydraulic capacity. The channel widening, in conjunction with raising the bridge deck, will allow the 100-year peak flow to pass under the new bridge without overtopping the deck.

III. Evaluation Phase, Scope of Services Note: At minimum, the wetlands consultant shall provide the following scope of services. If the consultant believes additional services will be needed for the wetlands evaluation and delineation, they may list the additional services in their proposal on a cost per hour basis.

A.) Desktop Review. Prior to performing the field evaluation, the consultant shall perform a desktop review of available information from the USGS, USDA, NRCS, FEMA, US Fish and Wildlife Service and other federal, state and local sources as necessary to collect relevant publicly available information regarding potential aquatic features within the project study area.

B.) Field Evaluation. After the desktop review, the consultant shall perform a field evaluation of the project study area to identify linear features such as creeks, streams and rivers and appropriately connected wetlands. The field evaluation shall be in general accordance with the 1987 USACE Wetland Delineation Manual and the USACE Eastern Mountains and Piedmont 2012 Regional Supplement.

C.) Wetlands Delineation. For any locations within the project study area exhibiting potential wetland features, the consultant shall physically flag wetland data points to delineate and define the limit of potential adjoining wetlands. The consultant shall follow up by mapping the wetland data points with a sub-meter GNSS receiver in accordance with USACE mapping criteria. Survey grade accuracy is also acceptable but not required.

D.) Documentation. Wetlands shall be evaluated according to the guidance given in the two USACE documents cited above. Wetland Determination Data Sheets shall be completed in each unique wetland area and Upland data points shall be completed based on the consultant's experience in evaluating/delineating the wetland limits. The data forms shall provide thorough documentation on the observed soils, hydrology and wetland plant species in areas suspected of being potential wetlands. At least one Wetland Determination Data Point shall be provided in each evaluation area regardless of whether suspected jurisdictional features are present or not. The number of Wetland Determination Data Sheets shall be consistent with the observations made and site conditions identified during the desktop review and field work. In addition, potential jurisdictional linear aquatic features (streams, rivers, relative permanent waters, and drainages) shall be thoroughly documented to sufficiently characterize the feature's flow regime, the width of the average ordinary high water mark (OHWM), and Cowardin classification.

E.) Pre-submittal Meeting and Permitting Discussion. The consultant shall meet with division staff after completing the evaluation but prior to submitting the final report. The first part of the meeting will be to view the report findings and discuss jurisdictional feature impacts. The second part of the meeting will be to discuss the permitting phase. Firstly, The consultant shall address the appropriate Corps verification scenario (DC, PJD, AJD, or PCN with delineation only). If impacts to potential, presumed, or verified jurisdictional aquatic resources are foreseen based on the current bridge replacement plan, the consultant shall outline applicable CWA Section 404/401 permitting requirements. Further, if notification thresholds are presumed to be surpassed and a PCN is required, the consultant shall outline additional tasks needed to generate wetland impact exhibits for determining the appropriate NWP including compensatory mitigation plan options where applicable. Lastly, if anticipated impacts exceed NWP limits, the consultant shall outline the tasks needed for an Individual Permit.

IV. Evaluation Phase, Deliverables Note: At minimum, the wetlands consultant shall provide the following deliverables. If the consultant believes additional deliverables will be needed for the evaluation phase, they may list the additional deliverables in their proposal on an hourly rate and material cost basis.

A.) A final report including but not limited to:

· A brief description of the project scope, location and limits

· A description of the methods and summary of findings from the desktop review

· A description of the methods and summary of findings from the field evaluation and wetlands delineation

· An executive summary listing de facto jurisdictional features or suspected jurisdictional features identified on the site

· Report conclusions including specific recommendations regarding the best plan of action to follow the USACE's jurisdictional determination process based on the findings of the wetland evaluation B.) Pertinent exhibits including but not limited to:

· USFWS wetland inventory map

· FEMA flood map

· NRCS soil map

· Wetland Determination Data Sheets

· Photographs (with captions) of the site and observed aquatic features

· Map of the wetland delineation boundary (the Division will provide an electronic drawing of the project site and bridge layout in SC state plane for reference purposes) V. Evaluation Phase, Time of Performance The Consultant shall complete all work and submit deliverables for evaluation phase services within 60 days of receiving the Notice of Award (NOA) or Notice to Proceed (NTP) from the Greenville County Purchasing Department. This time allotment shall include phone calls and/or email exchanges between the Consultant and the Division as necessary for questions and status updates, and shall include the time for the pre-submittal meeting. The Consultant shall not be granted a time extension without due cause and without the written consent of the County Stormwater Engineer or County Engineer.

VI. Evaluation Phase, Payment The consultant shall provide a total cost for all items listed in Sections III and IV above. The consultant shall be paid in full upon satisfactory review and approval of the final evaluation report.

VII. Permitting Phase, Scope of Services The services for permitting are dependent on the findings of the consultant's wetlands evaluation and applicable permitting requirements, among other factors, and will be determined at a later time.

VIII. Permitting Phase, Deliverables The deliverables for permitting are dependent on the findings of the consultant's wetlands evaluation and applicable permitting requirements, among other factors, and will be determined at a later time.

IX. Permitting Phase, Time of Performance The time of performance for permitting is indefinite due to reliance on outside agency reviews and comments, however, the division's expectation is for the consultant to submit permitting phase documents in a timely manner in order to minimize project delays.

X. Permitting Phase, Payment In their proposal, the consultant shall provide an hourly rate and material cost list for permitting phase services to be negotiated following the evaluation phase, except for PCN package preparation and submittal which is to be listed as a total cost item and include a scope of services. The consultant shall be paid on a quarterly cycle based on billable tasks performed during the quarter. These tasks with associated hourly rates and material costs must be documented and submitted in spreadsheet form to the division for review and approval before payment. The contract shall terminate and final payment will be made upon receipt of permit approval from the USACE. However, the division reserves the right to terminate the contract at any time and for any reason before USACE permit approval, and the consultant shall be paid for all performed services and deliverables up to the date of contract termination.