Lopez Water Project Habitat Conservation Plan Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Assessment Services.pdf

COUNTY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO

EXECUTIVE OFFICE – PURCHASING SERVICES

Revised March 2026

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL #2001

LOPEZ WATER PROJECT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT SERVICES

October 19, 2026

The San Luis Obispo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (District) is currently soliciting qualified proposals for environmental services for the Lopez Water Project Habitat

Conservation Plan Environmental Impact Report and Environmental Assessment Services.

Each proposal shall specify each and every item as set forth in the attached specifications. Any and all exceptions must be clearly stated in the proposal. Failure to set forth any item in the specifications without taking exception may be grounds for rejection. The County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to waive any irregularity or informality in any proposal or in the RFP process, as long as, in the judgment of the County, such action will not negate fair competition and will permit proper comparative evaluation of the proposals submitted.

This RFP is posted on the County’s Purchasing website at:

https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/central-services/purchasing-services/services/bid-rfp-opportunities.

Any changes, additions, or deletions to this RFP will be in the form of written addenda issued by the County. Any addenda will be posted on the website. Prospective proposers must check the website for addenda or other relevant new information during the response period. The County is not responsible for the failure of any prospective proposer to receive such addenda. All addenda so issued shall become a part of this RFP.

If you or your firm is interested and qualified, please submit two (2) separate Adobe Acrobat

Portable Data Format (.pdf) files, one (1) technical proposal and one (1) cost proposal, through the

County’s Purchasing website at the address listed above by 3:00 p.m. on November 20, 2026.

If you have any questions about the proposal process, please contact the Buyer directly.

Savannah Perez

Buyer – Executive Office – Purchasing Services sperez@co.slo.ca.us https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/central-services/purchasing-services/services/bid-rfp-opportunities https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/central-services/purchasing-services/services/bid-rfp-opportunities mailto:sperez@co.slo.ca.us

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 2 Lopez Water Project Habitat Conservation Plan Environmental Impact Report and Environmental

Assessment Services

Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION

A. PURPOSE

B. BACKGROUND

II. SCHEDULE AND SUBMITTAL

A. RFP SCHEDULE

B. QUESTIONS

C. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

III. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

A. COUNTY RIGHTS & OPTIONS

B. CHANGES TO THE RFP

C. COMMUNICATIONS

D. INSURANCE

E. EXCEPTIONS & DEVIATIONS

F. AWARD AND STANDARD AGREEMENT

IV. PROPOSAL FORMAT

V. PROPOSAL SELECTION & CONTRACT AWARD

A. SELECTION PROCEDURES

B. SELECTION CRITERIA

C. FINAL SELECTION

D. CONTRACT AWARD AND EXECUTION

E. PROTEST OF AWARD

VI. DEFINITIONS

APPENDIX A – SCOPE OF WORK

APPENDIX B – SAMPLE CONTRACT

APPENDIX C – LOCAL VENDOR PREFERENCE

APPENDIX D – RISK ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

APPENDIX E – COUNTY TRAVEL POLICY

APPENDIX F – PROPOSER CHECKLIST

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 3

I. INTRODUCTION

A. PURPOSE

The District is soliciting statements of qualifications from experienced environmental consulting firms to establish a task order professional services contract for a 2-year term, for the preparation of environmental documentation supporting implementation of the Lopez Water Project Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).

The selected consultant will assist the District in preparing a California Environmental

Quality Act (CEQA) Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and an applicant prepared

Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) under the

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to support federal review and decision-making with respect to the HCP and associated applications for permits under

Endangered Species Act (ESA) section 10(a)(1)(B) (Permits).

The District has submitted a Draft Habitat Conservation Plan dated October 1, 2025 to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

(USFWS) (collectively, the Services), which addresses the conservation and management of the South-Central California Coast Steelhead Distinct Population

Segment (SCCC DPS), California red-legged frog (CRLF), and southwestern pond turtle

(SWPT) (collectively, the Covered Species) within the Arroyo Grande Creek watershed.

The District, acting as Lead Agency under CEQA and applicant-preparer under NEPA, intends to complete environmental review and documentation in compliance with:

1. California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA);

2. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); and

3. Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), Section 10 Habitat Conservation Planning requirements.

The selected consultant will work collaboratively with District staff, technical and legal advisors, and regulatory agencies to prepare environmental documentation that complies with the statutory and regulatory requirements of CEQA and NEPA and supports the Services’ decision-making process with respect to the requested Permits.

B. BACKGROUND

Lopez Dam and Reservoir, constructed in 1968, are critical components of the Lopez

Water Project and serve as essential regional infrastructure for southern San Luis

Obispo County. The project provides municipal water supplies for approximately

50,000 residents, flood control benefits, recreational opportunities, and operational flexibility necessary to meet regional water demands. As a multi-purpose water

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 4 resource facility, the Lopez Water Project plays a vital role in supporting public health, economic stability, and environmental stewardship throughout the region.

Recognizing the importance of balancing water resource management with the conservation of sensitive aquatic and riparian species, the District has undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of existing biological, hydrological, and operational conditions within the Arroyo Grande Creek watershed. Using the best available scientific information, the District prepared a Draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) dated October 1, 2025, to evaluate the effects of ongoing operations and maintenance activities associated with the Lopez Water Project and related County infrastructure on the Covered Species, to estimate “take” of the Covered Species that could occur over the next 30 years, and to establish a conservation program that is intended to improve habitat conditions, enhance species resiliency, and provide regulatory certainty for the continued operation and maintenance of critical public infrastructure.

Operations of the Lopez Water Project and other County infrastructure conducted in accordance with the Interim Downstream Release Schedule (IDRS), currently in place, constitute the baseline condition against which the HCP's conservation strategy and anticipated incidental take are evaluated. This baseline includes the continued existence and operation of Lopez Dam, which predates the enactment of the ESA and was previously evaluated through federal ESA Section 7 consultation.

To support implementation of the HCP and the associated federal permitting process, the District requires preparation of environmental documentation under both CEQA and NEPA. The selected consultant will prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and an applicant-prepared Environmental Assessment (EA) or Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) that comply with statutory, regulatory, and policy requirements.

II. SCHEDULE AND SUBMITTAL

A. RFP SCHEDULE

The following represents the tentative schedule for this RFP. Any change in the scheduled dates for the Deadline for Final Questions, Proposal Submission Deadline, and/or

Interviews will be advertised in the form of an addendum to this RFP. The schedule for other milestones dates may be adjusted without notice.

RFP Schedule Date

Issued October 19, 2026

Deadline for Final Questions November 13, 2026

Proposal Submission Date November 20, 2026

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 5

Evaluation of Proposals December 18, 2026

Interviews (if needed) January 4, 2027

Contract Negotiations January 8, 2027

Intent to Award Issued January 19. 2027

Award by Board of Supervisors January 26. 2027

Notice to Proceed January 27. 2027

B. QUESTIONS

All questions (requests for interpretations or corrections) pertaining to the content of this

RFP must be made in writing through the County’s Purchasing website by 3:00 p.m. on

November 13, 2026. Requests submitted after said date may not be considered.

Questions will receive a response within five (5) business days. Questions and responses will be posted (anonymously) on the Purchasing website and can be viewed by accessing the RFP. The County reserves the right to determine the appropriateness of comments/questions that will be posted on the website.

C. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL

If you or your firm is interested and qualified, please submit two (2) separate Adobe Acrobat

Portable Data Format (.pdf) files, one (1) technical proposal and one (1) cost proposal, through the County’s Purchasing website at the address listed on the title page by 3:00 p.m.

on November 20, 2026.

III. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

A. COUNTY RIGHTS & OPTIONS

1. All proposals must be submitted to the County’s Purchasing website in Adobe PDF format no later than 3:00 p.m. on November 20, 2026. Late proposals will not be considered.

2. All proposals shall remain firm for one hundred and twenty (120) days following closing date for receipt of proposals.

3. The term of the contract will be two (2) years from date of award. Pricing will remain unchanged throughout the term of contract.

4. The County reserves the right to request any missing information in a proposal submitted in response to this RFP. Proposer shall have 24 hours to provide the information to the requesting Buyer.

5. All costs incurred in the preparation and submission of proposals and related documentation will be borne solely by the proposer.

6. This RFP does not constitute an offer of employment or to contract for services.

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 6

7. The County reserves the right to remedy technical errors, modify the published Scope of

Work and approve or disapprove the use of all subcontractors.

8. The issuance of this RFP does not constitute an agreement by the County that any subsequent selection process will occur, or that any contract will be entered into by the

County. Proposals and other materials will not be returned.

9. The County has the right to use any or all ideas or concepts presented in any proposal or interview without restriction, without conversation to all applicants.

10. All documents submitted to the County in response to this RFP will become the exclusive property of the County.

11. The County may, in its sole and absolute discretion, accept or reject any and all proposals, in whole or in part, with or without cause, in response to this RFP.

12. The County reserves the right to award the contract to the firms who present the proposal which, in the judgment of the County, best accomplishes the desired results.

13. Prices, terms and conditions of the contract may be extended to other County departments, as needed.

14. Unforeseen additional items and/or services may be required. The County therefore reserves the right to negotiate with the successful proposer for additional items and/or services beyond what is described in Appendix A to be added to the final contract.

15. Under the provisions of the California Public Records Act (the “Act”), Government Code section 7920.000 et seq., the County may be obligated to provide a copy of any and all records that the proposer provides County relating to this RFP (hereafter “Records from

Proposer”), including those records which the proposer believes constitute confidential information. If the County determines (in its sole discretion) that (i) a person/entity has requested a copy of records that would include Records from Proposer and (ii) the County does not have sufficient direct, first-hand knowledge to independently conclude that such

Records from Proposer are exempt from disclosure under the Act, the County will provide the proposer written notice thereof (via mail and/or email). If the proposer does not, within seven court business days thereof, file the appropriate papers in San Luis Obispo County

Superior Court (“Court”) seeking a Court order preventing the County from disclosing any such Records from Proposer to the requester, and have its request heard by the Court within 30 days thereof, the proposer shall be deemed to have waived any claim that the

Records from Proposer are exempt under the Act. (The County reserves the right to issue a written extension of time if it determines (in its sole discretion) that one is appropriate.)

Under no circumstances shall the proposer be entitled to recover from County any of its court costs, attorney’s fees or other litigation expenses that are related in any way to whether any Records from Proposer are exempt under the Act. If any proposer believes that information contained in its response to this RFP should be protected from disclosure, the proposer MUST specifically identify the pages of the response that contain the information by properly marking the applicable pages and inserting the following notice in the front of its response:

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 7

NOTICE: The data on pages _ of this response identified by an asterisk (*) contain technical or financial information, which are trade secrets, or information for which disclosure would result in substantial injury to the proposer’s competitive position. Proposer requests that such data be used only for the evaluation of the response, but understands that the disclosure will be limited to the extent the County considers proper under the law. If an agreement is entered into with the proposer, the County shall have the right to use or disclose the data as provided in the agreement, unless otherwise obligated by law.

16. The County will not honor any attempt by proposer to designate its entire proposal as proprietary. If there is any dispute, lawsuit, claim or demand as to whether information within the response to the RFP is protected from disclosure under the Act, proposer shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless, the County arising out of such dispute, lawsuit, claim or demand.

17. The proposer warrants that no official or employee of the County has an interest, has been employed or retained to solicit or aid in the procuring of any contract resulting from this

RFP, if any, and further warrants that such person will not be employed in the performance of the contract without immediate written notice to the County.

18. Firms submitting proposals shall warrant that their offer is made without any previous understanding, agreement or connection with any person, firm or corporation submitting a separate proposal for the same project and is in all respects fair, without outside control, collusion, fraud or otherwise illegal action. This condition shall not apply to proposals which are submitted by firms who have partnered with others to submit a cooperative proposal that clearly identifies a primary contractor and the associated subcontractors.

19. Any proposer awarded a contract (“Contract”) pursuant to this RFP (“Contractor”) shall comply with all laws and regulations governing nondiscrimination in employment, including, without limitation, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Fair

Employment and Housing Act (California Government Code §§ 12900, et seq.), and the applicable regulations promulgated thereunder, including but not limited to 2 California

Code of Regulations §§ 11000, et seq.

19.1 Nondiscrimination. The Contractor, with regard to the work performed by them during the Contract, shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color or national origin or other legally protected criteria in employment or the selection and retention of subcontractors, including procurement of materials and leases of equipment. The

Contractor shall not participate either directly or indirectly in the discrimination prohibited by Section 21.5 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including employment practices when the Contract covers a program set forth in Appendix B of said regulations.

19.2 Solicitation for Subcontracts, Including Procurement of Materials and

Equipment. In all solicitations, either by competitive bidding or negotiation, made by the

Contractor for work to be performed under a subcontract, including procurement of materials or leases of equipment, each potential subcontractor or supplier shall be notified by the Contractor of the Contractor’s obligations under this Contract and the regulations.

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 8

20. Executive Order N-6-22 – Russia Sanctions. On March 4, 2022, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-6-22 regarding Economic Sanctions against Russia and Russian entities and individuals. “Economic Sanctions” refers to sanctions imposed by the U.S.

government in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, as well as any sanctions imposed under state law. By submitting a bid or proposal, proposer represents that it is not a target of Economic Sanctions. Should the State or County determine proposer is a target of

Economic Sanctions or is conducting prohibited transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities, that shall be grounds for rejection of the proposer’s bid/proposal any time prior to contract execution, or, if determined after contract execution, shall be grounds for termination by the County.

21. Advanced Clean Fleets. Vehicles with a GVWR greater than 8,500 lbs. and light-duty package delivery vehicles operated in California may be subject to the California Air

Resources Board Advanced Clean Fleets regulations. Such vehicles may therefore be subject to requirements to reduce emissions of air pollutants. For more information, please visit the CARB Advanced Clean Fleets webpage at: https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/advanced-clean-fleets.

All fleets hired by the County shall be listed on the CARB Advanced Clean Fleets webpage as a compliant fleet or the fleet owner must provide a signed statement that its fleet is not subject to the High Priority and Federal Fleets regulations in title 13, CCR, sections

2015 through 2015.6 and the State and Local Government Fleets regulations in title 13, CCR, sections 2013 through 2013.4.

B. CHANGES TO THE RFP

This RFP is posted on the County’s Purchasing website at:

https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/central-services/purchasing-services/services/bid-rfp-opportunities.

Any changes, additions, or deletions to this RFP will be in the form of written addenda issued by the County. Any addenda will be posted on the website. Prospective proposers must check the website for addenda or other relevant new information during the response period. The County is not responsible for the failure of any prospective proposer to receive such addenda. All addenda so issued shall become a part of this RFP. Any proposer who has already submitted their proposal and desires to make corrections, may remove and replace their proposal on the Purchasing website up to the date and time for which this

RFP closes.

C. COMMUNICATIONS

All communications concerning this RFP shall be directed to Savannah Perez, sperez@co.slo.ca.us. All other communication is not binding and shall in no way modify the RFP or the obligations of the County.

The proceedings of the Selection Committee are confidential, and members of the Selection

Committee are not to be contacted by the proposers. After the solicitation has closed, https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/advanced-clean-fleets https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/advanced-clean-fleets https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/central-services/purchasing-services/services/bid-rfp-opportunities https://www.slocounty.ca.gov/departments/central-services/purchasing-services/services/bid-rfp-opportunities mailto:sperez@co.slo.ca.us

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 9 proposers can view the RFP on the Purchasing website where any available award information will be posted and updated within the solicitation. Any questions and requests for information must be addressed to the Buyer.

D. INSURANCE

The selected proposer will be required to provide insurance coverage in the amount of Two

Million Dollars ($2,000,000) Commercial General Liability (CGL) Insurance and Two Million

Dollars ($2,000,000) Professional Liability Insurance. See Appendix B – Sample Contract for complete insurance and indemnification requirements.

INSURANCE REQUIRED AMOUNT

CGL & Property Damage $ 2.0 Million per occurrence

Professional Liability

$ 2.0 Million per occurrence /

$ 4.0 Million aggregate

Auto Liability /Property Damage/Bodily

Injury $ 1.0 Million per occurrence

Workers Compensation & Disability

Benefits $ 1.0 Million per occurrence

The selected proposer shall provide within five (5) days after the Notice of Award is issued a certificate of liability insurance naming the County of San Luis Obispo and its employees and officers as additionally named insured. This shall be maintained in full force and effect for the duration of the contract and must be in an amount and format satisfactory to the

County.

E. EXCEPTIONS & DEVIATIONS

Any exceptions to or deviations from the requirements set forth in this RFP must be declared in the proposal submitted by the proposer. Such exceptions or deviations must be segregated as a separate element of the proposal under the heading “Exceptions and

Deviations” as instructed below in section IV. The County may waive any immaterial deviation or defect in a proposal.

F. AWARD AND STANDARD AGREEMENT

The County reserves the right to make awards within sixty (60) days after the date of the

RFP closing. The successful proposer is expected to execute a contract similar to the contract in Appendix B. This sample contract is for reference to the anticipated terms and conditions governing the County and the successful proposer. The proposer must take exception in their proposal to any section of the attached contract they do not agree with.

Failing to do so will be deemed as acceptance by the proposer to the terms spelled out in the sample contract. The County reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to add, delete, or modify, or negotiate additional terms and conditions to the attached contract. BEFORE

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 10

BEGINNING ANY WORK OR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL IT IS ADVISED THAT PROPOSERS

READ THE COUNTY INSURANCE AND INDEMNIFICATION REQUIREMENTS IN THE ATTACHED

SAMPLE CONTRACT. The selected proposer will be asked to provide evidence that County insurance requirements have been met.

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 11

IV. PROPOSAL FORMAT

A qualifying proposal must address all of the following points and shall be in the format outlined in this section:

A. Project Title

B. Applicant or Firm Name

C. Format and Firm Qualifications

To respond to the RFP, a proposer must submit a proposal on or before the deadline. The

County requests that the submitted proposal be limited to twenty (20) pages in length, not including resumes, table of contents, covers, dividers/tabs, cover letter, or the following forms which can be included in the appendices: Local Vendor Preference, Risk Assessment

Questionnaire, or the Proposer Checklist. The proposal must be signed by a person authorized to bind the proposing firm to the representations, commitments and statements contained in the proposal. The proposal must contain the following information and documents:

a. A cover letter summarizing the key points of the proposal (2 pages max.)

b. Description of Firm. A description of the firm’s organizational structure, the jurisdiction in which the firm is organized and date of such organization. In addition, provide a brief description of the firm’s qualifications and experience on projects of similar nature to those described in the proposal as well as projects/clients where contractor has performed as an extension of staff.

c. Authorized representative of the proposer. The name, address, telephone number, and email address of the person authorized to represent the proposer with respect to all notices, negotiations, discussions, and other communications relating to the proposal, including negotiation relating to the contract.

d. Staffing. Provide an organizational chart identifying: 1) the project manager for the work; 2) each key person who would be assigned to carry out the work, and their respective roles in performing the work. Provide a separate description of the experience and qualifications of such manager and key persons, including a summary of experience on similar projects to those described in the proposal.

Resumes should be included for all key individuals as an appendix to the submittal.

e. References. A list of no more than three references for the proposer and no more than three references for the subcontractor, including the names, addresses and telephone numbers of recent clients, preferably other public agencies and a listing of the specific projects and key individuals that have participated in them. Include

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 12 the dollar amount related to the participation. Identify how much experience the firm and subcontractor has had with public agencies.

f. Scope. A clear concise statement of the proposer’s understanding of the nature and extent of the services required and a specific outline to demonstrate how personnel would be organized to handle these services.

D. Work Plan/Technical Services

a. This section should establish that the proposer understands the County’s objectives and requirements, demonstrate the proposer’s ability to meet those requirements and outline clearly and concisely the plan for accomplishing the specified work as outlined in Appendix A - Scope of Work.

b. Indication of information and participation the proposer will require from County staff.

D. Required Attachments Appendix

a. Resumes. In the Appendix, proposer shall include resumes for all key personnel, the specific projects and roles of the individuals, specialty licenses, certificates or relevant training. List all similar work.

Cost Proposal:

A. Fees

Propose total fixed fees as described under Scope of Work. Fees shall detail the billing rates for each firm’s key individuals, other position’s overhead rates and other costs. Include any and all other costs for office, vehicle, travel, cell phones, per diem, etc. Travel cost reimbursement rates must conform to the County’s Travel Policy reimbursements; costs above these rates are not allowed. See Appendix E – County Travel Policy. Cost proposal must be submitted in a separate Adobe Acrobat Portable Data Format (.pdf) file and shall not be included within the technical proposal.

V. PROPOSAL SELECTION & CONTRACT AWARD

A. SELECTION PROCEDURES

Proposals will be evaluated by a Selection Committee comprised of one or more County departments and stakeholders. The Selection Committee will consider the completeness of a proposal and how well the proposal meets the needs of the County. Evaluations will be based on criteria as outlined in Section B (Selection Criteria) below. All proposals in response to this RFP will be evaluated using the same criteria.

The sole purpose of the selection procedure is to determine, from among the responses received, which one is best suited to meet the County’s needs. Any final analysis or

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 13 weighted score does not imply that one proposer is superior to another, but simply that, in the Selection Committee’s judgment, the selected proposer appears to offer the best overall solution for the County’s current and anticipated needs.

The County may require the proposers who receive top rankings during the initial evaluation phase to conduct an on-site interview or oral presentation of their proposal on the date specified in RFP Schedule. The County will provide a required agenda, for those proposers, specifying the items to be covered during the proposer’s presentation.

B. SELECTION CRITERIA

The County will evaluate the proposals based on, but not limited to, the below criteria. The objective is to choose the proposal that offers the highest quality services and will achieve the project’s goals and objectives within a reasonable budget. While cost is important, other factors are also significant and the County may not select the lowest cost proposal.

C. FINAL SELECTION

The Selection Committee will formulate its recommendation for award of the Contract and forward its selection to the appropriate parties for approval.

D. CONTRACT AWARD AND EXECUTION

The County reserves the right to enter into a contract without further discussion of the submitted proposal. Therefore, the proposal should be initially submitted on the most favorable terms the proposer can offer.

Selection Criteria – RFP (Phase One) Points Available

Understanding of Scope of Work 20

Demonstrated expertise in performing similar work 30

Qualifications and experience of key staff 30

Familiarity with state and federal procedures 20

Total Points Available Per Contractor 100

Selection Criteria – Interviews (Phase Two) Points Available

Oral Interview (Agenda) (Optional) 100

Total Points Available Per Contractor 200

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 14

The County reserves the right to withdraw the RFP in whole or in part, at any time and for any reason. Submission of a proposal confers no rights upon a proposer and does not obligate the County in any manner. The County reserves the right to award no contract and to solicit additional offers at a later date.

Each proposer, by submitting a proposal, agrees that if the County accepts its proposal, such proposer will furnish all items and services upon the terms and conditions in this RFP and subsequent contract. Proposals that do not meet the mandatory requirements set forth in this RFP will be considered non-compliant. Proposers may be disqualified and the proposal may be rejected by the County for any of, but not limited to, the following reasons:

• Failure to properly respond to the RFP;

• Evidence of collusion among the proposers submitting the proposals;

• Failure to comply with the specification requirements of the RFP.

Terms, conditions, prices, methodology, or other features of the Contractor’s proposal may be subject to negotiation and subsequent revision. As part of the negotiations, the proposer may be required to submit additional financial information and other data to allow for a detailed evaluation of the feasibility, reasonableness, and acceptability of the proposal.

The RFP document and the successful proposer’s proposal response, as amended by agreement between the County and the successful proposer, including e-mail or written correspondence relative to the RFP, may become part of the contract documents.

Additionally, the County may verify the successful proposer’s representations that appear in the proposal. Failure of the successful proposer to perform as represented may result in elimination of the successful proposer from competition or in contract cancellation or termination.

The requirements listed in this RFP are not negotiable and will remain unchanged unless the County determines that a change in such requirements is in the best interest of the

County.

The County expressly reserves the right, in its sole judgment, to accept or reject any or all proposals, with or without cause, modify, alter, waive any technicalities or provisions, or to accept the proposal which, in its sole judgment, is determined to be the best evaluated offer resulting from negotiation and taking into consideration other evaluation factors set forth in the RFP. The successful proposer will be expected to enter into a contract with the

County. If the successful proposer fails to sign a contract within fifteen (15) business days, unless the County grants an extension, following the delivery of the contract documents, the County may elect to negotiate a contract with the next-highest ranked proposer.

The County shall not be bound, or in any way obligated, until both parties have executed a contract. The selected proposer may not incur any chargeable costs prior to final contract

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 15 execution. The foregoing should not be interpreted to prohibit either party from proposing additional contract terms and conditions during the negotiation of the final Contract.

The supplies and services are to be provided in compliance with all applicable state and federal standards, rules and regulations. The County reserves the right to request additional written and/or oral information from proposers at any time before contract award, in order to obtain clarification of their responses.

E. PROTEST OF AWARD

Any objection to the County’s final decision will be handled according to applicable state and local procurement laws.

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 16

VI. DEFINITIONS

Response: The written, signed and sealed complete document submitted according to the proposal instructions. Response does not include any verbal or documentary interaction apart from submittal of a formal Response.

Request/Proposal/Bid: The completed and released document, including all subsequent addenda, made publicly available to all prospective proposers.

We/Us/Our: Terms that refer to the County of San Luis Obispo, a duly organized public entity.

They may also be used as pronouns for various subsets of the County organization, including, as the context will indicate.

Purchasing: The Purchasing Services division within the County Executive Office.

Department/Division: The County department or division requesting the goods or services contained in this request, for which the proposal is prepared and which will be the end user of the requested goods or services.

You/Your: Terms that refer to businesses/individuals submitting a response. The term may apply differently as the context will indicate.

Supplier: A business entity engaged in the business of providing services.

Proposer: A business entity submitting a Response to this proposal. Suppliers which may express interest in this proposal, but who do not submit a Response, have no obligations with respect to the proposal requirements.

Contractor: The proposer(s) whose Response to this proposal is evaluated as meeting the needs of the County. Contractor(s) will be selected for award, and will enter into a contract(s) for provision of the services described in this proposal.

Contractor’s Employee: All persons who can be offered to provide the services described in the proposal. All employees of the Contractor shall be covered by the insurance programs normally provided to persons employed by a company (ex: Worker’s Comp, SDI, etc.).

Mandatory: A required element of this request/proposal/bid. Failure to satisfy any element of this request/proposal/bid defined as “mandatory” will disqualify the particular response.

Default: A failure to act as required by any contract resulting from this request, which may trigger the right to sue or may excuse the other party's obligation to perform under the contract.

Cancellation/Termination: A unilateral or mutual decision to not complete an exchange or perform an obligation under any contract resulting from this request.

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 17

“Or Equal”: A statement used for reference to indicate the character or quality desired in a requested product or service. When specified in a proposal document, equal items will be considered, provided the response clearly describes the article. Offers of equal items must state the brand and number, or level of quality. When brand, number, or level of quality is not stated by proposer, the offer will be considered exactly as specified. The determination of the Purchasing

Agent as to what items are equal is final and conclusive.

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 18

APPENDIX A – SCOPE OF WORK

Attached as a separate document.

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 19

APPENDIX B – SAMPLE CONTRACT

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 20

APPENDIX C – LOCAL VENDOR PREFERENCE

The County has established a local vendor preference. When quality, service, and other relevant factors are equal, responses to Requests for Proposals will be evaluated with a preference for local vendors.

Note the following exceptions:

1. Those contracts which State Law or, other law or regulation precludes this local preference.

2. Public works construction projects.

A "local" vendor preference will be approved as such when, 1) The vendor conducts business in a fully staffed office with a physical address within the County of San Luis Obispo; 2) The vendor holds a valid business license issued by the County or a city within the County; and 3) The vendor has conducted business at the local address for not less than six (6) months prior to the due date of this Request for

Proposal.

Proposals received in response to this Request for Proposal will be evaluated by the Selection

Committee considering the local vendor preference described above when quality, service and other relevant factors are equal. The burden of proof will lie with proposers relative to verification of "local" vendor preference.

YES

NO

Do you claim local vendor preference?

Do you conduct business in an office with a physical location within the County of San Luis Obispo?

Business Address:

Years at this Address:

Does your business hold a valid business license issued by the

County or a City within the County?

Name of Local Agency which issued license:

Business Name: __________________________________________________________________________________

Authorized Individual: ______________________________ Title: ________________________________________

Signature: ___________________________________________ Dated: ______________________________________

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 21

APPENDIX D – RISK ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRE

(Required Submittal)

1. List the full names of any partners, owners, officers or other persons occupying a position of authority or responsibility in your organization, as well as their Unique Entity

ID (SAM) number.

Unique Entity ID (SAM) Number Organization

NOTE: A Unique Entity ID (SAM) number is not required but must be listed if the entity has one.

2. Have the individual(s) in item #1 been subject to bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership proceedings in the last five (5) years? Yes No If yes, please enclose details.

3. Has your business/company/organization filed for bankruptcy within the last five (5) years? Yes No If yes, please enclose details.

4. Has your business/company/organization/individual(s) in item #1 ever had a contract for the general type of services/product sought by the County terminated for non-compliance or inadequate performance? Yes No If yes, please enclose details.

5. Has your business/company/organization/individual(s) in item #1 ever defaulted on a contract for the general type of services/product being sought by the County?

Yes No If yes, please enclose details.

6. Has there been, in the last five (5) years, or is there now pending or threatened, any litigation, arbitration, governmental proceeding or regulatory proceeding involving

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 22 claims in excess of $100,000 with respect to the performance of any services or the provision of any product by your business/company/organization/individual(s) in item

#1? Yes No If yes, please enclose details.

7. Has your business/company/organization/individual(s) in item #1 ever defaulted in fulfilling all of its obligations relating to the payment of county taxes, fees, or other obligations?

8. In the last five (5) years, has your business/company/organization/individual(s) in item

#1, been or currently involved in any action, audit or investigation brought by any federal government agency or authority or by any state or local governmental agency?

9. In the last five (5) years, has your business/company/organization/individual(s) in item

#1 been debarred or suspended for any reason by any federal, state or local government or refrained from bidding on a project due to an agreement with such governmental agency? Yes No If yes, please enclose details.

10. In the past five (5) years, has your business/company/organization/individual(s) in item

#1 had its surety called upon to complete any contract, whether government or private sector? Yes No If yes, please enclose details.

11. In the past five (5) years, has your business/company/organization/individual(s) in item

#1 had a revocation, suspension or disbarment of any business or professional permit and/or license? Yes No If yes, please enclose details.

12. Has your firm or any of its owners, officers or partners ever been convicted of a federal or state crime of fraud, theft, or any other act of dishonesty?

Yes No If yes, identify on a separate signed page the person or persons convicted, the court (the county if a state court, the district or location of the federal court), the year and the criminal conduct.

Signature

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 23

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY CERTIFIES THAT THE RESPONSES PROVIDED ARE CORRECT AND

TRUTHFUL TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE AND FOR THOSE RESPONSES GIVEN WHICH ARE

BASED ON INFORMATION AND BELIEF, THOSE RESPONSES ARE TRUE AND CORRECT BASED ON

MY PRESENT BELIEF AND INFORMATION.

Dated this ______ day of __________________ of the year _________

Name of organization: _____________________________________________

Signature: __________________________________________________________

Printed Name and title: _____________________________________________

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 24

APPENDIX E – COUNTY TRAVEL POLICY

County of San Luis Obispo RFP #2001 October 19, 2026 Page 25

APPENDIX F – PROPOSER CHECKLIST

Please check to ensure all documents listed below are included with your submittal.

Technical Proposal (Required)………………………………………………………………………………………..□

(Including resumes)

Local Vendor Preference………………………………………………………………………………………………..□

Risk Assessment Questionnire (Required)……………………………………………………………………□