PROS_SustainabilityContractor_RFQ_8.5.2025_Clean.pdf

Lake County Government� Request for Qualifications� 505 Harrison Ave� CAP Steering Committee� Leadville, CO 80461� www.rfp@lakecountyco.gov�

LAKE COUNTY, COLORADO

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

for

SUSTAINABILITY CONTRACTOR

August 7, 2025

Proposals must be received by:

5:00PM on AUGUST 31, 2025

Project Objectives & Parameters

Lake County is seeking proposals from qualified organizations or consultants for the role of Sustainability Contractor. This contracted position will be responsible for coordinating, implementing, and overseeing various sustainability programs and initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change and promoting sustainable development within Leadville/Lake County. This position is grant-funded, meaning it is dependent on the availability of grant funds for the duration of the project. The intent is to maintain the program for as long as the project is funded, with the possibility of an extension if additional funding becomes available and the project progresses successfully. However, if the funding ends or the project concludes, at any point, the position and its related contracts will also end.

The Sustainability Contractor will support the County in implementing the sustainability strategies outlined in the Climate Action Plan. The selected individual or organization will be tasked with managing climate-related activities and promoting county-wide sustainability efforts, including partnerships with other community organizations. The County’s current vision for this role is that it will be filled by a host organization that could create dedicated capacity for this scope of work; however, individual consultants/contractors are also invited to respond.

Grant funding has been secured by the County as grantee, to fund this project through Q3 2027. The County anticipates that the Sustainability Contractor will serve for an approximately 24-month term but recognizes that this term may be extended or reduced based upon the contractor’s performance, the available program budget, and/or the ability to secure additional funding beyond this initial, grant-funded term. Proposals, however, should assume that the development of the regional climate and sustainability initiative shall be subject to this 24-month term. Final reporting from the County to the grant funding agencies will be due by no later than the grant close-out date of August 31, 2027.

Maximum funding for the full scope of work and duration of performance for this RFQ is $240,000, and all proposals must remain under that not to exceed amount. The Contractor shall furnish all labor and materials required for the complete and prompt execution and performance of all duties, obligations, and responsibilities that are described in or reasonably implied from the Scope of Services.

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CAP Steering Committee� Request for Qualifications� August 7, 2025�

Scope of Services

The Sustainability Contractor will be responsible for delivering the following tasks and outcomes:

1. Provide facilitation/project management o Supports the contracted consultant, The Brendle Group, Inc. (“Brendle Group”), throughout implementation of the Climate Action Plan’s (“CAP’s”) scope of work, a role that will include, without limitation: data collection, existing policy review, public engagement, presentations to electeds and board members, and adoption of the CAP.

The contract with the Brendle Group is scheduled to end on February 28, 2026;

o Convenes the CAP Steering Committee, as needed, to provide feedback and ensure organizational awareness;

o Develops annual work plans in conjunction with County staff to guide the work of the Sustainability Contractor. Initial work plan to be submitted to the Colorado Energy Office within no more than six (6) months of hire;

o Manages and track progress of actions and initiatives using the measurable targets outlined in the CAP and develop a process for regular assessment of action items in each sector;

o Works with the Colorado Energy Office to develop and submit monthly and quarterly reports, as required;

o Submits a final report by no later than August 31, 2027, to both the Board of County Commissioners and the Colorado Energy Office providing a summary of the work that has been accomplished, successes of the program, and progress toward goals stated in the work plan; and o Serves as a subject matter expert in climate action and sustainability, representing the County in interactions with local, state, and national organizations and in public settings, and responsible for making presentations to the public and other community partners.

2. Coordination and implementation of Lake County Climate Action Plan o Develops and implements community-facing programs, initiatives and policies to support the County’s CAP to not only advance energy and cost savings and the adoption of renewable technologies, but also to reduce County homeowners’ energy burden (meaning the percentage of a household’s income that is spent on energy costs);

o Works with local stakeholders, including working closely with County staff and elected officials, to create and execute a coherent implementation strategy;

o Helps identify and engage other community partners in opportunities for integration of both new and existing sustainability-focused efforts in support of the CAP;

o Establishes and maintain a framework for measuring, monitoring, tracking, and evaluating program impacts and benefits;

o Provides on-going, regular and coordinated updates and presentations to County staff and elected officials to ensure awareness and buy-in for the CAP initiative. Initial reporting will be required on at least a quarterly basis;

o Works directly with designated County staff to provide information necessary for required grant deliverables reporting, including monthly activities reports and quarterly impact reports;

Lake County�CO� Sustainability�Contractor�RFQ�|�Page�2�of�7� o Develops and oversees sustainability-specific indicators and metrics and defines specific, measurable targets for the impacts of the work, including devising a process for regular assessment of and reflection on progress toward these target goals, while concurrently demonstrating the ability to correct a course of action, as needed;

o Identifies and pursues state and federal grant funding to support implementation of sustainability initiatives. Develops and manages project budgets, timelines, and deliverables and stays current on emerging trends, technologies, and sustainability best practices, so as to ensure that climate initiatives are executed efficiently and effectively within County departments;

o Assists in the development, coordination, and administration of programs and projects in areas such as water and energy efficiency, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, green building, lighting, heating and cooling, water usage watershed management, sustainable procurement, and hazardous materials management. Recommends and implements energy-saving measures; and o Assists all County Directors/Department heads with sustainability efforts by identifying ways that departments can be more sustainable and assisting them in implementing the County-focused outcomes of the CAP.

3. Community Outreach & Education:

o Facilitates public participation and collaboration by working with residents, businesses, and institutions to identify sustainable actions and operations; and o Conducts outreach efforts and develops educational materials on a variety of sustainability topics for both internal and community-wide use; attends public meetings and presents information to community groups and other stakeholders. This plan will be negotiated and agreed upon with the successful proponent.

While the County prefers a proponent with the ability to fill the position(s) immediately, the successful proponent entity or individual must be available to begin by no later than October 13, 2025, and to maintain and sustain the position through the entire duration of the grant-funded program.

Qualifications and Evaluation Criteria:

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Demonstrated expertise in sustainability planning, climate action, community engagement, and project management;

• Experience working with municipal government, community organizations and nonprofits and private sector groups, local or regional sustainability initiatives, and community outreach programs;

• Proven ability to coordinate and manage multi-stakeholder efforts;

• Experience that demonstrates local or regional collaboration that has resulted in successful diverse stakeholder engagement;

• Ability to develop clear and effective communication strategies and educational programs;

• Experience in evaluating and developing long-term sustainability frameworks and job roles;

• Proposed structure of staffing and dedication of personnel resources to the scope of work;

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• Excellent project management skills, including the ability to plan, organize, and execute complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities;

• Knowledge of Environment and Social Governance reporting and GHG Scopes 1, 2, and 3 preferred; and

• Certification in LEED, CEM, CC-P, BPI, REP, GPRO, or other sustainability-related certification preferred.

Proposal Submission Requirements:

Interested parties should submit a proposal that includes the following:

1. Cover Letter:

o Brief introduction of the organization and their qualifications.

2. Qualifications & Experience:

o A summary of relevant qualifications, including experience working on sustainability and climate action projects, particularly within local government or regional settings.

3. Understanding of Scope + Approach o A summary of your approach and methodology of this RFQ.

4. Cost & Value:

o A summary of how you will achieve the budget laid out in this RFQ, including any necessary resources or subcontractors.

5. Schedule & Capacity o An outline of the proposed work schedule, team members and their experience.

6. Responsiveness & Compliance o Completeness of response to RFQ.

7. Local & Social Considerations An understanding of Lake County and its communities.

8. References:

o At least three professional references with a summary of similar or related work.

This RFQ aims to find a qualified professional to lead sustainability efforts and support the long-term sustainability of the Lake County community.

Lake County reserves the right to waive informalities in proposals, reject all proposals, and accept the proposal deemed most advantageous to the best interest of the Count.

QUALIFICATIONS SUBMITTAL INSTRUCTIONS:

The County seeks a clear, concise,�economical presentation of the vendor’s�proposal. Proposals� must be submitted via the electronic submission on BidNet (https://www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado) no later than 5:00 p.m. MST on August 31, 2025, as specified in this RFP. Please note that candidates must register on BidNet in order to submit proposals electronically. Late proposals will not be accepted.

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If proponents need assistance,�please contact BidNet’s�Vendor�Support Department at�800-835- 4603, Option 2. No physical copy will be required. Please address the cover letter to: Duncan Chisholm, Lake County Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Director, 505 Harrison Avenue, Leadville, Colorado 80461, with the subject line: Sustainability Contractor. Proponents should not rely on any other statements, either written or oral, that alter any specification or other term or condition of the RFP during the open solicitation period. Proponents should not contact any team members, or any individual associated with the County regarding this RFP or this project.

ALL PROPOSALS must be received on or before AUGUST 31, 2025, by no later than 5:00 MST.

Interviews are planned for early September 2025, and will be scheduled with selected candidates at discretion of County staff.

Contractor/Consultant selection and notice of intent to award is expected no later September 19, 2025.

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

The successful bidder shall not begin any work under any contract awarded until it has obtained the required insurance, and Lake County has approved such insurance. The successful bidder shall not allow any subcontractor to commence work under an awarded contract until all similar insurance required of the subcontractor has been obtained and approved.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE CONTRACTS�

Type of Insurance� Minimum�Coverage�

Comprehensive�General Liability�Insurance� $1,000,000/occurrence�+�$2,000,000/aggregate�

Comprehensive�Automobile�Liability�Insurance� $1,000,000/occurrence�

Professional Liability�Insurance� $1,000,000/claim +�annual aggregate�

Contractual Terms and Conditions The selected proposal will be expected to enter into the County’s standard agreement for services to be prepared by the Lake County Attorney’s Office and approved by the Lake County Board of County Commissioners. Contractors are prohibited from assigning or subcontracting the whole or any part of the contract without the prior written consent of the County.

Contractor shall not hire, discharge, promote, demote, or otherwise discriminate in matters of compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment against any person otherwise qualified solely because of race, creed, sex, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, color, or age.

Contractor shall be in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as enacted and from time to time amended and any other applicable federal, state, or local laws and regulations. A signed, written certificate stating compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act may be requested at any time during the life of this contract or any renewal thereof.

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Contractor shall provide services as an independent contractor and will not be considered employee(s) of Lake County. Successful contractor will be paid based upon actual invoices submitted with any required supporting documentation as work is completed.

Accessibility Guidelines (as applicable): Contractor shall comply with and the work product provided under this RFP shall comply with all applicable provisions of §§ 24-85-101, et seq., C.R.S., and the Accessibility Standards for Individuals with a Disability, as established by the State of Colorado Office of Information Technology (OIT) according to § 24-85-103(2.5), C.R.S. Contractor shall also comply with all State of Colorado technology standards related to technology accessibility and with Level AA of the most current version of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, incorporated in the State of Colorado technology standards. (https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag).

Indemnification To the fullest extent permitted by law, the successful bidder, its subcontractors, agents, officers, and/or employees shall indemnify and hold harmless Lake County, Colorado, including, but not limited to, its respective elected and appointed officials, officers, employees, and agents, from and with respect to any claim resulting, arising, or alleged to have arisen from the negligent, and/or willful, wanton or reckless acts, errors, or omissions of the bidder, its subcontractors, agents, officers, or employees and any and all losses or liabilities resulting from any such claims, including, but not limited to, damages, costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees. This indemnification shall not be affected by any other portions of the contract referenced above relating to insurance requirements.

General Conditions

Reserved Rights:

Lake County reserves the right to:

• Modify or cancel the selection process or schedule at any time;

• Waive minor irregularities;

• Reject any and/or all responses to this RFQ and to seek new proposals when it is in the best interest of Lake County to do so;

• Seek clarification or additional information from respondents as it deems necessary to the evaluation of the response;

• Request any additional information or evidence from individual respondents;

• Judge the respondent’s written or oral representations as to their veracity, substance and relevance to development of the project, including seeking and evaluating independent information on any project team; and

• Incorporate this RFQ and the selected team’s response to this RFQ as a part of any formal agreement between the County and the respondent. Issue revisions to the RFQ or amend the scope of the RFQ.

Hold Harmless: By participation in this RFQ process, proponents agree to hold harmless Lake County, their officers and employees from all claims, liabilities and costs related to all aspects of the responder selection process.

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Public Information: All documents, conversations, correspondence, etc. between Lake County, and proponents are public information subject to the laws and regulations that govern Lake County, unless specifically identified otherwise.

Expenses: All expenses related to any applicant’s response to this RFQ, or other expenses incurred during the course of the selection process are the sole obligation and responsibility of that proponent.

We appreciate your interest and look forward to hearing from you.

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