RFQ - Brownfields Administration.pdf

Request for Qualifications Professional Consulting Services

Environmental Protection

Agency Brownfields Grant

Program

Lenoir County Government

Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Lenoir County Government

Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Grant Program

Submission Deadline – June 17, 2024

Lenoir County will receive statements of qualifications herein described. The County reserves the right to reject any or all submissions. All changes to the terms, conditions, or specifications stated in this RFQ shall be issued through formal addendums and posted on the County’s website.

Section 1. Purpose Lenoir County (the County) seeks statements of qualifications from qualified parties to provide environmental and engineering consulting services on a task order basis for a coalition brownfields program over a five-year period of performance. The County will serve as the primary applicant and project lead for the coalition, which will include the members of the Global Transpark Economic

Development Region (GTPEDR). The County will be responsible for selection of the consultant on behalf of the coalition.

The County is seeking firms with documented experience writing and acquiring grants, providing brownfields-related services for local governments or similar work, and are familiar working within a rural community with characteristics similar to those of Lenoir, Greene, and Wayne counties; more specifically, the consultant must demonstrate direct or relevant experience with large industrial districts, downtown commercial buildings, abandoned commercial buildings, and airport support facilities. The proposed work herein should meet all federal requirements for work funded by an EPA Brownfields Grant.

This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) provides specifications and requirements for prospective qualified firms to complete a statement of qualifications. The objectives of the County are to complete the following:

• Act as lead applicant on behalf of a regional coalition and acquire an EPA Brownfields Grant to serve the Counties of Lenoir, Greene, and Wayne as well as the Global Transpark;

• Assess sites for future development in order to increase economic viability of the region and promoting creative reuse of existing buildings;

• Provide resources to the region to increase industrial and commercial economic viability through creative use of brownfields funds;

• Remove barriers to redevelopment;

• Engage and educate property owners and encourage participation in the program.

Section 2. Submission Requirements

1. Deadline. All applications are due to Lenoir County by 12:00 pm on June 17, 2024. Statements of qualifications received after this deadline will not be considered.

2. Format. Statements of qualifications may be submitted in electronic or hard copy format. For hard copy submissions, provide two copies.

3. Contact Information. For questions regarding this RFQ, please feel free to contact the Lenoir

County Administration via phone at 252-559-2260 ext. 7249 or via email at adam.short@lenoircountync.gov.

Please submit hard copy submissions to:

Lenoir County Planning Department c/o Adam Short PO Box 3289 Kinston, NC 28502

Please submit electronic copies to:

adam.short@lenoircountync.gov mailto:adam.short@lenoircountync.gov mailto:adam.short@lenoircountync.gov

Section 3. Scope of Services The scope of services, as outlined in this RFQ, is preliminary. The final scope of services will be negotiated with the selected firm and modified as needed, depending on site conditions. The consultant may be expected to perform the following tasks on an as-needed basis:

1. Grant Administration: Upon notification of funding award, the consultant will, with the County’s guidance, administer the grant. Some grant administrative tasks may include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Preparation of maintenance and budgets for assessment activities;

• Assistance with preparation of all EPA grant start up documents;

• Coordination of steering committee meetings;

• Developing and modifying workplans as necessary;

• Providing regulatory and financial information as needed;

• Tracking and measuring progress;

• Entering data into the EPA reporting system; and

• Drafting quarterly and final closeout documents.

2. Property Identification and Inventory: The consultant will be expected to work with the County and the larger coalition to identify, develop, and refine a database of potential brownfields properties. Included in this work will be the development and implementation of a set of criteria to prioritize the identified property for evaluation.

3. Site Characterization and Assessment Activities: The consultant may be asked and shall have the capacity to prepare Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESA), as well as preparation of clean up plans. Included in this task is the development of the following plans:

• Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPP);

• Site Specific Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAP);

• Health and Safety Plans (HASP); and

• Phase I and II ESA Investigation Reports.

Documents are required to follow all applicable state and federal regulations, as well as any applicable industry standards, including ASTM and AAI standards for property transaction work.

4. Community Involvement Assistance: The consultant will be expected to support the County and the coalition in public involvement and community outreach activities to ensure that the community concerns are considered and addressed in the assessment, planning, and execution process of projects related to this grant. Activities may include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

• Develop a community engagement plan to detail a strategy for involving the community in brownfields activities;

• Conduct public meetings and hearings to solicit community interest and provide education information;

• Develop and implement effective methods of communication information about the brownfields program to the public, stakeholders, and local business stakeholders and leaders;

• Engage with local elected boards to apprise them of progress and project updates from time to time;

• Consult with private landowners and developers to encourage participation in the program.

5. Cleanup and Development Planning: The consultant will be expected to complete site-specific cleanup and redevelopment planning documents, including Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup

Alternatives (ABCA), site remediation work plans, conceptual redevelopment site plans, and other documents as necessary. Additionally, the consultant will be expected to communicate and negotiate voluntary cleanup projects with the NC Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), as necessary.

6. Cleanup and Remediation Activities: The consultant will be expected to complete, facilitate, and coordinate the cleanup and remediation of selected brownfields properties in accordance with

DEQ Inactive Hazardous Site Branch (IHSB) voluntary remediation program, US Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA), and other agency requirements. Activities may include the preparation of QAPPs and HASPs, securing all approvals and permits, completing confirmation sampling activities, development bid documentation, coordination and oversight of remediation work, and completing site remediation activities.

7. Other Brownfields Related Duties: Generally, the consultant will be expected to perform all duties necessary for a successful program, but not have not been anticipated or directly addressed in this RFQ. Lenoir County may amend or extend the contract with the selected consultant beyond the initial term in the interest of further brownfields-related tasks or to pursue additional grants to support continued brownfields-related tasks.

Section 4. Statement of Qualifications Content and Format The submittal shall be no longer than ten (10) pages and shall include the information outlined below. To ensure fair and equitable evaluation, statements of qualifications must be organized into the following sections. All statements of qualifications, at minimum, must include the following:

1. Experience and Capacity (35 possible points): The response shall, at a minimum, include a summary of the following:

• A summary of the firm’s history and experience providing brownfields services as herein described, which may include but is not necessarily limited to:

i. Experience and ability to complete the brownfields-related tasks;

ii. Familiarity with the region and community being served;

iii. Demonstrated brownfields experience included successful grant administration and writing;

iv. Approach and understanding of the scope of work;

v. Experience working with EPA and NCDEQ;

vi. Environmental assessment experience; and

vii. Quality of performance on similar projects.

• A summary of previous administration and grant writing experience;

• A summary of current work capacity and ability to perform the services as herein described;

• A summary of experience performing brownfields-related work or comparable work in rural regions;

• A description of the firm’s familiarity with brownfields and how their recent work relates to brownfields projects;

• A description of the firm’s organizational structure, names and experience of key individuals, including professional registration, site investigation, and experience working with EPA and DEQ; and

• Disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest.

2. References (25 possible points): The response shall include at least three (3) references for similar services that have been provided by your firm and the dates of service. Please include the reference name, company, and phone number. Additionally, the response shall include a description of the service and key personnel that were involved in the project each referenced location or project.

3. Cost and Price (25 possible points): The response shall include hourly rates for services to be provided as described in this RFQ.

4. Proposed Methodology (15 possible points): The response shall include an organizational chart and a description of how the firm will complete the scope of services as herein described. The response shall also include a description of the relevant services provided by your firm. Finally, the response shall include a concise state of why your firm should be selected.

Section 5. Evaluation and Selection Statements of qualifications will be reviewed by a panel selected by the Lenoir County Manager or his designee. Statements of qualifications will be independently reviewed and scored based on the criteria herein provided. Only submissions fully completed in a manner provided in the RFQ will be considered.

The County will have the sole responsibility of selecting the consultant and reserves the right to reject any or all submissions and waive any minor discrepancies. The County reserves the right to cancel this RFQ at any time if in the County’s best interest.