RFQP-PP Svcs

Georgia Institute of Technology Climate Action Plan

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 2022, Climate Action Plan PP RFQ/RFP

Request for Qualifications (Step I) and

Request for Proposals

(Step II)

To Provide

Planning Professional Services for

Climate Action Plan of the

Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia

Bid-Contract No. 2070-22 / Project No. 0491-2022

Solicitation Issue Date: March 31, 2022 Qualifications Packages Due: April 21, 2022

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STEP I – REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

1. GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION

2. PLANNING PROFESSIONAL SERVICE REQUIREMENTS

3. SCOPE OF SERVICES

4. QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW PROCESS

5. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (STEP I)

6. SUBMITTAL OF QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR QUALIFICATIONS

7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

8. SUBMITTAL OF STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

9. FINALIST NOTIFICATION

STEP II – REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) from Qualified Finalists

1. CONTRACT INFORMATION

2. BUILDING PROGRAM

3. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (STEP II)

4. PRE-PROPOSAL SITE VISIT

5. SELECTION PROCESS

6. SUBMITTAL OF QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION AND EXTENSIONS

7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING PLANNING TEAM PROPOSALS

8. SUBMITTAL OF PLANNING TEAM PROPOSALS

9. PRESENTATION / INTERVIEW INFORMATION

10. SUBMITTAL OF FEE PROPOSALS

11. ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

EXHIBITS

a. Exhibit A - Certification Form

b. Exhibit B - Certificate of Insurance and Minority Status

c. Exhibit C - Project Team Composition

d. Exhibit D - Planning Professional Fee Proposal Form

e. Exhibit E - Contractor Affidavit

f. Exhibit F – Proposer’s Disclosure Statement

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 2

STEP I

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Georgia Institute of Technology (“GT”) or (“User/Owner”), is seeking statements of qualifications from firms interested in providing Professional Planning services for a project known as the Climate Action Plan of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia. This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeks to identify potential providers of the above-mentioned services. Some firms that respond to this RFQ, who are determined by the Owner to be especially qualified, may be deemed eligible and may be invited to interview and offer proposals for these services. All respondents to this RFQ are subject to instructions communicated in this document and are cautioned to completely review the entire RFQ and follow instructions carefully. GT reserves the right to reject any or all statements of qualifications or proposals, and to waive technicalities and informalities at their discretion. Georgia Tech may hire supplemental expertise, or suggest selected team incorporate additional sub-consultants if expertise in a certain area is lacking or later identified as a need.

1. GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION

Project Purpose & Description

In November 2020, Georgia Tech launched a 10-year Institute Strategic Plan (ISP) with sustainability a key objective and “develop and execute a Climate Action Plan (CAP) for the Institute” a defined action. Furthermore, the Institute is committed to achieving carbon neutrality within 20 to 30 years, by 2050 at the latest, with interim targets. While Georgia Tech envisions the Climate Action Plan will encompass campus and Institute operations, education, research, resilience, and external partnerships in line with our ISP, a key component of this Climate Action Plan (CAP) will be a Carbon Neutrality Roadmap and objectives and implementation plans to articulate climate action directives related to Georgia Tech’s operations, educational, research, investment, and community development missions. The Climate Action Plan will outline the pathway to achieving carbon neutrality from operational practices with a focus on defining the timelines, needed actions, targets, and meaningful mitigation strategies in close coordination with the development of a new campus master plan (see Figure 1). This process will evaluate strategies and timelines and will be used to set the target date. Comprehensively, the CAP will articulate action plans to address climate action across the following portfolios of Georgia Tech’s higher educational mission:

• Campus Culture/Operations: A data-driven roadmap to achieve carbon neutrality in Scopes

1-2-3 by 2050. Long-term program investment strategy that creates a culture of knowledge, Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 3 attitudes, and behaviors to meet target. Water, grounds, energy, transportation, procurement, waste, buildings, food and dining, and green energy are other areas of focus and consideration.

• Curriculum: Climate competency integrated into learning objectives for all students.

• Research Leadership: Position research priorities to solve the grand challenge of climate change.

• Community Resilience: Define/measure actions as an anchor institution to improve organizational and the campus community’s resilience.

• Justice: Address regional climate justice issues in the context of our region’s equity needs.

• Financial: Align financial capital and annual budget with the principle of climate action and to incentivize change.

• Engagement & Partnerships: Define partnership strategy to support CAP goals and develop continuous, inclusive process to leverage partnerships.

Figure 1. Schematic illustration of campus planning activities around sustainability and climate (source: Georgia Tech’s Sustainability Next Task Force, Sept 2021)

A Climate Action Plan will enable the Institute to inform high-priority needs to achieve carbon neutrality and embed sustainability and carbon reduction, water security, storm water management, electrification, transportation, food and dining, waste, purchasing, buildings, and green energy strategies into the full range of organizational impact areas, academics and research, operations, and engagement. The CAP must explore the full range of solutions required to minimize dependency on fossil fuels impacting carbon emissions and other sustainable best practices across the organizational footprint, scale of institutional and individual practices, and campus culture change to achieve this goal. It must also explore the full range of impact Georgia Tech can have as an institution of higher learning to support student learning and experience, transformative leadership and reputational excellence, and minimize the impacts of all aspects of sustainability topics on our region and state.

Project Background & Resources

HISTORY OF WORK

• In 2008, institute leadership supported the development of a CAP as required by Second

Nature’s American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (ACUPCC).

• From 2014-2017, the Office of Campus Sustainability (OCS) incorporated the incremental targets of carbon neutrality goals into the development of our first campus sustainability plan, the Strategic Plan for Sustainable Practice.

• From 2015-2016, OCS partnered with faculty research teams to develop predictive modeling to assess progress towards carbon neutrality goals.

• In 2017, Georgia Tech achieved the first incremental climate action goal of 15% reduction in campus Btu/sf.

• In 2017, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) evaluated the capacity for on-site solar on the Georgia Tech Atlanta campus to offset Scope 2 emissions. The report concluded 3-6% of load could be covered if all available rooftops and open land was utilized http://sustain.gatech.edu/strategic-plan-sustainable-practice-0

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 4 and NPV negative by over $13 MM. Further analysis in 2021 concluded on-site solutions to be cost additive, slow to scale, and not able to make a meaningful dent in Scope 2 ambitions.

• In 2020, the president created an initiative to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and an inter-disciplinary group proposed a Climate Action Plan update (defined to include not only carbon neutrality, but also climate action through education, research, and partnerships) as a Goal 13 action step. The new institute strategic plan defined a sustainability goal statement and action to “develop and execute” an institutional CAP.

• In 2021, Georgia Tech won pro-bono consulting services from Customer First Renewables (CFR) to evaluate “large-scale renewable energy purchasing” as a strategy to achieve carbon neutrality. CFR developed an analysis of market-based options for large-scale renewables purchasing to attain Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offset Scope 2 Emissions.

• In 2021, OCS hired Greenlink Analytics to compile relevant data for Emissions Scopes 1-2, calculate baseline conditions, refine the predictive modeling of campus carbon generation, and develop a policy toollkit to help determine the most effective strategies to achieve GT’s Carbon Neutral Goals. This project will be complete by Spring 2022. Findings from this project will be available to selected team when completed.

• In 2021, the Georgia Tech Executive Leadership Team sponsored an ISP Implementation Team called “Sustainability Next” to “propose a strategic plan implementation roadmap for sustainability at Georgia Tech for the next ten years” including Climate Action as a grand strategy. The Sustainability Next Task Force informs the broader strategy of Climate Action at Georgia Tech. The work of the Sustainability Next Task Force was completed in December 2021.

• In 2022, NBBJ was selected to the lead the Campus Master Plan effort. This 14-month effort will set a foundation for the physical development of Georgia Tech’s campus for the next ten years.

RESOURCES

• OCS collects and submits annual greenhouse gas inventory data to Second Nature’s

Reporting Platform.

• In addition to reporting annually to Second Nature, GHG data are reported through STARS and SIMAP reporting system (permissions required).

Sustainable Approach

As articulated in the Institute Strategic Plan (ISP), Georgia Tech will embrace our mission to "improve the human condition” through our teaching, research, campus operations and student experience. Key objectives defined in the ISP process are centered in sustainability values and principles, including the Triple Bottom Line dimensions of equity, economy, and environment in balance:

• Amplify Impact:

Be one of the nation’s most research-intensive academic institutions, recognized as a leading contributor to solving the most critical and complex challenges of our time.

• Anchor Institution:

Be an anchor institution, partner, and catalyst of sustainable development in our city and our state.

• Leading by Example:

Create a culture of deliberate innovation in all our practices and be an example of efficiency, sustainability, ethics, equity, and inclusion.

Demonstrate our commitment to sustainability in the development and management of our campus.

• Connect Globally:

https://president.gatech.edu/SDG https://president.gatech.edu/SDG https://strategicplan.gatech.edu/focus/lead https://reporting.secondnature.org/institution/detail!1032 https://reporting.secondnature.org/institution/detail!1032 https://reports.aashe.org/institutions/georgia-institute-of-technology-ga/report/2021-03-02/

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 5

Lead and contribute to global collaborative efforts that advance the U.N.

Sustainable Development Goals through our education, research, and service.

• Expand Access:

Empower people of all backgrounds and stages of life to learn and contribute to technological and human progress.

• Cultivate Well-Being:

Strengthen our culture of well-being and create an environment of holistic learning where all members of our community can grow and learn to lead healthy, purposeful, impactful lives.

The Climate Action Plan will embrace sustainability best practices and facilitate the achievement across key performance indicators to position Georgia Tech as a demonstrative leader in sustainability among our peers.

Planning Professional Fee The Planning Professional Base Fee will be approximately $500,000, which includes Planning services. The fee listed is the maximum amount for the scope requested. Proposals exceeding this fee amount will be subject to disqualification. Anticipated Planning Professional service requirements include the services as listed in Item 3 below “Scope of Services”. The Planning Professional firm is required to submit a fee proposal that also includes anticipated fees for any specialty consultants needed and all reimbursable expenses such as printing and travel in the Step II – Request for Proposals (RFP) phase.

Project Schedule The Planning Professional’s services are anticipated to commence by June 2022 with final planning documentation anticipated for completion within 18 months. Based on the availability of data pertinent to the study, this timeframe may be adjusted. The start of the planning process is contingent on the availability of funding. (All of the dates above are estimates which are subject to change. The fee structure for planning professional services relative to the schedule, and fee amounts will be agreed upon by the Owner and the Planning Professional prior to the start of planning professional services.)

2. PLANNING PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REQUIREMENTS

The Owner is seeking the services of a Planning firm (the “Planning Professional” or “PP”) to provide all planning services, described below. The successful Planning Professional will contract with the Owner in a timely manner. The firm applying shall be an individual firm fulfilling all contractual obligations and performing a portion of the services in-house.

3. SCOPE OF SERVICES

It has been deemed appropriate to engage a professional services firm to provide comprehensive planning services for the proposed project. Please note that some tasks can be completed concurrently. All tasks and plan development concepts should be grounded in sustainability principles, seek to define how the physical environment supports the achievement of campus sustainability goals, and work in tandem with the Campus Master Plan effort.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Institute Upon the retention of a consultant for the Climate Action Plan, a core team of representatives from Georgia Tech will deliver the following:

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 6

• Sustainability and climate action goals and priorities.

• A list of key stakeholders to engage in facilitated conversations.

• Organizational charts and background materials, as needed.

• Access to existing data pertinent to developing climate action strategies.

• Access to Master Plan team and deliverables.

TASK 1: Development of a Climate Action Plan Across Full Institutional Leadership

Missions o Development, Management, Facilitation, and Support of CAP Engagement Strategy including synthesizing input of Working Groups charged to make recommendations within the following mission-related areas:

Campus Culture: Recommendations for long-term program investment strategy that creates a culture of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to meet carbon neutrality target.

Curriculum: Recommendations to increase climate competency among the student body and integrate sustainability and climate principles into learning objectives for all disciplines.

Research Leadership: Recommendations to advance Georgia Tech’s international reputation and position research priorities to solve grand challenge of climate change.

Community Resilience: Recommended actions as an anchor institution to improve organizational and surrounding community resilience.

Justice: Recommendations to address regional climate justice issues in the context of our region’s equity needs.

Financial: Align financial capital and annual budget with the principle of climate action and to incentivize change.

Engagement & Partnerships: Recommendations to define a partnership strategy to support CAP goals and develop continuous, inclusive process to leverage partnerships.

o Development and synthesis of recommended actions within each mission-related area, including the Carbon Neutrality Roadmap Working Groups in Task 2.

o Ongoing facilitation and organizational support for Working Groups (inclusive of Carbon Neutrality Working Groups in Task 2) including:

Development of Working Group meeting series internal agendas to ensure structure and process for effective meetings Project management, time management, and resource management needed for

Working Groups including

• Meeting administration – scheduling and calendar invites

• Support of meeting material prep

• Sending out pre-meeting goals and agenda

• Sending out post-meeting notes, recap, and action items

• Following up on action items and homework/research between meetings o Development of Working Group shared resources and engagement tools such as templates to capture feedback, surveys, etc.

o Engagement and event support to capture campus-wide feedback on CAP recommendations such as Working Group Summit, townhalls, tabling, presentations, and other in-person or virtual engagement methods.

o The consultant will document, synthesize, and report the findings from these work sessions prior to finalizing the CAP.

o The consultant will provide a proposed, draft, and final CAP and manage internal review process of the drafts.

TASK 2: Development of Carbon Neutrality Roadmap & Implementation Plan

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 7 o The consultant will build on our existing data and perform analysis and other industry accepted modeling as needed to understand current GHG levels, mitigation strategies, and the associated greenhouse gas impacts with consideration of the associated social, economic, and environmental impacts, time & effort, risk, feasibility, and other measures to be defined.

o The consultant will solicit input, feedback, and approval from a broad range of stakeholders, both via in-person facilitated meetings and online tools. Consultant will develop an engagement plan for Carbon Neutrality Roadmap development process including Working Groups charged to make recommendations on carbon mitigation strategies per emissions source. Targeted audiences could include faculty, staff, students, leadership, alumni, affiliate organizations, and external partners. Georgia Tech will work with the consultant to define appropriate stakeholders during the scope clarification meetings. Working Groups will be created to focus on various aspects of carbon neutrality; example Working Groups and/or areas of work may include:

(Scope 1) Infrastructure & Plant Efficiency; Campus Fleet; Distributed Generation;

Microgrids; Sequestration (Scope 2) Built Environment; Energy; Large-Scale Renewable Energy Purchasing;

(Scope 3) Offsets; Commuting; Air Travel; Food Systems; Procurement & Supply

Chain; Waste (Culture & Programs) Finance; Engagement and Incentive Programs; Policy

Development External Actors and Factors relevant to achieving carbon neutrality

The consultant will document, synthesize, and report the findings from these work sessions prior to finalizing the Carbon Neutrality Roadmap.

The consultant will provide a proposed, draft, and final Carbon Neutrality Roadmap.

The final Carbon Neutrality Roadmap, and all deliverables, shall be completed by the schedule set by the team, and shall consist of:

o Data-informed target dates (years) for achieving carbon neutrality for Scopes 1, 2, and 3 emissions o A clear definition of the institutional/organizational scope included in the carbon neutrality target and ongoing formal greenhouse gas accounting for all emissions scopes o A quantitative and qualitative summary of Georgia Tech’s current carbon-related state, its modeled future projections to achieve its goals, and other relevant analysis that inform the construct of the strategies and how they are prioritized in the plan.

o Market research and analysis, identification and evaluation of Priorities/Action Items/Alternatives that may achieve carbon neutrality across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, and across strategic areas of work to achieve carbon neutrality including:

Strategic Energy Management, energy efficiency, and energy generation and management; carbon emissions mitigation or reduction Renewable energy generation and Renewable Energy Credit (REC) resourcing or procurement strategies at scales of up to 100% of electricity load (est. ~110 MW) Offset Strategy for capturing verified carbon offsets from projects

Implementation Plan that outlines high-impact, time-bound action steps for each GHG Emissions Scope, as well as cultural or programmatic needs to achieve carbon neutrality across operations, campus engagement, or institute policies. The Implementation Plan should assess mitigation strategies by positive and negative carbon impacts, costs and/or investment, risks or co-benefits identified.

Financial budget models should project cash flow to implement strategies and account for cost offsets and revenue generation or return on investment.

Evaluation of solutions that provide for campus resiliency and potential for operational cost savings (i.e. thermal storage and/or other load-shifting strategies; district solutions for energy and water) o Analysis of synergies/opportunities between climate action plan and concurrent master plan.

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 8 o List of priorities/recommends for advancing climate action in line with institutional goals as an anchor institution o List of synergies/opportunities between climate action and the institution’s academic and research programs o Evaluation of solutions that have connectivity to research and academic opportunities o A summary of the process employed to develop the plan o A full record of meeting minutes, including attendees.

o An executive summary of the plan, including presentation and outreach materials

TASK 3: Carbon Neutrality Roadmap Engineering and Infrastructure Services o Develop implementation plans on carbon neutral strategies as identified by carbon neutrality working groups to achieve carbon neutrality across the institute's campuses.

This may include, but is not limited to:

Utility, water, and campus energy system data analysis District level solutions and implementation plan Regulatory analysis Financial analysis and forecasting, and pro-forma development Conceptual design of multiple strategies to improve and renew infrastructure efficiency, deploy renewable energy capacity, maximize electrification, and utilize biofuels or other strategies as recommended.

TASK 4: Project Management of CAP Development Process o The consultant will meet with the executive working group of the Climate Action Planning Committee and Project Lead to clarify the scope of the deliverables.

o The consultant will conduct research appropriate to preparing an integrated, pan-campus Climate Action Plan for a large, tier 1, public research university.

o The consultant will set recurring, consistent meetings with CAP Project Management Team to ensure effective communication and execution of project deliverables.

o The consultant will manage the project timeline and ensure effective communications of project deadlines.

o The consultant will support the Georgia Tech CAP governance structure and internal decision-making bodies during CAP development process in the form of attending meetings, providing project status updates, and providing effective communications about the project.

o Georgia Tech has selected a Campus Master Plan team outside of this scope of work.

The consultant will coordinate within the Campus Master Planning process to ensure Campus Master Plan is informed and guided by Carbon Neutrality Roadmap conclusions.

4. QUALIFICATIONS REVIEW PROCESS

Selection of the PP will be a multi-step process generally following the steps outlined in the State Construction Manual.

Step I - Qualifications Review, is initiated with this RFQ for the purpose of acquiring Statements of Qualifications from prospective PP firms. A selection of finalist firms will be made by a Selection Committee consisting of representatives of GT. The Selection Committee will receive and review Statements of Qualifications submitted in response to this RFQ and then evaluate the submittals based on the criteria for evaluation listed below:

Criteria for Evaluation of Statements of Qualifications

25% Factor: Stability of the firm, including the firm’s corporate history, growth, resources, form of ownership, litigation history, financial information, and other evidence of stability.

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 9

45% Factor: Firm’s relevant project team experience and qualifications, including the demonstrated ability of firm in effective campus master planning projects and organizational carbon neutrality planning projects (per Exhibit I Statement of Work) comparable in complexity, size, and function, for Owners such as the public research universities. This includes relevant experience and qualifications of the principal Planning Professional(s) and lead staff for each sub-consultant, and evidence of relevant competencies for this project.

30% Factor: Firm’s apparent suitability to provide services for project, including past performance and firm’s apparent fit to the project type and/or needs of the Owner, performance on past work and any special or unique qualifications for the project, current and projected workloads, the proximity of office to project location, and services offered by the firm. The firm’s non-discrimination policies, any affirmative action policies and/or stated efforts for the inclusion of Minority-Business Enterprises (MBEs)and/or Woman Business Enterprises (WBEs) will be a part of this evaluation. Experience and proficiency planning regarding the areas of public safety and health, accessibility for persons with disabilities and special needs, and environmental concerns will be considered.

Note: Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) amongst team members, as well as sub-consultants is a critical component and strongly desired You will be asked to describe strategies that your business actively uses to promote, manage and catalogue diversity opportunities.

5. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (STEP I)

The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed. All times indicated are prevailing times in Atlanta, Georgia. The Owner reserves the right to adjust the schedule as the Owner deems necessary.

STEP I (RFQ) Estimated Timeline

a) Owner issues public advertisement of RFQ 3/31/22 ----

b) Deadline for written questions/requests for clarification

(see Section 6). 4/7/22 2:00pm

c) Owner issues final addendum (if necessary) 4/14/22 ----

d) Deadline for submission of Statements of Qualifications 4/21/22 2:00pm

e) Owner completes evaluation, post results, and issues notification to finalist firms 4/27/22 ----

6. SUBMITTAL OF QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION

It is the responsibility of each respondent to examine the entire RFQ, seek clarification in writing, and review its submittal for accuracy before submitting the document. Once the submittal deadline has passed, all submissions will be final. The Owner will not request clarification from individual proposer regarding their submission but reserves the right to ask for additional information from all parties who have submitted qualifications. Questions about any aspect of the RFQ, or the project, shall be submitted in writing (email is preferable) to:

Dan Nemec

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 10

Associate Director, Capital Planning & Space Management Georgia Institute of Technology dnemec@cpsm.gatech.edu *** Phone calls will not receive a response. ***

The deadline for submission of questions relating to the RFQ is the time and date shown in the Schedule of Events (Section 5). All relevant questions and requests for clarification received by Georgia Tech’s named point of contact in writing, prior to the deadline will be compiled, and answers will be posted on the Georgia Procurement Registry as an addendum to the original solicitation for services at http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/.

7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Submittals must be prepared in a manner that fits a standard 8 ½” x 11” paper format when printed.

Responses are limited to using a minimum of an 11-point font. The entire response shall not exceed 50 pages, including exhibits, affidavits or other enclosure information that may be included in an appendix. All pages count regardless of content. Submittals that include qualifications of more than one firm shall not exceed page limits. Submittals that exceed the page limit will be deemed non-responsive and will not be considered by the Selection Committee.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS

(DELIVERABLES “A”, “B”and “C” FOR ALL FIRMS)

Completeness, relevance, and clarity will be emphasized in evaluations. The content of all Statement of Qualifications must be categorized and numbered as outlined below, and responsive to all requested information.

A. Description and Resources of Firm

• A1 Provide basic company information:

Company’s legal name Address of office from which this project will be managed Name, telephone number, and email address of primary contact Company website Identify office from which project will be managed and this office’s proximity to the project site. If applicable, indicate the year the local office was established and the number of persons staffing that office and their disciplines.

• A2 Briefly describe the history and growth of your firm(s). If the firm has multiple offices, the qualification statement shall include information about the parent company and branch office separately. Provide general information about the firm's personnel resources, including disciplines and numbers of employees and locations and staffing of offices.

Provide form of ownership, including state of residency or incorporation, and number of years in business.

• A3 Include information about your firm’s approach and strategies to ensuring diversity on its project teams and with sub-consultants, suppliers, and vendors.

• A4 Has the firm been involved in any litigation in the past five (5) years? List any active or pending litigation and explain. List any claims against your firm or against Owners where your firm is named.

• A5 List the firm’s annual revenue for the past 5 years. List the parent office and the local office revenues separately, if applicable.

• A6 Has the firm ever been removed from a planning services contract or failed to complete a contract as assigned? If yes, provide an explanation.

• A7 Complete and submit the Certification Form (Exhibit A) and provide a scanned notarized copy with response with the firm’s Statement of Qualifications.

• A8 Complete and submit a Certificate of Insurance and Minority Status Form (Exhibit B) and provide a scanned notarized copy with response with the firm’s Statement of Qualifications.

mailto:dnemec@cpsm.gatech.edu http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 11

• A9 Complete and submit the Project Team Composition Form, including subconsultants (Exhibit C). This is to identify composition of the project team only.

• A10 Complete the Contractor Affidavit Form (Exhibit E) and provide a scanned notarized copy with response with the firm’s Statement of Qualifications in compliance with the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act.

• A11 Complete the Proposer’s Disclosure Statement (Exhibit F) and include with firm’s Statement of Qualifications.

GEORGIA SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION COMPLIANCE ACT AFFIDAVIT(S)

GEORGIA SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION COMPLIANCE ACT AFFIDAVIT(S)

“Contractor” in the following Affidavits shall mean “General Consultant” for the purpose of compliance with O.C.G.A. § 13-10-91, (b).

For the purpose of completing the attached Affidavits, please insert the following:

• “Name of Public Employer” shall mean “Georgia Institute of Technology”.

• “Name of Project” shall mean “Climate Action Plan.”

B. Experience and Qualifications

• B1: Provide professional qualifications and description of experience for principal consulting personnel, for the master and carbon neutrality plan scopes. (At this stage, firms are asked for information on lead staff for the prime and each sub-consultant but may list qualifications and experience on more than one lead individual who is qualified and available for the proposed project. If the firm is selected as a finalist, the Owner will request detailed information on the exact proposed expanded team and their relevant experience during the RFP process.)

• Required Contractor Qualifications Written documentation, including measures of success, that demonstrates experience developing Strategic Energy Plans, Sustainability Plans, Climate Action Plans and/or Carbon Neutrality Plans for higher education, large organizations, or municipalities related to carbon neutrality and of similar scope.

Provide online links to plans if available and a point of contact including name, phone number, email, and address.

A detailed narrative statement of the firm’s perception of the project requirements, desired project approach, and scope.

Description of the proposed process and schedule to develop a carbon neutrality plan. Process description should include suggested tools to solicit input and feedback.

Business resumes of key personnel to be assigned to the project, including an outline of current company workload and ability to perform work for this project.

The name of the dedicated project manager for this project providing a single point of contact and accountability.

• Desired Contractor Qualifications Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder conversations composed of participants from diverse backgrounds and workplace/campus settings.

Experience developing climate action plans for colleges and universities.

Experience developing climate action plans for centralized campuses with central physical plants and district cooling systems.

Experience with carbon accounting and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Experience guiding organizational change.

Experience developing implementation plans to achieve carbon neutrality goals.

Experience with the multiple facets of institutional climate action, including:

• Analyzing greenhouse gas inventory data for large organizations

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 12

• Evaluating carbon mitigation strategies or policies relevant to large organizations and their respective impact on long-term progress against an organizational carbon neutrality goal.

• Deep technical knowledge of the factors that impact organizational reductions in Scopes 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions.

Experience with the multiple facets of institutional sustainability, including:

o organizational culture and governance o campus growth and development o short and long term goal setting o business and financial practices o management and decision-making tools o behavioral change initiatives o teaching and learning outcomes o experiential education o research prioritization o staffing and workplans o external partnerships

Experience documenting and synthesizing group discussions.

Experience developing/using online tools to gather input and feedback.

• B2: Provide information on the team’s experience on projects of similar type, size, function, and complexity. Describe no more than six (6) and no fewer than three (3) projects, in order of most relevant to least relevant, which demonstrates the firm's capabilities to perform the project at hand, including examples demonstrating specific experience related to the scope of organizational carbon neutrality planning (see Exhibit I). For each project, the following information should be provided:

Project name, location and dates during which services were performed.

Project roles (prime vs subconsultant)

Brief description.

Services performed by your firm.

If your firm has more than one office, indicate which office was responsible for each of the example projects.

Relevant graphics.

Respective Owner’s stated satisfaction in service of your firm.

Owner’s current contact information.

Include key personnel participation in example projects, using a summary matrix similar to Standard Form 330 (Rev. 8/20/16) page 4 (example shown below, the entire Form 330 is not required as part of submittal).

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 13

C. Statement of Suitability

• C1: Provide any information that may serve to differentiate the firm from other firms in suitability for the project, including any services or approaches that may be particularly relevant to this project. Provide evidence of the firm’s fit to the project and/or needs of the Owner, any special or unique qualifications for the project. Provide evidence of experience and proficiency with campus planning within the areas of space planning, transportation, energy, environmental, projections or other related topics.

• C2: Provide current and projected workloads, and the proximity of office to project location.

• C3: Provide Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) / Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE) status and M/WBE participation on this project, as well as any non-discrimination and affirmative action policies of the firm.

8. SUBMITTAL OF STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Submit one (1) electronic copy (.pdf not to exceed 25MB) of the complete package to the following address: dnemec@cpsm.gatech.edu

The entire submittal should be submitted as one (1) file. Please do not submit individual documents or sections separately. If a file sharing service, such as Dropbox, is used, the file must be able to be easily downloaded without creating a login.

Please send with a read receipt for your records. Include “xxxx-2022 Climate Action Plan Qualifications” in the subject heading of your email submission. Submittals as attached or linked files must be named “Climate Action Plan_Firm Name_Qualifications”.

Statements of Qualifications must be received electronically by the Owner prior to the deadline indicated in the Schedule of Events (Section 5 of the RFQ). Printed copies will not be accepted.

A list of firms submitting responsive Statements of Qualifications will be published on the Georgia Procurement Registry site, as well as the Board of Regents’ Office of Real Estate and Facilities’ website at http://www.usg.edu/facilities/external_partners/consultant_selections.

It is the sole responsibility of the Proposer to assure delivery by the specified deadlines; the Owner cannot accept responsibility for incorrect delivery, regardless of reason. No submittals will be accepted after the time stipulated above. Submittals will not be accepted via mail, courier, or fax.

http://www.usg.edu/facilities/external_partners/consultant_selections

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 14

Proposers are further reminded to include a completed CONTRACTOR AFFIDAVIT UNDER O.C.G.A. §13-10-91 (b)(1) with the Statement of Qualifications (See Exhibit “E”). FAILURE TO

PROVIDE THIS AFFIDAVIT WILL RESULT IN REJECTION OF PROPOSAL.

All expenses for preparing and submitting responses are the sole cost of the party submitting the response. The Owner is not obligated to any party to reimburse such expenses. All submittals upon receipt become the property of the Owner. Labeling information provided in submittals “proprietary” or “confidential” or any other designation of restricted use will not protect the information from public view. Subject to the provisions of the Open Records Act, the details of the proposal documents will remain confidential until final award.

9. FINALIST NOTIFICATION

Once the Selection Committee has completed the evaluation of the Statements of Qualifications, the finalist firms will be notified in writing. The shortlisted firms will also appear on the Board of Regents’ Office of Real Estate and Facilities website at https://www.usg.edu/facilities/external_partners/design_professional_selections.

Step II- PP Selection, will be initiated by invitation to finalists to submit Planning Team Proposals as instructed in the Owner’s Request for Proposals (RFP). Finalists will be those firms determined by the Selection Committee to be especially qualified to perform as the Planning Professional for this Project in accordance with the qualification criteria herein. The Owner will issue a notice to finalists to participate in an oral presentation/interview. The successful PP will be determined from the interviews and proposals received.

https://www.usg.edu/facilities/external_partners/design_professional_selections

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 15

STEP II

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

(From Qualified Finalists)

Note: The information in this Section, Step II (Request for Proposals) is provided for firms who have been issued notification as having been deemed eligible and are shortlisted for the project.

To firms who have been issued notification as having been deemed eligible, the Georgia Institute of Technology (“User”), issues this Request for Proposals (RFP), for those firms to offer proposals for planning professional services for the specific project.

1. CONTRACT INFORMATION

The contract for the Climate Action Plan will be provided to the selected finalists and based on the State of Georgia, Board of Regents standard General Consultant contract. The selected finalists are encouraged to review and become familiar with the terms and conditions of this contract. GT does not intend to modify any language contained in the general terms and conditions of the contract, and any significant exceptions proposed by a firm could lead to a firm being deemed non-responsive.

2. CLIMATE ACTION PLAN PROJECT

See General Project Information in RFQ (Step I), Section 1.

3. SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (STEP II)

The following Schedule of Events represents the Owner’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed. All times indicated are prevailing times in Atlanta. The Owner reserves the right to adjust the schedule as the Owner deems necessary.

STEP II (RFP) Estimated Timeline

a) Owner issues notice to finalist firms to propose as instructed in RFP 4/27/22 ----

b) Mandatory pre-proposal site visit N/A N/A

c) Deadline for submission of written questions and requests for clarification 5/6/22 2:00 PM

d) Owner issues final addendum (if necessary) 5/11/22 -----

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 16

e) Deadline for submission of Planning Team Proposals 5/18/22 2:00 PM

f) Owner interviews finalist firms and Fee Proposals are due (See Section 9.) 5/25/22 TBA

4. PRE-PROPOSAL SITE VISIT

N/A

5. SELECTION PROCESS

Step II- PP Selection, will be initiated by the invitation to the qualified finalists by the Selection Committee (determined in Step I from evaluation of Statements of Qualifications) to submit Planning Team Proposals as instructed in this RFP. Finalist interviews will also be conducted by the Owner. The successful PP will be determined from the evaluation of proposals received and interviews.

Criteria for the Evaluation of Project Proposals:

25% Factor: Planning team composition qualifications and experience, including the quality and suitability of the proposed team; demonstrated evidence of effective team collaboration; the team’s demonstrated ability to provide effective climate action planning services for comparable institutions; client assessments of the quality and value of those services, etc.

35% Factor: Climate action planning approach, including the quality of the proposed work plan and schedule, and the extent to which it accomplishes all necessary elements of the USG master planning template, while addressing the needs particular to the institution.

25% Factor: Presentation of team qualifications and planning approach during the interview, including the team’s collaborative effectiveness, the quality of verbal communication, the efficacy of presentation materials, the degree to which the focus is placed upon high priority issues and information, etc.

15% Factor: Interview Q&A responses and discussion

6. SUBMITTAL OF QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATION

It is the responsibility of each respondent to examine the entire RFP, seek clarification in writing, and review its submittal for accuracy before submitting the document. Once the submittal deadline has passed, all submissions will be final. The Owner will not request clarification from individual respondents relative to their submission but reserves the right to ask for additional information from all parties who have submitted qualifications. Questions about any aspect of the RFP, or the project, shall be submitted in writing (email is preferable) to:

Associate Director, Capital Planning & Space Management Georgia Institute of Technology dnemec@cpsm.gatech.edu *** Phone calls will not receive a response ***

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 17

The deadline for submission of questions relating to the RFP is the time and date shown in the Schedule of Events (Section 3). All relevant questions and requests for clarification received by the Georgia Tech’s named point of contact in writing, prior to the deadline will be compiled, and answers will be posted on the Georgia Procurement Registry as an addendum to the original solicitation for services at http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/. Any proposer exceptions to the RFP requirements or requests for proposal deadline extensions must include the reason(s) for such a request. The Owner reserves the right to approve or reject such requests as the Owner deems necessary.

7. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING PLANNING TEAM PROPOSALS

Planning Team Proposals must be prepared in a manner that when printed would typically fit on standard (8 ½ x 11”) paper. Proposal responses should not exceed 40 pages and use a minimum 11-point font. Submittals that include qualifications of more than one firm shall not exceed the page limit. All exhibits or other enclosure information required count towards the page limit. All pages count regardless of content. Emphasis should be on completeness, relevance, and clarity of content.

To expedite the review of submittals, it is essential that respondents follow the format and instructions outlined below. The content of all Project Proposals must be categorized and numbered as outlined in the following “PLANNING TEAM PROPOSAL DELIVERABLES”, and must address in a responsible and responsive manner all requested information:

PLANNING TEAM PROPOSAL

(DELIVERABLES “D”, and “E” FOR FINALIST FIRMS ONLY)

Emphasis should be on completeness, relevance, and clarity to content. The content of all Statement of Qualifications must be categorized and numbered as outlined below, and responsive to all requested information.

D. Qualifications and Experience of Proposed Planning Team

• D1: Describe your firm's proposed organization for the planning team, including sub-consultants. Please designate all specific individuals and their roles on your team by submitting an organizational chart for the project: At a minimum, the project organization chart shall show the names of key planners and staff; descriptions of responsibilities for all proposed staff.

• D2: Please provide for each of the above personnel current resumes listing relevant project experience and percentage of the person’s time to be committed to this project.

• D3: Please identify the individual who, from project start to finish, will be the leader of your team and the principal point of contact between your firm and the Institute. Provide detailed information on the qualifications of this individual and the direction, authority, and management tools that will be provided to the individual by the firm. This individual’s competence, his/her leadership, and his/her ability to achieve customer satisfaction will be heavily considered in the selection. Per Exhibit I, provide the name of the dedicated project manager for the climate action plan.

• D4: Provide examples of your team’s recent experience in similar projects, including the following information:

Provide detailed information on the three most recent relevant projects your team has completed with proposed team members working together. Include the total value of the project, dates of the project, quantity of change orders or amendments to the contact and net total cost increase. Summarize the actual schedule performance relative to the initial project schedule. For each project, provide the name of Client’s representative (with a current email and phone number) who is most familiar with your performance on the project. Summarize successes achieved and problems encountered with the project.

Provide a reference from the Client and any other stakeholders (with current phone numbers) familiar with your performance on each of the above projects.

http://ssl.doas.state.ga.us/PRSapp/

Georgia Institute of Technology, Project No. 0491-2022, Climate Action Plan, PP RFQ/RFP 18

List the individuals who served as the Principal Planner, Engineer, and other key roles on the projects. Please note whether these individuals are still employed with your firm. Identify and provide detailed information on projects in which all or any combination of members of the proposed team has worked together on.

• D5: Per Exhibit I, provide written documentation, including measures of success, that demonstrates experience developing Strategic Energy Plans, Sustainability Plans, Climate Action Plans and/or Carbon Neutrality Plans for higher education, large…