25-20-009 Environmental Consulting Services for HUD-Funded Projects

The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP 25-20-009) for environmental consulting services to support HUD-funded projects across multiple California jurisdictions. The procurement seeks qualified environmental consulting firms to provide comprehensive support for ensuring compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) through 24 CFR Part 58, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and related environmental regulations. The primary scope of work encompasses five tasks: reviewing Environmental Assessments (EAs), preparing EAs and special studies, providing subject matter expertise and staffing support, assisting with preparation and editing of materials, and developing and facilitating training workshops. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience preparing Part 58 EAs and CEQA documents, including specific project experience with at least three HUD-funded affordable housing construction project EAs, one Housing Trust Fund compliance report, one HOME multi-family housing EA, and one Tribal housing project EA. Key personnel must possess at least two years of experience in their assigned areas and appropriate professional licenses or certifications, with those authorized to sign environmental documents holding a bachelor's degree in an environmental-related field. Proposals are due March 23, 2026, at 2:00 PM PST and will be evaluated using a competitive scoring methodology with a maximum of 430 points across technical qualifications (150 points), approach and methodology (100 points), cost proposal (130 points), and proposer references (50 points), with potential oral interviews adding up to 100 points. The anticipated interview dates are April 9-10, 2026, with a Notice of Intent to Award scheduled for April 14, 2026, and the contract term is 36 months beginning June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2029, with potential amendments to extend services at the same rates.

The RFP does not contain specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to disadvantaged enterprises, though federal compliance requirements include DVBE participation tracking if applicable. Proposers must comply with State of California Standard Agreement (Form STD 213) and General Terms and Conditions (GTC 02/2025) requirements, and must provide Byrd anti-lobbying certification and suspension and debarment verification. The cost proposal is structured on a task-based classification system covering five staff levels from senior-principal to support/administrative positions, with a $2,500 annual retainer included for travel, public noticing, and other direct costs; specific budget ranges and award values are not disclosed in the solicitation materials. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The contract will be awarded to the firm demonstrating the strongest competitive evaluation scores across the specified criteria, with HCD reserving the right to adjust service quantities based on actual project needs throughout the 36-month performance period.