Climate Action & Resilience Planning

The City of New Bedford Purchasing Department and Department of Environmental Stewardship is seeking qualified consultants to develop and implement a comprehensive Climate Action Plan through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) #25171129. The procurement will result in a three-year Master Services Agreement (MSA) for climate resilience planning, with task orders issued on an as-needed basis. Key deliverables include updating the community-wide greenhouse gas inventory, developing a decarbonization strategy, conducting a heat vulnerability assessment, identifying funding opportunities, and creating professional documentation and communication platforms. The city's primary objectives are to support ongoing climate resilience efforts and achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Consultants must demonstrate expertise in climate action planning, stakeholder engagement, and data analysis. Responses are due electronically on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EST through the City of New Bedford Solicitation webpage on BidNet Direct, with the contract award anticipated within 60 days of the submission deadline.

While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly mentioned in the RFQ, the document suggests a competitive procurement process open to qualified consultants with demonstrated capabilities in climate resilience planning. The solicitation does not indicate any restrictions based on business size or disadvantaged enterprise status. No incumbent vendors are referenced, and the RFQ implies that the selected consultant will work with existing municipal infrastructure and previous climate initiatives. Although a specific budget range is not disclosed, the MSA structure suggests that individual task orders will be negotiated on a project-by-project basis, allowing flexibility in scope and funding. The procurement is being conducted under the provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 30B, and the city emphasizes the importance of comprehensive services that can support New Bedford's ambitious climate action goals, including municipal solar projects, infrastructure improvements, and participation in broader climate resilience networks.