Regional Water Quality Control Plant Air Emissions Testing

The City of Palo Alto, located in Santa Clara County, California, is issuing Request for Proposals #197178 to procure emissions testing services for the Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) in compliance with Bay Area Air District (BAAD) regulations. The procurement seeks a qualified consultant to conduct routine emissions testing for a newly installed odor control scrubber and emergency standby generator, with testing parameters including non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and other parameters as specified by BAAD. The consultant must prepare and submit all required regulatory compliance reports to BAAD and maintain all necessary qualifications and certifications mandated by the air district. Key deliverables include planning and scheduling coordination at the start of each calendar year, preparation of BAAD notifications, preparation of a mobile laboratory within 100 feet of sampling sites, and ongoing quarterly testing beginning in the third quarter of 2026, with potential frequency reduction to quarterly if emissions remain below one-half of established limits. The consultant must demonstrate relevant project experience through detailed documentation of past projects, including client descriptions, work performed, project costs, and confirmation of schedule and budget adherence. Evaluation criteria emphasize firm experience qualifications and cost proposals, with financial stability verification required through submission of audited or reviewed financial statements from the past two years, a letter of good standing from a financial institution or CPA, or a current Dun & Bradstreet report. The proposal submission deadline is Friday, April 10, 2026 at 3:00 pm through the City's OpenGov procurement system, with a questions deadline of March 27, 2026 at 5:00 pm and a response deadline of April 2, 2026 at 3:00 pm.

The RFP documentation does not specify set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendor information. The contract will be structured as a Fixed Fee agreement with a "not to exceed" amount to be established by the proposer, encompassing all direct costs, overhead, transportation, communications, subsistence, materials, and subcontracted work, with progress payments based on percentage of project completion. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, negotiate with proposers, accept other than the lowest offer, and waive informalities in the proposal process. The selected consultant must obtain and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage throughout the contract term, including Workers' Compensation at statutory limits, General Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, Automobile Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per person per occurrence, and Professional Liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, with all policies provided by companies rated A-:VII or higher by AM Best's and licensed in California. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the procurement materials, and no incumbent contractor, site visit, or pre-proposal conference is identified.