RFQ - Biological Services for the Heller Student Housing Project

The University of California, Santa Cruz Department of Physical Planning, Development and Operations is requesting qualifications from biological consulting firms to provide environmental compliance support for the Heller Student Housing Project, an on-campus housing development on the former Family Student Housing site, with responses due October 9, 2026 by 2:00 p.m. via the UC Santa Cruz Online PlanRoom.

The University seeks to qualify up to three firms on an as-needed basis to deliver field-based biological resource assessments, pre-construction surveys for special-status plant and animal species, impact avoidance and mitigation planning, biological technical report preparation, on-site construction monitoring, and Worker Environmental Awareness Program training for construction personnel. Services must support compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and applicable local, state, and federal environmental regulations.

The initial contract term is three years with an option for two additional one-year extensions based on mutual agreement. Consulting services will be provided under the University of California's Blanket Professional Services Agreement. Firms must submit a Statement of Qualifications and supporting documentation demonstrating related experience using standard University forms. Evidence of equal employment opportunity policies may be required.

Questions are due in writing via email to Principal Environmental Planner Erika Carpenter at escarpen@ucsc.edu by 5:00 p.m. on September 25, 2026, with responses issued to all RFQ recipients by October 1, 2026. The anticipated completion of the RFQ process, including SOQ review, interviews of shortlisted firms, and consultant selection, is the week of October 16, 2026. All responses must be submitted electronically through the PlanRoom; hard copy and email submittals will not be accepted. The RFQ documentation does not specify contract value, pricing terms, or funding sources.