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County of Santa Barbara
Community Services Department
Sustainability Division
Request for Proposal
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY 2030 CLIMATE ACTION PLAN: NATURAL AND WORKING LANDS COMPONENT & TERRACOUNT ADOPTION
June 5, 2020
Deadline for Submission: July 17, 2020
5:00 PM.
Late Proposals Will Not Be Accepted
Contact:
County of Santa Barbara
Sustainability Division Frank Chen
[email protected] 123 E. Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-568-3577
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County of Santa Barbara
Community Services Department
Table of Contents A. Selection Schedule ..............................................................................................................................................5
B. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................6
C. Background .........................................................................................................................................................6
1. County’s Energy and Climate Action Plan (ECAP) ............................................................................................6
2. The Department of Conservation Local and Regional Planning Grant ............................................................7
3. University of Santa Barbara Bren School Master’s Group Project ..................................................................7
D. Project Roles .......................................................................................................................................................8
E. Scope of Work .....................................................................................................................................................8
Task 1. Project Kick-Off ...........................................................................................................................................8
Task 2. Stakeholder Outreach Strategy ...................................................................................................................9
Task 3. Land-based GHG Emissions Inventory & Landscape Carbon Stock Inventory .............................................9
Task 4. Baseline Reference Scenario .................................................................................................................... 10
Task 5. Complementary Benefits Assessment...................................................................................................... 10
Task 6. Review of TerraCount Scenarios .............................................................................................................. 11
Task 7. Integrate Natural and Working Lands into the County’s CAP .................................................................. 11
Task 8. Internship Program ................................................................................................................................. 11
F. Project Timeline ............................................................................................................................................... 12
G. Grant Budget .................................................................................................................................................... 12
H. Proposal Requirements and Contents ............................................................................................................. 13
I. Contract ........................................................................................................................................................... 14
J. Cost .................................................................................................................................................................. 14
K. Submission ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
L. Additional Information ..................................................................................................................................... 14
M. Attachments .................................................................................................................................................... 14
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County of Santa Barbara
Community Services Department
Request for Information for Conducting a Land-Based Carbon Inventory on Santa Barbara County’s Natural &
Working Lands
A. Selection Schedule
Milestones Tentative Date (May be subject to change)
Request for Proposal Release 6/5
Last Day for Written Questions 6/12, 5 PM
RFP Replies Due 7/17, 5 PM
Notification of recommendation 7/24
Board of Supervisors Hearing Week of August 8/18
Submit a digital copy of the proposal, no later than the date and time listed on the cover page of this RFP.
County of Santa Barbara
Community Services Department
Sustainability Division
Frank Chen, Climate Program Specialist
123 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, California 93101
Integrating Natural and Working Lands Into the ECAP Request for Proposals Page 6 of 15
B. Introduction
The County of Santa Barbara is requesting proposals from qualified consultants to provide project management
and peer review services as part of the project implementation for the Department of Conservation’s (DOC)
Proposition 68 Regional and Local Planning grant. The consultant shall offer project management and peer review
services to County staff and five Master’s Candidates from the University of Santa Barbara to:
1. Develop a natural and working lands (NWL) component for the County’s 2030 Climate Action Plan (CAP),
and
2. Adopt TerraCount and management and conservation GIS planning tool. The County is seeking a
consultant with a background in climate action planning and expertise in developing land-use models.
To accomplish the above tasks, the County is seeking a consultant with the following qualities:
• Keen interest in climate mitigation strategies on natural and working lands
• Experience with climate action planning and greenhouse gas accounting
• Experience developing or working with existing scenario planning tools, e.g., TerraCount
• Knowledge of ArcGIS and Python programming language
• Experience working with stakeholders from the agricultural sector
• Experience developing agricultural land-use practices and policies that can reduce or avoid GHG
emissions
• Experience working with academic institutions
• Experience implementing state or federal grant programs
• Knowledge of the ecology, economy, and demographics of California’s central coast
C. Background
1. County’s Energy and Climate Action Plan (ECAP)
The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors adopted the County’s ECAP in 2015, establishing a goal to reduce
greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 15 percent below 2007 by the year 2020. The 2015 ECAP marked the County’s
first comprehensive climate mitigation plan, which studied the carbon footprint of nine sectors in the
unincorporated County. This work provided insights that led to the development and adoption of 53 emission
reduction measures.
With the ECAP expiring at the end of 2020, the County is setting its vision toward the coming decade. In 2018,
the County Board adopted a goal of reducing emissions by 50% below 1990 levels by 2030 (50x30). To meet the
2030 target, the County is updating the GHG inventory, emissions forecast, and new emission reduction measures
that cover the unincorporated parts of the county.
This project supplements the 2030 CAP update by expanding the scope of the inventory and emission reduction
measures. However, because this project is grant-funded with specific programmatic constraints such as differing
timeline and methodology, the development of the NWL component will occur separately from the 2030 CAP
update. For more information on the 2030 CAP, please refer to the RFP (Attachment 4).
Integrating Natural and Working Lands Into the ECAP Request for Proposals Page 7 of 15
2. The Department of Conservation Local and Regional Planning Grant
In November 2019, the DOC awarded the County $154,327 under the Local and Regional Planning grant to fund
this project. The objectives of the grant program, as outlined in the Working Lands and Riparian Corridors
Program Guidelines, entail the following:
• Protect agricultural and working lands from conversion to more intensified uses
• Protect natural resources
• Support local governments achieving statewide objectives that
o Reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions
o Improve air and water quality
o Increase infill and compact development
o Reduce automobile usage and fuel consumption
o Promote water conservation
o Promote energy efficiency and conservation
To meet the grant objective, the County has two main work scopes.
1. Adopt TerraCount Following the Methodology Under in the Resilient Merced Guide
Adopt TerraCount. The Department of Conservation and The Nature Conservancy developed TerraCount
to help planners quantify how changes in land use, land management, and land cover affect landscape
carbon storage. In addition to quantifying carbon storage, Terracount also accounts for a variety of
complementary benefits such as soil health, water retention, and air quality. The methodology to adopt
TerraCount is outlined in the Resilient Merced Guide (Attachment 8).
UCSB Bren school will be responsible for the data collection and analysis necessary for adopting
TerraCount. The consultant selected will manage and advise the student’s work. Task 8 in Section E.
further describes the scope of the internship program.
2. Climate Action Plans, Natural, and Working Lands Component
This project will incorporate a Natural and Working Lands component into the County’s 2030 CAP. The
Natural and Working Lands component will include an emissions inventory detailing the natural and
working lands sector. The component will also include a set of GHG emission reduction measures and
policies that can be quantified and used for progress tracking.
The development of the Natural and Working Lands component will be occurring separately from the
2030 CAP update. Therefore, the consultant selected will need to collaborate with the project team
working on the broader 2030 CAP update. Task 7 in Section E. provides information on integrating the
NWL component with the 2030 CAP.
3. University of Santa Barbara Bren School Master’s Group Project
To develop stronger relationships with local academic institutions, the County submitted a Group Project proposal
to the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. The 2020-2021 Master’s Group Project is part of the
Integrating Natural and Working Lands Into the ECAP Request for Proposals Page 8 of 15
school’s curriculum, which allows students to work on real-world projects while offering a cost-effective service to
clients. Five students will take on the bulk of the technical analysis for this project. The consultant shall advise the
students and maintain quality assurance and control of the student’s work product. For more information on the
Group Project, refer to Attachment 3.
As a condition of the Master’s Group Project, the Bren School requires the client to provide an internship program
for the students. However, due to COVID-19, the County is experiencing capacity constraints with hiring. The
County is seeking a consultant to take on the recruitment and management process. The State has approved a
budget allocation of approximately $30,000 to fund the internship. Initial estimates suggest the allocated sum of
money is sufficient to support 1,500 hours. The total internship budget could be split amongst the five Bren
Students working part-time over a period of 10 weeks.
D. Project Roles
E. Scope of Work
The County has committed to accomplishing a set of deliverables in the grant agreement with the DOC. The tasks
below represent the anticipated workflow. We encourage respondents to propose approaches that can best meet
the objectives of the grant, as stated in section C.2. Suggestions may include revisions to the work plan, schedule,
and project team roles.
Task 1. Project Kick-Off
The consultant shall familiarize themselves with stakeholders, work efforts, and research methodologies relevant
to this project. The consultants will work with the County and UCSB Bren Students to refine the work plan during
the project kick-off phase.
The consultant shall:
County Sustainability Staff
•Vision and goal setting
• Stakeholder coordination
•Grant administration
Consultant
• Project management
•Bren Team/Summer Internship
•Quality assurance/Quality control
• Technical advisory and troubleshooting
•GHG varification
UCSB Bren Master Candidates
•Data Collection
• Techinal analysis
•Reporting
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• Conduct a kick-off meeting with the County and UCSB Bren students
• Reaffirm project goals and outcomes with the County and UCSB Bren students
• Reaffirm roles and expectations with the County and Bren Students
• Update the project work plan and schedule
• Advise students on data needs
• Advise students on GHG quantification methodology
Deliverable(s): Kick-off meeting agenda and summary notes; if necessary, revised project work plan and timeline;
list of data needs.
Task 2. Stakeholder Outreach Strategy
Stakeholders must be engaged in all phases of this project. There are various public forums to engage
stakeholders. For example, the Agricultural Advisory Committee (AAC) meets monthly and is a primary
stakeholder. Other stakeholders might include the County Agricultural Commissioner, Cachuma Resource
Conservation District (CRCD), the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), the California
Department of Conservation (DOC), and the California Nature Conservancy. To ensure a strong line of
communication with stakeholders, the County will take the lead in convening a Technical Advisory Committee
(TAC) representative of the NWL sector. The TAC will ensure that the data assumptions used in the TerraCount
model are reflective of the region. The TAC will also play an integral part in developing quantifiable emission
reduction measures and policies.
The consultant will work with the County early on to establish an engagement plan to define outreach goals and
objectives further.
The consultants shall:
• Work with the County to develop a stakeholder engagement plan
• Lead/participate in periodic calls and meetings
• Lead/participate in the TAC meeting (approx. 4-5 meetings)
• Attend AAC meeting (approx. 2-3 meetings)
Deliverable(s): Stakeholder engagement strategy/schedule; agenda and summary notes from meetings
Task 3. Land-based GHG Emissions Inventory & Landscape Carbon Stock Inventory
The Bren students will be collecting data and performing the technical analysis of this task. Consultants will advise
Bren students on conducting an NWL inventory and provide QA/QC of the work.
The consultant shall:
• Advise Bren students with conducting a jurisdictional carbon stock inventory of Santa Barbara County.
The inventory will encompass unincorporated and incorporated areas of the County.
• Advise Bren students with obtaining historical and present-day spatial land cover data using the U.S
Department of the Interior’s LandFire program or similar dataset.
Integrating Natural and Working Lands Into the ECAP Request for Proposals Page 10 of 15
• Advise Bren students with the identification and development of land classifications tailored to Santa
Barbara County.
• Advise Bren students with identifying classification errors by comparing LandFire data to an independent
spatial data source. An example of a reference data source is the county field-level pesticide use permits,
local government-produced maps, and satellite imagery.
Deliverable(s): Provide QA/QC for the following deliverables: LandFire dataset processed for Santa Barbara County
(GIS shapefiles), carbon stock inventory by land cover, and emissions inventory by land cover. Provide a memo
reviewing the data analysis and findings produced by the Bren students.
Task 4. Baseline Reference Scenario
The consultant will advise the Bren students with developing a baseline reference scenario. The baseline
reference scenario is a jurisdictional projection of business-as-usual landscape carbon stocks and emissions. It
serves as a reference against which the effects of activities or policies can be measured. Depending on the quality
and availability of data, a baseline reference scenario should align with the County’s 2030 CAP target and Santa
Barbara County Association of Government’s (SBCAG) preferred land use scenario. The Santa Barbara County
preferred land use scenario represents the county’s official preferred vision for land development through 2040.
The consultant shall:
• Review and advise the development of a Baseline Reference Scenario using two historical years
• Review SBCAG’s preferred land use footprint scenario
• Review the methodology used for carbon stock and emissions forecast
• Review appropriate policies and development trends for the carbon forecast model
Deliverable(s): Provide QA/QC for the baseline reference scenario forecasting out to 2030. Provide a memo
reviewing data analysis and findings produced by the Bren Students.
Task 5. Complementary Benefits Assessment
The Consultant shall advise and assist the Bren Students in identifying complementary benefits relating to land
management activities. Examples of co-benefits include, but are not limited to, hedgerow planting, compost
application, and cover crops. The Complementary Benefits Assessment shall provide quantitative metrics that
account for factors such as, but not limited to, groundwater recharge, habitat connectivity, and crop value.
The consultant shall:
• Advise the selection and development of GHG reduction actions and policies developed by the Bren
students and stakeholders
• Review the quantification methodology of co-benefits associated with the identified actions and policies
Deliverable(s): Provide QA/QC complementary benefits assessment. Provide a memo reviewing the data source,
quantification methodology, and findings produced by the Bren Students.
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Task 6. Review of TerraCount Scenarios
TerraCount is a Python script in the ESRI’s ArcGIS Desktop software. The tool estimates how changes in land use,
land management, and land cover affect carbon storage and influence various co-benefits. The tool was
developed under the Resilient Merced Guide to help planners quantify and weigh different land-use scenarios.
TerraCount requires data inputs from tasks 3, 4, and 5.
The consultant shall:
• Advise Bren students on how to run the TerraCount Tool
• Recommend practical land-use scenarios based on the likely hood of implementation measures
Deliverable(s): Provide QA/QC of TerraCount inputs and outputs; all associated GIS files (historical, existing, and
future scenarios). Provide a memo detailing the review and validity of the analysis and findings from the Bren
students.
Task 7. Integrate Natural and Working Lands into the County’s CAP
Integrate findings and deliverables with the County’s 2030 CAP. For this task, the consultant may need to
coordinate with the consultant working on the 2030 CAP update. Traditional CAPs have historically left out natural
lands. This project expands the scope of the 2030 CAP update by including a carbon stock and emission inventory
of NWL.
The consultant shall:
• Ensure methodologies such as Global Warming Potential (GWP) factors are consistent with 2030 CAP
• Develop an NWL CAP chapter/component. Compile findings and deliverables from the previous tasks into
a report consistent with the 2030 CAP format.
o Introduction to the NWL sector
o GHG carbon stock and emissions inventory
o 2030 emissions forecast
o List of quantifiable policies and strategies (i.e., emission reduction measures)
▪ Implementation and progress tracking mechanism
Deliverable(s): Develop an NWL chapter/component that can be integrated with the 2030 CAP
Task 8. Internship Program
As part of the Bren School’s Master’s Group Project program, the County is expected to provide at least one paid
summer internship to a student(s) working on this project. The intent is to further the goals of the project and
help the student(s) develop professional skills. Due to limited bandwidth, the County seeks to outsource the
hiring and management of the interns to the consultant. The County has budgeted approximately $30,000
through the DOC grant to fund all direct project cost performed by the interns.
The consultant shall:
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• Hire one to five part-time summer interns from the Bren School for a limited duration, approximately
between July and September 2020
• Provide project management and QA/QC support for the interns
• Develop a work plan for the interns
Deliverable(s): Develop a work plan for the internship program
F. Project Timeline
The project milestones below may not align with this RFP. At the time of developing the RFP, the Bren students
have already begun working on Tasks 1 through 3.
Mile Stones Date
Task 1- Kick-off July 2020
Task 2- Stakeholder Outreach Strategy July 2020
Task 3 & 4- Landscape Carbon Inventory/ Baseline Peer Review
Jul-Aug 2020
Task 5- Emission Reduction Measures Co-Benefit Assessment
Aug-Sept 2020
Task 6- Run TerraCount Oct-Dec 2020
Task 7- Adopting NWL component to 2030 CAP Jan-May 2021
Project Closeout May-Jul 2021
G. Grant Budget
The total budget of the DOC grant is $154,327. The cost proposal below accounts for the entirety of the grant
project; this includes county staff time, tools and services, travel, and administrative costs. Please use this budget
as a reference for the cost proposal response in Section H.1.e. The respondent may suggest revisions to the
budget. However, keep in mind, significant changes will need approval from the State through a budget
amendment process.
Please note, the line item tasks below refer to the grant tasks and not the Scope of Services outlined in Section E.
Task 1 Project kick-off $4,920.23
Task 2 Stakeholder Outreach Plan $17,560.41
Task 3 Landscape Emissions Carbon Inventory & Landscape Carbon Stock Inventory $21,736.00
Task 4 Baseline Reference Scenario $4,521.18
Task 5 Complementary Benefits Assessment $20,809.18
Task 6 Running TerraCount $16,408.18
Task 7 Integrate Natural and Working Lands Component with County ECAP $29,583.81
Task 8 Project Close-Out $3,174.60
Contingency and Administrative Indirect $35,614.08
Total $154,327.66
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H. Proposal Requirements and Contents
Proposals should contain sufficient detail to allow for thorough evaluation and comparison. They should be as
brief and concise as possible without compromising clarity. Proposals should include the following information, in
sectionalized format:
1. Format and Content
a. Introduction. Showcase overall understanding of the project and approach; include any issues that
may require special consideration for this project. If a joint venture, please identify the prime
contractor and all subcontractors. Please keep introduction brief and concise (500 words maximum)
b. Qualifications. Firm capabilities, brief history, organizational structure, top management (similar
information for each joint venture participant and subcontractors, and approximate percentage of
contribution), and relevant experience. Include the firm(s) type and tax identification or social
security number. (500 words maximum)
c. Staff. Proposed project manager and relevant background; an organizational chart showing project
manager, key staff, and all supporting staff to be assigned; brief resumes highlighting relevant
qualifications; staff responsibilities, estimated hours, and percentage of total hours. Staff identified
to perform the work for the project must perform the work. The selected consultant must obtain
County approval before making any staffing changes during the contract performance period.
d. Implementation Approach. Approach toward accomplishing the work program; define each task
describing the implementation approach. Identify any recommended changes to the scope of work
outline and basis for suggestions. A list of assumptions should be included that clearly define the
limits of the scope of work. (500 words maximum per task description)
e. Cost Proposal. Itemized budget breakdown by task, deliverable, and cost proposal with estimated
hours (total hours and project manager hours) and salary; administrative and overhead expenses; and
indirect expenditures. The cost proposal should be presented separately from the technical proposal.
Please include a 10% contingency in your cost estimate. The contingency fund would only be
released if the selected consultant performs functions or carries out work that is requested by the
County and is outside the contracted scope of work.
f. Timeline. Proposed timeline summary based on an estimated project kick-off date of July 20, 2020.
The consultant’s ability to meet or expedite the proposed timeline is one of the selection criteria for
evaluating proposals.
g. References. List of former clients receiving comparable services to what is requested in this RFP,
including the project manager’s name and telephone number.
h. Insurance. Summary of the firm’s (and sub-consultants) insurance coverage. Minimum coverage and
types of insurance that are required to be maintained throughout the term of the project are
identified in Attachment 12 (Standard Indemnification and Insurance Provisions).
Integrating Natural and Working Lands Into the ECAP Request for Proposals Page 14 of 15
The selected consultant must provide workers compensation insurance for all of its employees. The
consultant must submit a certificate of insurance with the proposal to establish coverage if such a
certificate is not already on file with P&D.
I. Contract
Acknowledgment of terms and conditions and the ability to conform to these terms, as addressed in the
County’s standard contract, has been included as Attachment 13 (Standard Terms and Conditions for
Independent Contractors working for the County).
J. Cost
As stated in Section H.1.e of this RFP, the estimated cost of the requested services shall include a 10%
contingency.
Please include a cost proposal that includes involvement from the Bren School. In this scenario, the
consultant will primarily serve an advisory role and maintain quality assurance.
K. Submission
i. The proposal must be signed by an official authorized to commit the firm, along with a statement that
the contents, including not-to-exceed cost, remain effective for a period of not less than 60 days from
the proposal due date.
j. Submit a digital copy of the proposal, no later than the date and time listed on the cover page of this
RFP.
County of Santa Barbara
Community Services Department
Sustainability Division
ATTN: Frank Chen, Climate Program Specialist
L. Additional Information
1. The County reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP, in part or its entirety, and to reject all proposals.
The County reserves the right to negotiate with the selected consultant to make any necessary changes to the
scope of work.
2. All responses to this RFP will become the property of the County. All data, documents, and other products
used or developed during the project will remain in the County domain upon completion of the project.
3. The County’s Standard Provisions for Purchase Orders and Standard Anti-Discrimination Clause will be
specified in the contract.
M. Attachments
Available on Box.com:
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1. Prop 68 Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Program, Local and Regional Planning Grant Guidelines 2. County of Santa Barbara Working Lands and Riparian Corridors Grant Application 3. Bren School Master’s Group Project Application 4. Santa Barbara County 2030 Climate Action Plan RFP 5. 2015 Energy & Climate Action Plan 6. 2016 Greenhouse Gas Inventory 7. 2017 Energy & Climate Action Plan Progress Report 8. Resilient Merced 9. Guidelines for the Implementation of the California Environmental Quality Act 10. County of Santa Barbara Environmental Thresholds and Guidelines Manual 11. Agreement for Services of Independent Contractor 12. Standard Indemnification and Insurance Provisions 13. Standard Terms and Conditions for Independent Contractors