Permaculture Forest of the BIG ONE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
For
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TO ADMINISTER
A RAIN HARVESTING PILOT PROJECT

1. INTRODUCTION
The Marin Municipal Water District (hereafter referred to as MMWD and the District) requires technical support services to administer a new Rain Harvesting Pilot Project (Project) for residential, commercial and landscape customers. The selected Consultant will be fully qualified and experienced in all aspects of passive and active rainwater harvesting and rain garden design best practices including roof catchment, cisterns, stormwater system diversion, low-impact design, pervious pavement, infiltration basins, and Bay Friendly Landscape and Gardening Guidelines, and will demonstrate experience providing a consistently high standard of customer service.
The District is seeking a qualified Community-Based Organization (CBO) that can demonstrate a proven track record of successful program implementation of similar size and scope. It is considered essential to the success of the Project that the selected Consultant be locally based in MMWD, and has a proven track record of implementing community-based educational outreach, and conservation program services.
The intent of this Request for Proposals (RFP) is to solicit assistance in the development and implementation of the Project, to provide educational and technical support, and focus on the development of rain harvesting systems for MMWD customers. Consultants responding to this Request for Proposals are asked to submit proposals that address the requirements described in the Scope of Services, using the Required Proposal Format.
The selected Consultant will be responsible for complying with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations affecting such work, specifically including, but not limited to, environmental, labor, prevailing wage laws, procurement and safety laws, ordinances and insurance. The Program will be implemented throughout the District’s service area, which includes the following cities: Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Forest Knolls, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Lagunitas, Larkspur, Marin City, Mill Valley, Ross, San Anselmo, San Geronimo, San Quentin, San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon and Woodacre.
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The primary goal of the Project is to promote rain harvesting practices by developing and distributing educational materials to MMWD customers over a 12-month period. Although there is an abundance of general information about rain harvesting practices, an important outcome of this project will be to develop Marin-specific guidelines to assist customers who choose to install systems on their property. The Consultant will also provide on-site technical assistance for at least 60 customers at residential, commercial, and institutional sites providing them with detailed advice about methods, materials, and costs involved with the
MMWD Request for Proposals – Rain Harvesting Pilot Project 1
installation and management of various rain harvesting systems. Additionally, the Consultant will oversee the installation of at least 4 rain harvesting systems located at publically accessible sites in MMWD. The Consultant will provide a variety of opportunities for customers to become knowledgeable about rain harvesting including, but not limited to, public workshops, site demonstrations, website content, printed materials, signage, tours, school outreach, classes, and media events. The Consultant will document the results of the Project in a Final Report submitted to MMWD, detailing costs, challenges, customer feedback, site-specific experiences, and recommendations based on the Project outcomes. Staff intends to use the lessons learned from the Project to shape future rain harvesting programs at MMWD.
3. SCOPE OF WORK
Consultants will provide documentation for meeting the Scope of Work that demonstrates their ability to implement and administer the work in this Request for Proposals. Excellent customer service is considered to be of high importance to the District.
Consultants shall include detailed descriptions of the methods and costs proposed to provide the following Project deliverables over a 12-month period:
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Provide an office located in Marin to administer the Project and distribute District conservation program materials to customers during posted business hours.
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Provide administrative and technical staff to respond to customer inquires by phone and email, and provide technical assistance as required to fulfill the project requirements. Technical staff shall be, at a minimum, an Accredited Professional and member of the American Rainwater Catchment Association or equal experience or knowledge, and provide documented examples of successful rain harvesting projects they have implemented in MMWD.
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Provide educational services to customers by a variety of methods that can include workshops, training sessions, multi-media events, school outreach, printed materials and web content, site visits, and other proposed methods to effectively reach the largest possible number of District customers.
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Inform District customers about available conservation program incentives and activities in their communities by distributing MMWD provided materials.
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Provide at least a total of 60 on-site technical consultations for a combination of residential, commercial, and institutional customers who volunteer to participate in the Project
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Design and install at least 4 on-site rain harvesting demonstration projects that may include roof water harvesting, conversion of existing high water
MMWD Request for Proposals – Rain Harvesting Pilot Project 2
use landscapes to drought tolerant landscape, organic food production, low-impact landscape design, bio-swale construction, rain gardens, pervious pavement, and other design solutions that follow industry best practices as defined by the American Rain Catchment Systems Association and the Bay Friendly Gardening and Landscape Guidelines. These demonstration projects must be located at publically accessible sites.
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Engage the participation of local businesses, resource agencies, and community organizations in Project activities through creative and financial partnerships.
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Mobilize volunteers in the community to promote the Project goals and District conservation programs.
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Deliver a Final Report to the District that, at a minimum, documents the Project accomplishments and provides analysis of the cost, benefits, lessons-learned, customer feedback, technology deployed, environmental and economic issues, and overall recommendations for the future of rain harvesting practices in MMWD based on the Project outcomes.
4. ANTICIPATED SCHEDULE
The District intends to enter into an agreement with the selected Consultant by November 2, 2009, and expects the Project to continue for a continuous 12-month period from the date work begins.
The anticipated Consultant selection schedule is:
10/2/09 Proposals are due at the MMWD administration building by 3:00 PM PST. Proposals received after this time will not be evaluated.
10/9/09 Proposals evaluated, Consultant interview notices sent.
10/16/09 Interviews completed and final Consultant selection made.
11/2/09 Contracts completed and work begins.

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