REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: MOBILE WEB APP FOR URBAN FOREST NETWORK

The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (Estuario) requests proposals from locally-based qualified firms and individuals to develop a new web-based app—the Passport to the Estuario. This app will allow users to access information about each of the green spaces that constitute the Urban Forest Network, as well as promote their enjoyment through notifications. The app will also allow the user to input location-based environmental information.

Urban forests are ecosystems composed mainly of trees and other vegetation within an urbanized area. These forests are crucial to the sustainability of cities, as their green infrastructure system provides cities with environmental, economic, and social services. The Urban Forest Network (UFN) was created by Estuario to strengthen, promote and support the operation and green infrastructure of urban forests within the Puerto Rico Metropolitan Region.

Scope of Service

The Passport to the Estuario is currently a hard copy document that provides information on the urban forests that form part of the UFN. It is used to record visits to these spaces.

The San Juan Bay Estuary Program expects the vendor to engage the following objectives:

• Incorporation of a primarily mobile-focused UI providing access to the features of the Passport to the Estuario web app.
• Integration of a calendar function, able to display and notify the user of near-future events, fed from Estuario’s calendar platform.
• Integration of a stamp-based check-in system which allows users to log their visits to the urban forests, as well as the purpose of each visit (educational, recreational, research).
• Creation of a basic ecosystem reporting tool which would allow the user to feed Estuario’s watershed database with information regarding:
  • UFN Flora (species identification, number of subjects, height, diameter, GPS coordinates, photos)
  • UFN Fauna (species I.D., quantity, GPS coordinates of sighting, photos, date & time)
  • General environmental on-site observations (free text field)
  • Visible environmental impacts (such as earth’s crust material removals/fills, trees falling and pruning activities, erosions, illegal solid waste deposits)
• Creation of an «activities» section that integrates Estuario’s audiovisual educational and informational materials.
• Development or integration of an organizational tool for Estuario’s handling of user-provided data, as well as the capacity to update information featured in the app (including but not limited to Urban Forest details, events).
• Fulfillment of contract through the delivery of a fully-functional application.
• Provision of scheduled maintenance updates.

Proposals Response

Proposers are to submit complete, detailed responses addressing the scope of service as outlined above. Submittals should be organized in a clear and concise manner within a single electronic binder. The format for the submittal should be as follows:

Proposer’s Profile: Provide a description of proposer’s track record, including number of years in business, remote capability, organizational structure (e.g., corporation, partnership, sole practitioner, etc.), areas of expertise, etc.

• Key Personnel: Provide a summary description of the key personnel who will be involved in this project, their roles and responsibilities, and their experience in similar past projects. Resumes should be provided.

• Examples of Similar Work Produced or Services Rendered: Include a summary describing at least one (1) relevant past project. These examples should include a summary of each project, and a sample of media.

• Appendix/Portfolio: Applicants may provide a portfolio of work via weblink, to highlight the proposer’s past work as it applies to this proposed project. Applicants may also use this section to provide any additional information regarding qualifications or methods relevant to this project.

• Cost Summary: Include a detailed summary of costs broken down into product and service costs. Also, provide a full scope and half scope including any and all other costs pertinent to the elements required for the app.

Submission Instructions

• Interested individuals/companies are required to submit one (1) electronic copy of the proposal.
• Proposals must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on July 20, 2020.
• For any questions or additional information, please contact Brenda Torres, Executive Director via email at [email protected].

Evaluation

All applicants will be evaluated and rated based on their demonstrated capability and experience in providing the scope of service(s) to an organization.

A panel will review how closely an applicant’s proposal meets the expectations set forth in the RFP in the following areas:

Schedule

The anticipated schedule for this solicitation is as follows:

The San Juan Bay Estuary Program

The San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP) is part of the National Estuary Program (NEP), created under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), and managed nationally by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Its mission is to improve the water quality of the San Juan Bay Estuary. Per Section 320 of the CWA, each of the 28 entities affiliated to the NEP must submit to EPA Administrator a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) to guide the restoration efforts of the most important coastal ecosystems for the economy of the Nation. The main responsibility of each organization under the NEP is to coordinate and measure the implementation of the plan in partnership with the community, state, local, and federal governments and the Academia.

The Corporation for the Conservation of the SJBE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or genetics.

US EPA GRANT CE99206924