Empleos
Technology Consultant – Request for Proposals
INTRODUCTION
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership, or Estuario, requests proposals from entities with the technical expertise in technology for the development of a technology platform that integrates a collaborative database and a dashboard that includes environmental monitoring data from Estuario, municipalities, and state agencies.
A scope of work (Proposed Services – Section IV) is included to assist interested firms, hereinafter called “the Contractor”, in the preparation of a proposal for the implement technology solutions. The Contractor should not be limited by this general scope of work but must address all the solutions and work products called for in this Request for Proposal (RFP). Failure to submit information in accordance with the requirements and procedures established in this document may cause for disqualification. A Mandatory Informative Meeting will take place to broaden the potential Contractor’s understanding of the Estuario’s objectives, background and needs.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Corporation for the Conservation of the San Juan Bay Estuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership, or Estuario. Established in 1994, we are the only tropical and non-continental location within the National Estuary Program (NEP) under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The Estuario operates as a partnership committed to their collective responsibility to restore and conserve the waters and associated ecosystems of the San Juan Bay Estuary and its watershed as a sustainable axis of social and economic development. Estuario’s work is guided by a master restoration plan known as the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) for the San Juan Bay Estuary.
The Estuario implements a water quality monitoring program since 2008 which follows an EPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan. During fiscal year 2023, the Estuario developed a 5-year strategic plan which established the need to reevaluate the current water quality monitoring parameters and identify water quality targets along with other measurable goals associated with the water quality conditions needed to support thriving tropical ecosystems, healthy communities and a vibrant economy, along with indicators and quantitative metrics that can be measured, tracked, and reported.
Tracking progress towards these targets throughout the SJBE system will require consistent water quality monitoring, together with data management, analysis, synthesis, and reporting. An efficient software to perform programmatic and administrative tasks, in addition to mapping and stakeholder engagement and communication is necessary for the implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.
BACKGROUND
In November 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to invest in the nation’s infrastructure and resilience, with major focus on environmental justice and climate change. Estuario will use BIL funding to restore the Juan Méndez Creek, in the municipality of San Juan through high-impact blue/green infrastructure interventions, achieving medium term restoration of communities affected by this body of water, many of which are environmental justice communities.
The Estuario implements a water quality monitoring program since 2008 which follows an EPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan. This long- term water quality program is run by certified volunteers under the lead of a water monitoring field coordinator and consist in collecting and analyzing water samples in 26 stations within the estuary system and tributaries. This monitoring effort helps to evaluate the effectiveness of implemented CCMP actions and evaluate natural and human-induced impacts to the system. Water quality data are provided to the public through the SJBE webpage (https://estuario.org/calidad-de-agua/). Furthermore, the data is used to provide scientifically based information to the public, government, and academia.
Tracking progress towards these targets throughout the SJBE system will require consistent water quality monitoring, together with data management, analysis, synthesis, and reporting. An efficient software to perform programmatic and administrative tasks, in addition to mapping and stakeholder engagement and communication is necessary for the implementation of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan.
Responsibilities:
The potential contractor will be requested to perform the following tasks by March 2025:
Evaluate current technology;
Identify technology needs that will increase efficiency of internal operations and stakeholder engagement coordination;
Design customized digital platform;
Implement internal digital platform;
Support for transition to the new platform;
Provide training to team members of different levels and uses of the platform;
How to apply:
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
The Project Proposal should address the following items in a concise and yet complete manner and offer all the necessary information for the evaluation of your proposal:
Project objectives and goals.
Detailed project plan which identifies specific tasks to be completed, milestones and timeline, including date available to start. Other documents such as brochures, graphs, posters, or visual materials are encouraged.
A listing of any special skills, innovative concepts, or methodologies for projects and/or any cost control methods proposed for this project.
If more than one individual will be involved, a description of the organization of your project team, individual team members functions/tasks they will perform. Identify the person who will be responsible for the completion of the project.
Statement of Qualifications; Experience of the potential Contractor in similar projects with references, facilities, and individual team member qualifications such as resumes and/or bios if applicable.
Detailed budget for materials, expenses and other items must be detailed. Suggested metrics.
Other issues or information relevant to your proposal.
Copy of the Department of State certification to do business in Puerto Rico.
A certification of compliance with all federal and state laws to conduct business in Puerto Rico shall be included in your proposal.
OTHER GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS
Proposal should include a reporting plan.
Proposals will be evaluated by an advisory committee who will make the final decision.
The potential Contractor may be asked to present a brief presentation about the services proposed if selected for a preliminary interview. After submission of the proposal, the Estuario will contact the potential Contractors to establish the date of the presentation.
PRE-SUBMISSION ACTIVITIES
For additional information
Additional information will be provided until February 26, 2024. Send your questions to [email protected].
Questions Concerning Request for Proposals
All questions prior to the Informative Meeting should be held until the meeting takes place so that all potential Contractors may benefit from a question-and-answer discussion.
Revision to the Request for Proposals
The Estuario reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to:
Cancel this RFP at any time.
Revise the RFP prior to the date that Proposals are due. Revisions to the RFP shall be mailed to all potential Contractors to whom the RFP was originally distributed to and those who notified the Program in writing of their interest in submitting a Proposal.
Extend the date by which the Proposals are due.
SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
For a proposal to be considered for evaluation, potential Contractors must follow the specifications below:
Electronic version in PDF of the Proposal shall be submitted to [email protected] with the subject “Technology Consultant RFP”
Potential Contractors must submit their proposal no later than 4:00 p.m. on February 26, 2024. Late proposals, proposals delivered by facsimile, or proposals from entities that did not attend the Mandatory Informative Meeting will not be accepted. No exceptions will be granted regardless of reason or circumstance.
Failure to comply with the requirements of this RFP may result in disqualification.
EVALUATION CRITERIA
Qualified potential Contractors will be short-listed, and the final selection will be made by an advisory committee. The criteria that will be used to evaluate the Proposals will be:
The individual or firm’s experience and history of performance on similar projects, regarding such factors as quality of work, cost control, and ability to meet schedule.
Adequacy of technical staff, as demonstrated by experience, education, and potential project role.
The firm or individual’s understanding of the services required by the Program.
Proposed costs.
The professional quality of the Project Proposal: conciseness, clarity, and thoroughness of presentation.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Estuario anticipates that the process for nominating and selecting a vendor, and awarding the contract, will be according to the following tentative schedule (subject to change):
RFP Release: December 1, 2023
Proposal Due Date: February 26, 2024
Award Notification: March 2024
Start Date: March 2024
SPECIAL CONDITIONS
Reservations
This RFP does not commit the Program to award a contract, to defray any costs incurred in the preparation of a Proposal pursuant to this RFP, or to procure or contract for work.
Public Records
All Proposals submitted in response to this RFP become the property of the Program and public records, and as such may be subject to public review.
Right to Cancel
The Program, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to cancel this RFP for any or no reason, in part or in its entirety, including but not limited to: selection schedule, submittal date, and submittal requirements. If the Program cancels or revises the RFP, all potential Contractors will be notified in writing by the Program.
Additional Information
The Program reserves the right to request additional information and/or clarifications from any or all potential Contractors to this RFP.
Public Information
Selection announcements, contract awards, and all data provided by the Program shall be protected from public disclosure. Consultants desiring to release information to the public must receive prior written approval from the Program. The Program, at its sole discretion, shall determine the release and disclosure of information related to this RFP and any final work products as a result of this.
Agreement for Professional Services
The selected Contractor will be required to sign an Agreement for Professional Services.
Sources of funding:
Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding
The Corporation for the Conservation of the San Juan Bay Estuary is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that operates the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership. 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. MBE/WBE and other certified minorities and small businesses are encouraged to apply.
