Empleos
RESQUEST FOR PROPOSALS- TECHNICAL SUPORT CONSULTANT
I. SUMMARY
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) seeks qualified applicants to provide services as a Technical Support Consultant to support Estuario’s water quality monitoring and related efforts through technical support, data management, and visualization. The Technical Support Consultant is a senior-level service provider (an individual or consulting firm) with the technical expertise to support and enhance Estuario’s water quality monitoring program, synthesize and integrate environmental data, conduct spatial and temporal analyses, and support the development of
communication and visualization data tools such as a data dashboard. This role will support during the early phases of a Regional Water Quality Monitoring Collaborative (RWQMC) to integrate data gathered by the various members. The water quality data collected constitutes a crucial component of the Estuarine Environmental Indicators of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
II. ABOUT ESTUARIO
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. The Estuario became part of the National Estuary Program (NEP) in 1994 and is the only tropical and non-continental location within the NEP under Section 320 of the Clean Water Act. The Estuario’s mission is 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. The work is guided by the Estuario Plan, a master restoration plan for the San Juan Bay Estuary, officially known as the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).
III. ABOUT THE PROJECT
In November 2021, Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to invest in the nation’s infrastructure and resilience, with a major focus on environmental justice and climate change. Estuario will use BIL funding to enhance water quality monitoring efforts. Since 2008, Estuario has implemented a water quality monitoring program that follows an EPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan. This long-term monitoring is
supported by certified citizen scientists led by Estuario's water monitoring field coordinator.
The monitoring efforts involve collecting and analyzing water samples for various parameters, including fecal enterococcus, nitrate + nitrite, oil and grease, total phosphorus, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, specific conductance, turbidity, and water column transparency at monitoring stations within the estuary system and its tributaries. Through this initiative, Estuario evaluates the effectiveness of implemented Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP) actions and assesses both natural and human-induced impacts on the system. Water quality data is available
to the public through the SJBE website (https://estuario.org/calidad-de-agua/), which provides scientifically based information to the public, government, and academia. Tracking progress toward established water quality targets throughout the SJBE system requires consistent monitoring coupled with effective data management, analysis, data visualization, synthesis, and reporting. Enhanced data collection, analysis, visualization,
and reporting will also be essential for quantifying baseline water quality conditions before the construction of anticipated infrastructure projects in the Caño Martín Peña and Hato Rey/Río Piedras watershed, and for tracking changes in water quality following the completion of those projects.
IV. SCOPE OF WORK
The Technical Support Consultant is a senior-level service provider (an individual or consulting firm) with the technical expertise to support and enhance Estuario’s water quality monitoring program. The consultant will be essential to track the progress toward established water quality targets throughout the SJBE system by developing effective data management, analysis, synthesis, visualization, and reporting SOP’s and protocols. The service provider will support the development of a data visualization dashboard that integrates water quality monitoring performed by the various members of the Regional Water Monitoring Collaborative (RWMC) and maintains the data.
V. REQUESTED SERVICES/DELIVERABLES
The Technical Support Consultant will work in collaboration with the Regional Water Monitoring Collaborative to conduct a thorough revision of Estuario’s water quality monitoring program and to develop a long-term protocol to provide the data needed to track water quality status and future trends, track progress toward living resource goals, and evaluate the Partnership’s progress in providing water quality conditions needed to achieve its living-resource-based environmental goals.
The service provider will:
● Support the development of data-sharing protocols for the RWMC to improve data efficiency, accuracy, and usability, supporting the goals and data gathering and sharing objectives.
● Develop quarterly reports documenting RWMC efforts and progress.
● Gather, collate, analyze, summarize, and synthesize water quality data sets of the San Juan Bay Estuary collected in recent decades to document water quality conditions, spatial patterns, and temporal trends.
● Develop a platform for data visualization, synthesis, and reporting.
● Develop and implement a comprehensive long-term monitoring program that will track water quality status and future trends and evaluate progress in providing the water quality conditions needed to achieve its living- resource-based environmental goals.
● Manage and maintain real-time monitoring data established through buoy platforms equipped with multi-parameter water quality sensors and ensure this data is integrated into the long-term monitoring program.
● Provide technical and scientific expertise to develop communication and presentation data tools (such as data dashboards and scorecards).
● Support other Estuario projects that require water quality monitoring data as needed.
VI. APPLICATION PROCESS
Submit the proposal via email to [email protected] on or before March 7, 2025, at 5 pm AST. Please include “Technical Support Consultant” with the applicant’s name in the subject line. The proposal must address the following items in a concise yet complete manner:
Applicant Overview:
1. Statement of qualifications and relevant experience/CV for all team members
2. Three previous project references of relevant experience
3. Detailed Methodology and/or philosophy used to implement the task. The Service Provider must be specific regarding the methodologies that will be used.
4. Timeline with tasks, meetings, milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to comply with the deliverables/requested services.
5. Budget with a detailed description of all fees and expenses.
VII. IMPORTANT DATES
● RFP Publication- December 23, 2024
● Informative Session- January 31, 2025
● Deadline for proposal submission- March 7, 2025
● Interview of potential candidates- March 12-14, 2025
● Announcement of selected projects- March 14, 2025
● Contractor initiates- March 17-21, 2025
VIII. SELECTION PROCESS
An evaluation committee composed of Estuario members and local experts will evaluate each proposal received according to the criteria described below. The following criteria will be considered during the evaluation process:
● Comprehensiveness, conciseness, clarity, thoroughness, and professional quality of presentation.
● Rigor and appropriateness of selected methods, which are based on identified goods and services to be valued.
● Proposed costs.
● Ability to complete project in the stated time period.
● Experience and history of performance on similar projects regarding such factors as quality of work, cost control, and ability to meet schedule.
● The organization and scheduling of the project requirements and contractor accessibility.
● Qualifications of team members, as demonstrated by experience, education, and potential project role.
The consultant will be selected based on responses to this RFP and the required informational meeting. Estuario 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. Minority, women-owned business enterprises and other certified minorities and small businesses
are encouraged to apply.
IX. OTHER CONDITIONS
Time Extensions
Estuario, in its sole discretion, may change and/or extend the deadlines for the above- mentioned task, and such changes and deadlines will be communicated to all applicants that sent an interest notification.
X. RESERVATIONS
This RFP does not commit Estuario 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, and request additional information and/or clarifications.
XI. PUBLIC RECORDS
All proposals submitted in response to this RFP become the property of Estuario and public records, and as such may be subject to public review.
XII. RIGHT TO CANCEL
Estuario, 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: the selection schedule, submittal date, and submittal requirements. If Estuario cancels or revises the RFP, all potential consultants will be notified in writing by Estuario.
XIII. PUBLIC INFORMATION
Selection announcements, contract awards, and all data provided by Estuario shall be protected from public disclosure. consultants desiring to release information to the public must receive prior written approval from Estuario. Estuario, 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.
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) 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 restore and conserve the water quality in the San Juan Bay Estuary ecosystem as a sustainable hub of social and economic development. Per Section 320 of the CWA, each of the 28 entities affiliated to the NEP must submit to the 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.
Responsibilities:
The Service Provider is expected to:
● Coordinate all meetings with stakeholders and/or the public as necessary.
● Submit quarterly written reports to Estuario or as requested.
● Provide own assistants, as needed.
● Cover own business and travel expenses and tools, including transportation, computer, computer software and licenses, materials, etc.
● Be able to work from outside the Estuario’s premises and be on-site as needed.
● Be able to provide evidence of liability and worker’s compensation insurance.
● Submit progress report(s) throughout the year and/or a final report at the end of the contract as documentation of work completed throughout the term of the contract and/or for approval of any final deliverables as needed. The contents of this final report will be established beforehand with the supervising staff.
Required Qualifications (Education and Experience):
The Service Provider must possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
● Master’s degree preferred; Bachelor’s degree required (preferred fields: Geology, Hydrology, Environmental Sciences, Biology, Ecology, or related fields).
● At least ten years of working experience related to geomorphology, freshwater ecology, hydrology, grey/green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and climate resilience strategies.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
● Experience with environmental fieldwork, including in inclement conditions and following safety protocols.
● Clear understanding of the complications of reverse channelization.
● Clear understanding of the expected effects of climate change on freshwater ecosystems and urban infrastructures.
● Experience in building equitable and just working relationships with diverse stakeholders, including high-level executives, public servants, and community members.
● Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills
● Strong oral, written, and communication skills.
● Ability to work collaboratively and independently, efficiently managing time.
● Proficiency in Microsoft Office, cloud-based software (e.g., Google Drive), and Adobe and other software required.
● Must provide own computer and transportation.
Start Date:
March 17-21, 2025
How to apply:
Submit the proposal via email to [email protected] on or before March 7, 2025, at 5 pm AST. Please include “Technical Support Consultant” with the applicant’s name in the subject line. The proposal must address the following items in a concise yet complete manner:
Applicant Overview:
1. Statement of qualifications and relevant experience/CV for all team members
2. Three previous project references of relevant experience
3. Detailed Methodology and/or philosophy used to implement the task. The Service Provider must be specific regarding the methodologies that will be used.
4. Timeline with tasks, meetings, milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to comply with the deliverables/requested services.
5. Budget with a detailed description of all fees and expenses.
Sources of funding:
Source of funding: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)
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.
