Empleos
[Request for Proposals] Technical Support Consultant
I. SUMMARY
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) seeks qualified applicants to provide services as a Technical Support Consultant and support Estuario’s water quality and environmental data monitoring and related efforts through technical support, data management, analysis, synthesis, and visualization. The Technical Support Consultant is a senior-level service provider (an individual, team, or consulting firm) with the technical expertise needed to support and enhance Estuario’s water quality monitoring program, synthesize and integrate environmental data, conduct spatial and temporal analyses, carry out data management, analysis, and interpretation and support the development of communication and visualization data tools such as a data dashboard. This service provider will unite, automate, and evaluate existing water quality and living resources data, and develop technical reports presenting their analysis. With this data, the Technical Support Consultant will provide a baseline for which to gauge progress toward water quality and living resource goals and assess impacts of the infrastructure projects. and presenting the data and analysis to the group. The information included in the dashboard will be published on the Estuario webpage and will be publicly available.
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
Since 2008, Estuario has implemented a water quality monitoring program that follows an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and is supported by certified citizen scientists. 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 through the Estuario 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 San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) system requires consistent monitoring and effective data management, analysis, 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 (for example the Caño Martín Peña and Hato Rey/Río Piedras watershed), and for tracking changes in water quality following the completion of these projects. The Estuario will also count on a Collaborative Water Quality Monitoring Network that will help to collect water quality data more frequently and efficiently and enable quick turnaround on interpretation and reporting for corrective measurements.
IV. SCOPE OF WORK
The Technical Support Consultant is a senior-level service provider (an individual, team, or consulting firm) with the technical expertise to support and enhance Estuario’s water quality monitoring program. The Technical Support Consultant will unite, automate, and evaluate existing data to quantify baseline water quality conditions and to track water quality changes that can occur following anticipated infrastructure projects within the watershed. They will identify water quality targets and living resource goals for the SJBE at levels representative of thriving tropical aquatic ecosystem ecosystems by carrying out effective data management, analysis, synthesis, visualization, and reporting SOP’s and protocols. Using this data and goals, the service provider will develop technical reports presenting their analysis and findings.
The service provider will support the development of a data visualization dashboard that integrates water quality monitoring conducted by members of the Collaborative Water Quality Monitoring Network and other relevant data and will be responsible for the data management and analysis presented through the dashboard.
In addition, they will present and synthesize analysis of monitoring data to partners and other responsible parties that will be used to guide their environmental management strategies and actions.
V. REQUESTED SERVICES/DELIVERABLES
The Technical Support Consultant will conduct a thorough revision of Estuario’s water quality monitoring program, document baseline conditions, 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. Deliverables will be presented to and approved by the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee and WQMCN partners as needed.
The Service Provider will carry out the following Deliverables:
- Develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for EPA approval according to the requirements before gathering any environmental data.
- Update report that provides an analysis and synthesis of water quality (and other environmental) data sets of the San Juan Bay Estuary collected in recent decades to document water quality conditions, spatial patterns, and temporal trends.
- Unite and automate existing data to define and track environmental goals and metrics.
- Determine whether available data is adequate to assess current conditions. If not, implement an interim (e.g. 1-3 year duration) water quality monitoring program (including QAPP) to document present-day conditions in the estuaries and fresh water tributaries of the SJBE system and a brief report summarizing the attributes of the interim monitoring program including its objectives, analyte list, sampling station list, sampling frequencies, field and laboratory methods, and standard operating procedures, quality assurance documents, and data management, analysis and reporting protocols.
- Develop goals for the restoration and/or protection of key living resources at levels representative of thriving tropical aquatic ecosystems, and water quality goals consistent with living resources goals and a brief report summarizing the identified goals
- Develop and implement a comprehensive long-term monitoring program (including QAPP) to replace the short-term interim program and a comprehensive report summarizing its design (including data management, analysis and reporting protocols as well as field and laboratory standard operating procedures, data quality tools and quality assurance protocols). The long-term program will be designed to provide the data needed to track water quality stats and future trends, track progress towards living resources goals, and evaluate the Partnership’s progress in providing the water quality conditions needed to achieve its living-resources-based environmental goals
- Support the enhanced monitoring, data management analysis, and interpretational and information synthesis and reporting work that will be needed to document baseline conditions and track the effects of infrastructure projects and progress in meeting water quality targets and living resources goals.
- Development of data-sharing protocols to improve data efficiency, accuracy, and usability and support the goals and objectives of the collaboration.
- Be responsible for all data QA/QC.
- Provide technical expertise in the development of a data dashboard/ platform for data visualization, synthesis, and reporting.
- Responsible for the data management and analysis of environmental monitoring data
- Develop quarterly technical reports presenting data analysis and evaluation.
- Annual reports, based on previous year’s data and longer-term information, summarizing water quality status and trends and the Partnership’s progress toward meeting its water quality goals, presented to Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee Policy Committee, Policy Committee, and/or Board of Directors, and other partners as needed.
- 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.
The Service Provider is expected to:
- Coordinate all meetings with stakeholders and/or the public as necessary.
- Submit quarterly reports to Estuario staff, 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.
The Service Provider must possess the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:
- Bachelor’s degree required (preferred fields: Biostatistics, Environmental Statistics, Geology, Hydrology, Environmental Sciences, or related fields), Master’s degree preferred.
- At least ten years of working experience related to data management and data analysis.
- Experience with environmental fieldwork, including inclement conditions and following safety protocols.
- 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, government employees, and community members.
- Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills.
- Strong oral, written, and communication skills.
- Strong background in statistics and long-term data management.
- Ability to work collaboratively and independently, efficiently managing time.
- Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office, cloud-based software (e.g., Google Drive), Adobe, R, MathLab, SAS, GIS or equivalent, or any other software required.
- Must provide own computer and transportation.
VI. APPLICATION PROCESS
Interested candidates must attend the compulsory informative meeting which will be held virtually on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 10am. To request participation in the meeting, please email [email protected] and include “Technical Support Consultant—informative meeting registration” with the applicant’s name in the subject line by August 25, 2025.
Submit the proposal via email to [email protected] on or before September 19, 2025. 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:
- Statement of qualifications and relevant experience/CV for all team members.
- Three previous project references of relevant experience.
- Detailed Methodology used to implement the task. The Service Provider must be specific regarding the methodologies that will be used.
- Project plan with timeline identifying all tasks, meetings, milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to comply with the deliverables/requested services.
- Budget with a detailed description of all fees and expenses.
VII. IMPORTANT DATES
- RFP Publication- Monday, July 14, 2025
- RSVP Deadline for Informative Session – Monday, August 25, 2025
- Informative Session- Wednesday, August 27 at 10am AST
- Deadline for proposal submission- September 19, 2025
- Contract will tentatively begin in October 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.
Sources of funding:
Grant #4T-96213322-2, Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
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.
