ESTUARIO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization responsible for restoring and conserving the quality of the natural waters of the San Juan Bay Estuary and its watershed as a sustainable axis of social and economic development. 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.
ESTUARIO’S success can be largely attributed to our integrated, multisectoral, and community-led approach to restoring water quality. ESTUARIO recognizes that water quality restoration requires making significant investments and coordinated collaboration between stakeholders at all levels and across all sectors for a sustained amount of time, sometimes decades. In order to ensure the effectiveness, longevity, and sustainability of our efforts to restore and conserve water quality, we put communities at the center of our work. Our projects rely heavily on local partnerships.
About the Project
The Watershed-based Hazard Mitigation Plan for the Metropolitan Region of San Juan is Puerto Rico’s first-ever multijurisdictional hazard mitigation planning effort. The goal is to create a comprehensive document that integrates the hazard mitigation plans for the municipalities of Bayamón, Canóvanas, Carolina, Cataño, Guaynabo, Loíza, San Juan, Toa Baja, and Trujillo Alto, to maximize the impact of mitigation measures and recovery funds.
The Plan will help the region coordinate ongoing and future efforts across the watershed, state and federal agencies to address extreme vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic risks inherent to the highly urbanized setting of the region. Once complete, the plan will be submitted to FEMA for approval to qualify for non-emergency disaster assistance, including funding for mitigation projects.
The Plan will work in concert with other SJBEP initiatives, such as the Watershed-based Blue/Green Infrastructure Master Plan, to increase the use of natural infrastructure in the mitigation of natural disasters and rebuild a more resilient watershed in the face of a changing climate. The development of the Watershed-based Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is being funded through the US EPA’s State Revolving Fund.
Scope of Work
The project has three main components: an analysis of current data and documentation, identification of information gaps necessary to perform the risk assessment, and the development of the final plan. The final Hazard Mitigation Plan for the San Juan Metropolitan Region will:
- Incorporate a regional perspective, connecting upstream and downstream communities, considering regional land use practices, municipal and state public policy, and common risks.
- Recommend and derive mitigation strategies stemming from:
- The evaluation of regional natural and anthropogenic risks obtained from the nine Municipal Hazard Mitigation Plans and facilitating synergies between these stakeholders’ mitigation strategies beyond their territorial/political boundaries, identifying integration potential as well as gaps and opportunities.
- Estuario’s georeferenced database, including information related to community assets, risks, and capabilities obtained from a previous public outreach phase.
- The evaluation of risks from additional studies including those related to anthropogenic risks such as (i.e. Hydrologic/Hydraulic Studies (dam rupture), Substandard structures, Impact radius technological accidents, Sociodemographic (employment, food insecurity, health insurance), and other sources for climate change potential or others deemed advisable by other experts (Scientific Technical Advisory Committee) involved in the planning phase.
- Input from Scientific and Technical Advisory and Steering Committees to decide on mitigation and adaptation strategies through the implementation of a comprehensive participatory process.
- Includes an economic analysis to estimate potential dollar losses related to risks considered in the Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with 44 CFR 201.6 (c) (2) (ii) (B) and FEMA requirements.
- Includes mitigation and adaptation strategies that thoroughly understand and use the estuary’s ecosystem health and integrity as a defense against risks such as erosion, landslides, extreme heat, flooding, and food insecurity, and climate change to ultimately safeguard property, health, and life.
- Clearly defines how municipalities may integrate proposed capital improvement projects into their own CIP and adaptability plans, and collaborate in implementing mitigation measures as an asset protection strategy.
- Identifies and provides access to financial and technical resources available to municipalities to achieve adequate hazard mitigation (i.e. FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, CDBG-MIT Program, etc.)
The Consultant is expected to oversee the development of the Hazard Mitigation Plan until adoption. The Consultant will be required to attend any and all necessary meetings with ESTUARIO staff to track progress and approve the final document. The Contractor is expected to coordinate any and all meetings with stakeholders as necessary, and to comply with deadlines and deliverables as established by the contract.
Ultimately, we are looking for a partner that:
- Shares our vision for a socio-ecologically sustainable and resilient San Juan Bay Estuary and watershed.
- Enjoys and has significant experience including diverse communities and stakeholders and leading them step-by-step through the hazard mitigation planning process.
- Helps stakeholders assess their work and accomplishments to extract lessons learned and identify challenges and opportunities for advancing multijurisdictional hazard mitigation strategies.
- Facilitates brainstorming solutions, identifying common themes, defining unifying strategies, and establishing priorities.
- Translates all collected information into an integrated, comprehensive, multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan ready to be approved by FEMA.
Deliverables
- Plan outline
- Final project timeline
- First draft of the plan
- Second draft of the plan
- Final draft of the plan for FEMA approval
- Integrated database of all information used for the development of the plan
- Periodic progress reports identifying challenges and opportunities in implementation
Application Process
- Submit the proposal via email to [email protected] on or before October 14, 2022. Please include “Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan” with the applicant’s name in the subject line.
The proposal must address the following items in a comprehensive and concise manner:
- Applicant Overview
- Methodology/philosophy used to implement the project
- Qualifications and relevant experience/CV
- Proposal
- Overview
- Detailed methodology identifying all tasks to be completed by the Contractor
- Timeline with tasks, meetings, milestones, deliverables, and deadlines to comply with the deliverables stated in the scope of work
- Team structure, bios, resumes, and time allocation
- Detailed budget that identifies all expenses including materials/supplies/equipment specifications, quantities, and any other items
- Three references, including a summary of the scope of work performed (Ideally similar organizations/similar scopes)
- Attachments
- Copy of the Department of State certification to do business in Puerto Rico
- Certification of compliance with all federal and state laws to conduct business in Puerto Rico
Late proposals or proposals from entities that did not attend the mandatory informative meeting will not be accepted.
Selection Process
In order of importance, the criteria that will be used to evaluate the Proposals will be:
- Experience successfully managing the development of FEMA-approved multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plans, with particular focus on work quality, cost control, and timeliness
- Completeness, comprehensiveness, conciseness, clarity, thoroughness, and professional quality of the proposal
- Budget breakdown and total
- Feasibility and efficiency of timeline
- Adequacy of technical staff, as demonstrated by experience, education, and project role
- Accessibility of Service Provider
The Consultant will be selected based on responses to this RFP. 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. Certified MBE/WBE (minority and women-owned business enterprise) and other certified minorities and small businesses are encouraged to apply.
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, and request additional information and/or clarifications.
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: the 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.
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.
