RFP #6228 CONSULTING SERVICES - COUNTYWIDE STORMWATER PROGRAM'S PUBLIC OUTREACH PROGRAM

Project Description: 1.1 Introduction/Purpose
The County of Ventura (hereinafter referred to as County) invites your organization to submit a written proposal to provide Countywide Stormwater Public Outreach Program services for the Ventura County Public Works Agency in Ventura County. Proposals shall be due no later than 3:00 p.m. on October 31, 2025, for the Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program in accordance with the attached Terms and Conditions, Instructions to Offerors which by this reference are made a part hereof.
Offerors shall be skilled and regularly engaged in the general class or type of work called for in the solicitation documents.
1.2 Background
The 1987 Federal Clean Water Act Amendments require all point source discharges of pollutants into Waters of the United States, including discharges from Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s), to be regulated by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit. The Ventura County Public Works Agency – Watershed Protection (VCPWA-WP), County of Ventura, and the ten incorporated cities in Ventura County implemented the Ventura Countywide Stormwater Quality Management Program (VCSQMP) in response to the NPDES permit regulations. The Los Angeles Regional Permit Order No. R4-2021-0105 (2021 Order) https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/losangeles/waterissues/programs/stormwater/municipal/publicdocs/2022/1_Order(ACC-RPSignature).pdf was adopted in 2021, and Section VIII.D contains the Public Information and Participation Program requirements.
The program, at its most basic, aims to mitigate stormwater pollution to the Maximum Extent Practicable (MEP). Changing the public’s behavior through effective public outreach is a key component of this program.
The objectives of the outreach program are as follows:
1. Reach the general population and involve the range of socioeconomic groups and ethnic communities that make up the Los Angeles Region in Permittees’ stormwater management programs to facilitate:
a. Increased understanding about the importance of stormwater management to public health/community health, environmental quality and local water resiliency; and
b. Increased support for stormwater management programs and stormwater projects among residents in the region.
2. Facilitate pollution prevention through the proper management and disposal of used oil, toxic materials, and targeted pollutants as potential sources of water quality impacts associated with discharges into the MS4.
3. Use effective strategies to educate and involve residents and population subgroups through culturally effective methods.
VCPWA-WP on behalf of VCSQMP, seeks ongoing, as-needed professional consulting services to develop and implement a public outreach campaign that incorporates the overall goals of the program. The outreach campaign will educate county residents about stormwater pollution prevention by utilizing existing program outreach materials and awareness survey results and developing new materials for target-pollutant pollution prevention (e.g. cigarette litter).
Outreach shall include stormwater pollution prevention advertising and public service announcements, and culturally effective methods shall be used to educate ethnic communities. Past public outreach campaigns have typically exceeded the 5 million impressions with greater than ten percent made in Spanish. Outreach and education to school age children, including but not limited to, videos, presentations, and age-appropriate materials shall also be included. Past public outreach campaigns have developed materials to target behavior in relation to pet waste; horse ownership; gardening [including pesticides, fertilizers, and green waste (e.g. leaves and lawn clippings)]; proper vehicle maintenance, fluid storage, and waste fluid disposal; household waste materials; construction waste materials; trash (general); and water conservation practices. Materials have been produced in both English and Spanish. Examples of these materials are available on the program’s website www.cleanwatershed.org.
Please note that the 2021 Order no longer has specific requirements for minimum number of impressions, but equivalent outreach impressions will be expected to be implemented, tracked and reported under the 2021 Order.
1.3 Action Dates
The following is an outline of the anticipated schedule for the proposal review and contract award.
Issue Request for Proposal (RFP) October 3, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Last day for questions October 17, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Proposals Due October 31, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Evaluation-award November 2025
Start Work TBD
The Offeror shall not commence work until a meeting between representatives of the Offeror and the County of Ventura is held. The meeting will be held at a County of Ventura site, at a time and date to be established. The schedule set forth above is subject to change.
1.4 Questions Regarding RFP
All questions concerning this Proposal should be submitted online under the "Messages" tab, All other questions may be directed to Irshad Ali, Principal Buyer, at 805-645-1322 or email Irshad.Ali@venturacounty.gov.
Deadline for questions or clarifications concerning this RFP is October 17, 2025, 5:00 PM PST.