RFP for 2026 Prado Basin and Santa Ana River Aerial Imaging (RFP-25-017)

ORANGE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
RFP-25-017
FOR
2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL
IMAGING
ISSUED: March 23, 2026
PROPOSALS DUE:
Friday, April 17, 2026 at 2:00PM PT

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1. INTRODUCTION _____________________________________________________________________ 1
2. SOLICITATION SCHEDULE _________________________________________________________ 1
2.1. PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING _______________________________________________________ 2
2.2. QUESTIONS CONCERNING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS ________________________ 2
2.3. DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS ____________________________________________________ 2
2.4. PRE-SUBMITTAL ACTIVITIES _____________________________________________________ 3
3. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION ______________________________________ 3
4. SCOPE OF SERVICES _______________________________________________________________ 6
5. GENERAL INFORMATION ___________________________________________________________ 8
5.1. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ______________________________________________________ 8
6. ELEMENTS OF PROPOSAL _________________________________________________________ 9
6.1 Title Page _________________________________________________________________________ 9
6.2 Cover letter _______________________________________________________________________ 9
6.3 Table of Contents ________________________________________________________________ 10
6.4 Experience and record of past performance. ____________________________________ 10
6.5 Project Team and Qualifications _________________________________________________ 10
6.6 Project Overview and Approach _________________________________________________ 11
6.7 Additional Services ______________________________________________________________ 11
6.8 Price Proposal ___________________________________________________________________ 12
6.9 OCWD Standard Agreement _____________________________________________________ 13
6.10 Statement of Insurance Compliance _____________________________________________ 13
6.11 Billing ___________________________________________________________________________ 13
6.12 Conflict of Interest _______________________________________________________________ 13
6.13 Equal Employment Opportunity And Affirmative Action Requirements _________ 14
7. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS ________________________________________ 14
7.1. Proposal Format _________________________________________________________________ 14
7.2. Proposal Preparation Costs _____________________________________________________ 14
8. SELECTION PROCESS _____________________________________________________________ 14
9. SPECIAL CONDITIONS _____________________________________________________________ 15
9.1. RESERVATIONS _________________________________________________________________ 15
9.2. PUBLIC RECORDS ______________________________________________________________ 15
9.3. RIGHT TO CANCEL ______________________________________________________________ 15
TOC - ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
9.4. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION _____________________________________________________ 16
9.5. PUBLIC INFORMATION __________________________________________________________ 16
List of Exhibits:
Exhibit A: Evaluation Criteria
Exhibit B: Services Agreement
List of Attachments:
Attachment No.1: RFP Submittal Checklist
Figures:
Figure 1 - Imagery Prado Basin
Figure 2 - LiDAR Prado Basin
Figure 3 - LiDAR SAR Santiago Creek
TOC - iii

The Orange County Water District ("OCWD" or District) is seeking proposals from
qualified and experienced firms to provide orthogonal multispectral aerial imaging and
LiDAR data collection. OCWD intends to evaluate the proposals received and enter into
a one-year Professional Services Agreement ("Agreement") with the qualified firm. The
work is expected to commence on or around June 1st, 2026. The imagery must be flown
during Summer 2026, one week before or after July 1, 2026. This Agreement will be for
a minimum term of one year. The Agreement will be monitored closely for acceptable
services rendered throughout the Agreement term. OCWD will have the option to
terminate the contract in whole or in part during the Agreement term, for any reason or
no reason, without penalty, upon notice. The proposer will not be entitled to lost profits
or any other compensation not earned prior to the time of termination.
This Request for Proposal ("RFP") describes the required scope of services, the
information that must be included in the proposal, and the proposal selection process.
Proposers are encouraged to carefully review this RFP in its entirety prior to submitting
their proposals. Failure to submit information in accordance with these requirements and
procedures may be cause for disqualification.
1. INTRODUCTION
The OCWD is an internationally recognized leader in the water industry that was formed
in 1933 by the California State Legislature which entrusted OCWD to guard and protect
the region's groundwater basin and limited water supply. OCWD's mission is to provide
a reliable supply of high-quality water that is sourced in an environmentally responsible
manner to the more than 2.5 million residents and businesses within the 270 square mile
service area of Orange County, California that OCWD serves. OCWD manages three of
Southern California's greatest water supplies, this includes protecting rights to the Santa
Ana River, managing and replenishing the Orange County Groundwater Basin, and
operating and maintaining the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), the world's
largest advanced water purification system for potable water reuse. More information
regarding the OCWD can be found at www.ocwd.com.
2. SOLICITATION SCHEDULE
The solicitation schedule is summarized in the table below. OCWD reserves the right to
modify the schedule below at its discretion. Proper notification changes will be made to
interested proposers.
RFP Issued March 23, 2026
Pre-Proposal Meeting N/A
Questions Due Date Monday, April 6, 2026
Interviews (Week of) May 4, 2026 (if needed)
Proposals Due Friday, April 17, 2026 at 2:00PM PT
Agreement Award Date: Anticipated May 2026
Orange County Water District
2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL IMAGING
RFP-25-017
March 23, 2026
Page 1 of 11

2.1. PRE-PROPOSAL MEETING
There will be no mandatory pre-proposal meeting.
2.2. QUESTIONS CONCERNING REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
All questions regarding the RFP must be submitted in writing before the deadline due
date of Monday, April 6, 2026. All questions must be titled "Question - RFP-25-017
2026 Prado Basin and Santa Ana River Aerial Imaging". Responses to questions
received from prospective proposers will be formally documented in a Question and
Answer (Q&A) table that will be posted on the OCWD website:
https://www.ocwd.com/working-with-us/rfp-contracts/. The Q&A table will be updated
regularly as questions are received from prospective proposers. Questions received
after the questions due date will not be considered.
Attention: Ashlie Palamara, Contracts Administrator
Email: procurement@ocwd.com
2.3. DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS
Three (3) hard copies and one (1) electronic flash drive copy of the proposal must be
received in a sealed envelope by OCWD no later than Friday, April 17, 2026 at 2:00PM
PT or such later time that OCWD may announce by an addendum at any time prior to the
proposal deadline. The envelope shall be plainly marked on the exterior "Proposal for
RFP-25-017 2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL IMAGING" and
with the name, company name, and address of the proposer.
Proposals must be mailed or delivered in person or via courier services to the District
office listed below. To deliver submittal packages in person or via courier, please notify
the guard at the main gate for proposal drop off. Sealed envelopes will be timestamped
upon receipt at the receptionist desk.
Orange County Water District
Administration Office Building
Attention: Ashlie Palamara, Contracts Administrator
Address: 18700 Ward Street
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
It is the Proposer's responsibility to ensure that proposals are received prior to the
submittal deadline. Proposal packages should also include all signed Acknowledgment
of Addendum forms that may be issued by OCWD as part of this RFP process, as further
described below. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered under any
circumstances. FAXED OR E-MAILED SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. The
OCWD will not be responsible for the proper identification and handling of any proposals
submitted incorrectly. Only responses properly submitted to OCWD will be considered.
OCWD reserves the right to reject any and/or all responses received. There will be no
formal opening of the proposals.
Orange County Water District
2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL IMAGING
RFP-25-017
March 23, 2026
Page 2 of 11

2.4. PRE-SUBMITTAL ACTIVITIES
The District reserves the right to revise the RFP prior to the date the Proposals are due.
Addendums to the RFP shall be posted on the OCWD website:
https://www.ocwd.com/working-with-us/rfp-contracts/ for all interested Proposers. The
District reserves the right to extend the date by which the Proposals are due.
3. PROJECT BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION
OCWD is seeking proposals from firms that are qualified to provide orthogonal
multispectral aerial and LiDAR imaging for the areas shown in Figures 1-3 (Shapefiles of
the mapping boundary shall be provided upon email request to Procurement@ocwd.com,
and specify in the email subject header the RFP-25-017 requesting for the shape file).
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to identify firms that have the capacity
to execute the project and establish a cost to provide the services for multispectral
orthophotography and LiDAR.
The goal of the imagery acquisition is to obtain high quality, high accuracy aerial imagery
and LiDAR data in and around Prado Basin and the Santa Ana River for vegetation and
related geospatial analyses. The imagery must be flown during Summer 2026, one week
before or after July 1, 2026. The project will require multispectral aerial imagery (RGB
and near infrared) at a three-inch resolution or better and LiDAR that meets or exceeds
USGS Quality Level 1 (QL1) in some areas high pulse count LiDAR data may be required.
The proposals shall include at a minimum the tasks outlined in the RFP. The consultant
shall assemble a team and provide one lead individual, the Project Manager (PM), who
shall bear overall responsibility for all services as outlined in this RFP and who shall report
directly to the District's Project Manager.
Prado Basin mapping boundary is the only area that will required 4-band aerial imaging
(Figure 1).
LiDAR is required within two areas:
* Figure 2 (Prado Basin) and Figure 3 (Santa Ana River corridor): Due to dense
vegetation, high pulse count LiDAR may be needed. OCWD is requesting quotes
for two LiDAR quality levels for this area; the final quality will be selected at the
time of award.
Orange County Water District
2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL IMAGING
RFP-25-017
March 23, 2026
Page 3 of 11

Figure 1: Prado Basin 4-band Aerial Image Mapping Boundary
Orange County Water District
2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL IMAGING
RFP-25-017
March 23, 2026
Page 4 of 11

Figure 2: Prado Basin LiDAR Mapping Boundary
Orange County Water District
2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL IMAGING
RFP-25-017
March 23, 2026
Page 5 of 11

Figure 3: Santa Ana River corridor LiDAR Mapping Boundary
4. SCOPE OF SERVICES
The Scope of Services will include multispectral aerial imaging of the target area identified
in Figure 1 and LiDAR data acquisition of the target area identified in Figures 2 & 3 .
Specific requirements related to the collection and quality assurance/quality control of
aerial imagery and LiDAR data acquisition are provided below. In addition, OCWD
requires the proposer to provide a final report and deliverables that must meet the
specifications described in the scope of services. Any exceptions or modification to
OCWD specifications described in this RFP shall be identified and clearly explained in
the proposer's proposal.
4.1. MULTISPECTRAL AERIAL IMAGERY SPECIFICATIONS
4.1.1 Technical Requirements:
* Resolution: Three-inch (3") pixel or better (1"=50' mapping scale)
Orange County Water District
2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL IMAGING
RFP-25-017
March 23, 2026
Page 6 of 11

* Horizontal Accuracy: Must meet National Map Standards 1"=50' (+/- 1.6 ft) from
true location at 90% confidence level
* Image Types: Color and Near Infrared (4 bands)
* Controls: Airborne GPS controls required for digital orthophoto development
* Standards Compliance: All aerial photography must conform to ASPRS Draft Aerial
Photography Standard (2024)
4.1.2 Collection Conditions:
* Cloud Requirements: Cloud-free imagery is mandatory
* Collection Window: Between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM local time
* Sun Angle: Minimum 45 degrees to optimize radiometry and minimize shadows
No collection will occur during flooding, excessive haze/heat, smoke, or other obscuring
atmospheric conditions. The District may approve extension of collection end date if cloud-free
days are unavailable during initial collection period.
4.2. LiDAR SPECIFICATIONS
4.2.1 Acquisition Requirements and Options
* The contractor shall follow LiDAR specifications that comply with, at minimum,
USGS Quality Level 1 (QL1) standards for data acquisition and processing.
Additionally, OCWD requires:
* Pulse Density: Aggregate nominal pulse density (ANPD) of at least 8 pulses per
square meter to support vegetation-related studies. Ability to collect LiDAR with at
least 16 pulses per square meter preferred but not required.
* Beam Properties: Narrow beam divergence
* Scan Angle: Less than or equal to 13 degrees
* Flight Line Coverage: 50% side lap with opposing flight lines and no voids between
swaths
* Project Buffer: Include a 50-meter buffer outside of the project boundaries
4.3. DELIVERABLES AND FINAL REPORTING
As solely determined by the OCWD Project Manager, images must be free of significant defects
or inconsistencies in tone, contrast or color within an individual tile and/or between adjacent image
tiles; color and contrast shall be natural - no bias towards a single shade or color; image shall be
free of striping, banding, washouts, and hot spots. Some allowance for high reflection over water
will be made. Feature extraction should be possible in lightly shaded areas. The OCWD Project
Team requires the final product to be seamless, accurate, and color balanced across all image
tiles. OCWD will reserve the right to reject imagery that is not seamless, accurate, or has
noticeable seams due to color correction issues.
Orange County Water District
2026 PRADO BASIN AND SANTA ANA RIVER AERIAL IMAGING
RFP-25-017
March 23, 2026
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