REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) Executive Recruitment Services - District Engineer

MARINA COAST WATER DISTRICT
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
Execuve Recruitment Services - District Engineer
1. INTRODUCTION
Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) is seeking proposals from qualified execuve recruitment firms to
support the District in its search for a District Engineer.
This is a key leadership posion that will influence the District's engineering direcon, capital investment
strategy, and long-term infrastructure planning. The District is looking for a recruitment partner that
understands the complexity of public ulies and can deliver candidates who are not only technically
qualified, but capable of operang effecvely in a public-sector environment.
This RFP is not simply about filling a vacancy. It is about idenfying a firm that can help the District make
a sound, long-term hiring decision for a role that directly impacts service delivery, regulatory compliance,
capital program execuon, and coordinaon with external stakeholders.
2. DISTRICT BACKGROUND
Marina Coast Water District (MCWD) is a public ulity serving the City of Marina and the Ord Community
in Monterey County, California. The District provides potable water, recycled water, and wastewater
collecon services to its customers and plays a crical role in supporng both residenal communies
and regional development.
The District operates within a complex and evolving environment shaped by regulatory requirements,
infrastructure demands, and long-term water supply challenges. MCWD must balance groundwater
sustainability, environmental compliance, and system resiliency while connuing to meet the needs of a
growing service area.
MCWD manages a diverse porolio of infrastructure, including potable water systems, recycled water
distribuon systems, and wastewater collecon networks. The District is acvely engaged in capital
improvement efforts to modernize infrastructure, expand capacity, and ensure operaonal reliability
through a mul-year Capital Improvement Program.
In addion to core ulity operaons, the District works closely with private developers and regional
partners to support planned growth and infrastructure expansion. This requires coordinaon on system
capacity, development impacts, and long-term planning.
MCWD is governed by a publicly elected Board of Directors and operates under the leadership of a
General Manager. As a public agency, the District emphasizes transparency, accountability, and service to
the community.
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3. SCOPE OF WORK
Marina Coast Water District (District) has issued this Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit responses
from qualified firms (Proposers) demonstrang their experience in recruing highly qualified execuve-
level staff for public agencies, with a parcular emphasis on engineering and infrastructure leadership
roles. The District is currently seeking to recruit for the posion of District Engineer, and may ulize the
selected firm for addional execuve-level recruitments in the future as needed.
The contract will be for a period of 1 year, with the opon for 1 extension at the District's discreon.
3.1 Consideraon / Meeng Requirements
The selected firm shall be prepared to meet in person, virtually, or via telephone as needed throughout
the recruitment process. The firm will be expected to work closely with District staff and stakeholders to
ensure a comprehensive and effecve recruitment effort.
3.2 Scope of Advisory Services
The Execuve Recruitment firm will advise the District and staff on the following:
* Best pracces in conducng execuve-level recruitment and selecon processes for public
agencies, specifically for engineering and ulity leadership posions
* Collaborate with District staff to determine methods for solicing input from key stakeholders,
including District leadership, staff, and relevant partners, regarding the desired qualificaons,
experience, and leadership characteriscs of the next District Engineer
* Develop, produce, and distribute all recruitment materials, including job announcements and
outreach strategies
* Conduct targeted candidate outreach and recruitment to atract highly qualified candidates with
experience in water, wastewater, recycled water, and infrastructure systems
* Review, analyze, and screen applicants for qualificaons, technical competency, and
organizaonal fit
* Recommend a shortlist of qualified candidates for interviews
* Coordinate and parcipate in mulple rounds of interviews and assist with candidate evaluaon
* Guide the District through the selecon process, including offer negoaon, reference checks,
and background invesgaons
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4. RFP TIMELINE
4.1 Preliminary Schedule
Phase Task Timeline
RFP Release Distribuon of Request for Proposals April 10, 2026
Proposal Submission Deadline for proposal submital May 1, 2026
Proposal Review Evaluaon of proposals by review commitee May 4, 2026
Finalist Interviews Oral presentaons and interviews (as needed) May 11, 2026
Contract Approval Approval by District Management/Board (if applicable) TBD
Project Start Recruitment services commence TBD
The District has made every effort to include sufficient informaon within this Request for Proposals
(RFP) to allow firms to prepare a responsive and comprehensive proposal.
The meline for the proposal process is subject to change based on the operaonal needs of the District
but is ancipated as follows:
a) Distribuon of Request for Proposals: The RFP will be distributed on April 9, 2026.
b) Proposal Submission: Consistent with best pracces for efficiency and paper reducon,
electronic submission of proposals is strongly encouraged, and paper submissions are
discouraged.
Proposals shall be submited electronically to:
Mary Lagasca
Director of Administrave Services
Marina Coast Water District
Email: mlagasca@mcwd.org
Proposals must be received no later than the specified deadline April 30, 2026. Late submissions
will not be accepted.
c) Proposal Review: A District review commitee will evaluate all proposals received based on the
criteria outlined in this RFP. The review process is ancipated to be completed within a
meframe to be determined.
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d) Oral Presentaons (as needed): Finalists may be invited to parcipate in oral interviews or
presentaons. These may be conducted either in person or via virtual meeng plaorms,
depending on availability and District preference.
e) Noficaon of Selecon: All proposers will be nofied of the District's selecon following
compleon of the evaluaon process. Upon writen request, the District may provide access to
the selected proposal aer contract execuon, in accordance with applicable public records
laws.
5. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
5.1 PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
1. Requirement to Meet All Provisions. Each individual or firm subming a proposal (bidder) shall
meet all the terms, and condions of the Request for Proposals (RFP) project package. By virtue
of its proposal submital, the bidder acknowledges agreement with and acceptance of all
provisions of the RFP specificaons.
2. Insurance Cerficate. Each proposal must include a cerficate of insurance showing:
a) The insurance carrier and its A.M. Best rang.
b) Scope of coverage and limits.
c) Deducbles and self-insured retenon.
The purpose of this submital is to generally assess the adequacy of the bidder's insurance
coverage during proposal evaluaon; as discussed under paragraph 12 below, endorsements are
not required unl contract award.
4. Proposal Quotes and Unit Price Extension. The extension of unit prices for the quanes
indicated and the lump sum prices quoted by the bidder must be included in the proposal. Any
lump sum bid shall be stated in figures.
5. Proposal Withdrawal. A bidder may withdraw its proposal, without prejudice prior to the me
specified deadline for the submital. No proposal received aer the me specified or at any
place other than that stated in the "Noce Requesng Proposals" will be considered.
6. Submital of One Proposal Only. No individual or business enty of any kind shall be allowed to
make or file, or to be interested as the primary submiter in more than one proposal, except an
alternave proposal when specifically requested; however, an individual or business enty that
has submited a sub-proposal to a bidder subming a proposal, or who has quoted prices on
materials to such bidder, is not thereby disqualified from subming a sub-proposal or from
quong prices to other bidders subming proposals.
7. Communicaons. All mely requests for informaon submited in wring will receive a writen
response from the District. Telephone communicaons with District staff are not encouraged but
will be permited. However, any such oral communicaon shall not be binding on the District.
5.2 CONTRACT AWARD AND EXECUTION
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8. Proposal Retenon and Award. The District reserves the right to retain all proposals for a period
of 60 days for examinaon and comparison. The District also reserves the right to waive non-
substanal irregularies in any proposal, to reject any or all proposals, to reject or delete one
part of a proposal and accept the other, except to the extent that proposals are qualified by
specific limitaons.
9. Competency and Responsibility of Bidder. The District reserves full discreon to determine the
competence and responsibility, professionally and/or financially, of bidders. Bidders will provide,
in a mely manner, all informaon that the District deems necessary to make such a decision.
10. Contract Requirement. The bidder to whom award is made (Contractor) shall execute a writen
contract with the District within ten (10) calendar days aer noce of the award has been sent
by mail to it at the address given in its proposal. The contract shall be made in the form adopted
by the District and incorporated in these specificaons.
5.3 CONTRACT PERFORMANCE
11. Insurance Requirements. The Contractor shall provide proof of insurance in the form, coverages
and amounts specified in Secon 2 of these specificaons within 10 (ten) calendar days aer
noce of contract award as a precondion to contract execuon.
12. Business License & Tax. The Contractor must comply with all applicable business license
requirements necessary to perform services within the State of California.
13. Ability to Perform. The Contractor warrants that it possesses, or has arranged through
subcontracts, all capital and other equipment, labor, materials, and licenses necessary to carry
out and complete the work hereunder in compliance with all federal, state, county, and special
district laws, ordinances, and regulaons.
14. Laws to be Observed. The Contractor shall keep itself fully informed of and shall observe and
comply with all applicable county, state, and federal laws, and District ordinances, regulaons,
and adopted codes during its performance of the work.
15. Safety Provisions. The Contractor shall conform to the rules and regulaons pertaining to safety
established by OSHA and the California Division of Industrial Safety.
16. Immigraon Act of 1986. The Contractor warrants on behalf of itself and all subcontractors
engaged for the performance of this work that only persons authorized to work in the United
States pursuant to the Immigraon Reform and Control Act of 1986 and other applicable laws
shall be employed in the performance of the work hereunder.
17. Contractor Non-Discriminaon. In the performance of this work, the Contractor agrees that it
will not engage in, nor permit such subcontractors as it may employ, to engage in discriminaon
in employment of persons because of age, race, color, sex, naonal origin or ancestry, sexual
orientaon, or religion of such persons.
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18. Work Delays. Should the Contractor be obstructed or delayed in the work required to be done
hereunder by changes in the work or by any default, act, or omission of the District, or by strikes,
fire, earthquake, or any other Act of God, or by the inability to obtain materials, equipment, or
labor due to federal government restricons, then the me of compleon may, at the District's
sole opon, be extended for such periods as may be agreed upon by the District and the
Contractor.
19. Payment Terms. The District's payment terms are 30 days from the receipt of an original invoice
and acceptance by the District of the services provided by the Contractor.
20. Inspecon. The Contractor shall furnish the District with every reasonable opportunity to
ascertain that the services are being performed in accordance with the requirements of this
contract.
21. Audit. The District shall have the opon of inspecng and/or auding all records and other
writen materials used by Contractor in preparing its invoices.
22. Interests of Contractor. The Contractor covenants that it presently has no interest, and shall not
acquire any interest that would conflict with the performance of the work. The Contractor
cerfies that no one with a financial interest in this work is an officer or employee of the District.
23. Hold Harmless and Indemnificaon. Consultant shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the
District, its Board, officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims arising out
of the Consultant's performance of this Agreement, except for such loss or damage arising from
the sole negligence or willful misconduct of the District.
24. Contract Assignment. The Contractor shall not assign or transfer the contract without the
previous writen consent of the District.
25. Terminaon for Convenience. The District may terminate all or part of this Agreement for any or
no reason at any me by giving 30 days writen noce to Contractor.
26. Terminaon. If the Contractor fails to perform, the District may terminate the contract aer
providing writen noce and opportunity to cure.
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6. PROPOSAL CONTENT
Proposals should be structured as follows:
* Cover Leter
* Table of Contents
* Secon 1 - Execuve Summary
* Secon 2 - Company Background
* Secon 3 - Company Qualificaons
* Secon 4 - References
* Secon 5 - Proposed Services Descripon
* Secon 6 - Pricing
Failure to follow the specified format may result in rejecon of the proposal.
Cover Leter
The Cover Leter, which is to be no longer than three (3) pages (this page count excludes any provided
excepons), must include the following:
* Proposer's legal name and corporate structure, including state incorporated in.
* Proposer's primary contact to include name, tle, address, phone, and email.
* Idenficaon of subcontractors (if any) and scope of work to be performed by subcontractors.
* Signature of a company officer empowered to bind the Proposer to the provisions of this RFP
and any contract awarded pursuant to it.
Table of Contents
All secons should be idenfied, and pages are to be consecuvely numbered.
Secon 1 - Execuve Summary
In this secon, Proposers must provide a brief descripon of the Proposer's credenals to deliver the
services sought under the RFP. The Execuve Summary must be no longer than three (3) pages.
Secon 2 - Company Background
In this secon, Proposers must provide a descripon of company's background/history to include:
* Timeline, including company and product evoluon, mergers, acquisions, etc.
* A brief descripon of the Proposer's background including the number of employees and the
number of clients.
* Locaon of headquarters, field offices, and office locaon that would service the District.
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* Demonstraon or statement of financial stability of the firm and affirmaon of good standing
with the California Secretary of State.
The Company Background secon must be no longer than three (3) pages.
Secon 3 - Company Qualificaons
In this secon, Proposers must provide company qualificaons and experience in execuve recruitment
services:
* Describe the Proposer's experience in performing work and projects related to the Scope of
Services outlined in this request, parcularly for public agencies and engineering or
infrastructure leadership posions.
* Resumes of individuals who would be assigned to this project, including any subconsultants,
highlighng experience and specific roles.
* Idenfy Proposer's exisng client base. Specifically idenfy experience with similar-sized
California public agencies, water districts, or ulity organizaons.
* Describe recent execuve and/or management-level placements and tenure of those placed in
the past three years, if available.
The Company Qualificaons secon must be no longer than three (3) pages.
Secon 4 - References
In this secon, Proposers must provide three (3) references of clients within the last five (5) years.
For each reference, provide the following:
* Reference name and contact informaon (name, tle, address, phone, and email).
* Brief project descripon
The References secon must be no longer than three (3) pages.
Secon 5 - Proposed Services Descripon
In this secon, Proposers must provide a descripon of services they intend to provide, including:
* Detailed descripon of consultant's approach to compleng the project
* Esmated hours for your staff in performing each phase of work, including subconsultants
* Services or data expected to be provided by the Consultant
* Services or data expected to be provided by the District
* Any District-specific challenges you foresee related to recruitment for the District Engineer
posion
* Other informaon that would assist in making a contract award decision
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Secon 6 - Pricing
The District seeks a clear and comprehensive understanding of all costs associated with execuve
recruitment services.
All costs are to be itemized. Please idenfy all costs required, including:
* Detailed budget of costs for proposed services discussed in Secon 5
* Hourly rates for addional work
If you have any excepons/modificaons to the Sample Agreement, please atach the following
documents to this form:
* A red-line version of the Sample Agreement with inserted comments to substanate each
proposed excepon/modificaon; or
* A red-line version of the Sample Agreement and a separate document that substanates each
proposed excepon/modificaon
6.1 PROPOSAL EVALUATION AND SELECTION
Proposals will be evaluated based on:
* Understanding of the work required by the District
* Quality and responsiveness of the proposal
* Demonstrated competence and qualificaons
* Approach to recruitment
* Relevant experience
* Value
* References
The District reserves the right to request addional informaon, conduct interviews, and negoate
terms.
6.2 OWNERSHIP AND CONFIDENTIALITY
All materials prepared by the Contractor shall become the property of the District. Proposals may be
subject to disclosure under the California Public Records Act.
7. FINAL COMMENTS
The District reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, cancel this RFP, waive irregularies, and
request addional informaon. Issuance of this RFP does not obligate the District to award a contract or
reimburse proposal costs.
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APPENDIX A
DISTRICT ENGINEER JOB DESCRIPTION
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