RFP: Biological Consulting

City of Malibu
Request for Proposal
Biological Consulting Services
Date Issued: August 25, 2026
Date Due: September 25, 2026
Proposals must be received no later than 4:00 PM on Friday, September 25, 2026, via email at the following email
address: rnelson@malibucity.org
All questions regarding the Request for Proposal (RFP) must be submitted in writing. Send questions regarding this
Request for Proposal via email to Rebecca Nelson-Brown, Senior Management Analyst, at rnelson@malibucity.org.
This RFP, any amendments made to the RFP, and responses to questions asked will be made available on the City of
Malibu website. It is the firm's responsibility to check the link periodically. Subscribe to automatically receive
notices and updates of bids or requests for proposals at www.malibucity.org/news; select the Bid Postings category.

Section I - Introduction
The City of Malibu is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide biological consulting
services to the Community Development Department, Planning Division, and to act as technical
advisors on issues relating to terrestrial biology. The contract shall be for a minimum of two
years.
Background:
The City is in the northwestern portion of Los Angeles County (County) and covers
approximately 21 miles along the coast. The City is a general law city incorporated under
California law in 1991. It operates under the Council/Manager form of government. The five
members of the City Council are elected at-large and serve staggered four-year terms, with the
Mayor being selected from among the Councilmembers. Land use decisions are made by the
Planning Commission comprising five members, each of which is appointed by a
Councilmember individually.
The City is administered by various departments, with the Community Development Department
managing services related to Planning, Building Safety, Environmental Health, Geology,
Biology, Coastal Engineering, Code Enforcement, and Environmental Programs, including Clean
Water, Energy, and Solid Waste Management. The Planning Division is the steward of the City's
General Plan, Malibu Municipal Code (MMC) Title 17 (Zoning), and the Local Coastal Program
(LCP). The City's LCP was certified by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) in 2002 and
is comprised of a Land Use Plan (LUP) and Local Implementation Plan (LIP). The entire City is
in the California Coastal Zone (Coastal Zone) and subject to the LCP.
The City contracts with the County for law enforcement, fire, and water. Law enforcement is
provided by the County Sheriff's Department operating from the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station.
Fire services within the City and the unincorporated County areas around Malibu are provided by
the County Fire Department (LACFD) through four local fire stations. Water service is provided
by the County Waterworks District 29 (WD29). Certain other services are provided by contract,
such as the City Attorney and garbage collection services.
In addition to the County, the City interacts with numerous other government agencies such as
the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
(SMMC), Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority (MRCA), California Department of
Parks and Recreation, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), California State Water
Resources Control Board, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the CCC as the City
is located entirely within the Coastal Zone.

The Biological Services Consultant (also known as the "City Biologist") reviews proposed
Landscape Documentation Packages for compliance with the Malibu Municipal Code and Local
Coastal Program, in addition to reviewing all other proposed projects for possible impacts to
protected trees and Environmentally Sensitive Habitat Areas. The City Biologist may also serve
as the chair of the Environmental Review Board.
A. Scope of Work: The Scope of Work, as may be modified through negotiation and/or by
written addendum, will be made a part of the Agreement. Through this RFP, it is specifically
intended to procure the following services:
The City is seeking qualified firms to provide biological consulting services. As part of this
work, the selected consultant shall:
A. Assign a Principal Biologist (also known as the City Biologist) and Assistant Biologist to
provide services and maintain one (1) individual as the contact for all communication
with the City. As the City Biologist, the City will be relying on the consultant's expertise
as the Principal for professional biological consultation on the City's behalf.
B. Review and evaluate biological assessment reports, native tree protection plans, and all
other related reviews. Reviews shall be performed concerning the requirements of the
City's Local Coastal Program, Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance, the Malibu
General Plan, and applicable state and federal law; and provide City staff with specific
recommendations regarding the acceptability of such reports/plans and provide detailed
review comments to bring the report/plans in compliance with City, state, and federal
requirements (average 38 reviews per month).
C. Project review services shall be completed utilizing the City's adopted plan review
software (e.g., Bluebeam Studios) to, for example, mark up plans with corrections and
redlines and/or coordinate with other internal departments.
D. Conduct site inspections per the request of City staff or applicant to evaluate projects for
consistency with conditions of approval, City, state, and federal law (as applicable), and
conduct field observations and provide recommendations as requested by City staff
(average 4-8 inspections per month). Site visits may be project-specific or may be related
to City needs such as evaluating code enforcement complaints along with city staff.
E. Track conditions of compliance, such as but not limited to post-approval habitat
restoration and monitoring and native tree protection monitoring per project.
F. Conduct reviews, including but not limited to plan revisions, biology assessment, and
native tree protection plans, within ten (10) calendar days from the date of their submittal.
Conduct final inspections within one week of request.
G. As needed, prepare independent biological documents for the City including but not
limited to biological inventories, biological assessments, native tree reports, and wetland
delineations.
H. Attend public City meetings and be the lead on biological inquiries at Planning
Commission meetings, City Council meetings, California Environmental Quality Act
scoping meetings, public workshops, etc.

I. Hold routine office hours in person at City Hall. Typical City Hall public counter hours
are on Tuesdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. This time will be utilized for appointments
with applicants, meetings with staff, and review of project applications.
J. The City Biologist may also serve as the chair of the Environmental Review Board, a
non-Brown Act body. At this time, the meetings are held virtually. The City Biologist is
required to review staff reports and the ERB recommendations prior to publishing.
General Requirements:
1. Operate with full transparency and accountability in all aspects of its work for the City of
Malibu including:
* Conduct all reviews in accordance with City-adopted code and standards
* Maintain clear and comprehensive records of methodologies, assumptions, data
sources, and findings used in preparing technical reviews or recommendations.
* Provide all written reports, correspondence, and fee schedules in a transparent and
reproducible format subject to City oversight and public disclosure under the
California Public Records Act.
* Ensure that all fees, review timelines, and decision-making processes are fully
documented and consistent with the City's established guidelines.
* Communicate findings and decisions with professionalism and clarity, reinforcing
that the City retains all final decision-making authority. Principal Biologist must
cite evidentiary basis for their positions in writing and be able to communicate the
applicable local, state and federal law implications.
* Must be able to demonstrate confidence and defend their positions in public
meetings.
2. Provide exceptional customer service to answer various questions at the Public Counter
related to the development process, project review status updates, and the relevant local,
state, or federal requirements.
3. Maintain one (1) individual as the contact for all communication with the City.
4. Coordinate with outside agencies and City departments involved as part of the
development review process.
5. Project review services shall be completed utilizing the City's adopted plan review
software (e.g., Bluebeam Studios) to, for example, markup plans with corrections and
redlines and/or coordinate with other internal departments.
6. Provide personnel with all necessary materials, resources, and training to conduct
reviews, including a current copy of applicable City amendments, policies, procedures,
and forms.

7. Provide the applicant designee and the City a list of items needing clarification or change
to achieve conformance with all State, Federal, and local regulations.
8. Plan approval shall not be recommended to the City until all code compliance issues are
resolved to the best of the applicant's knowledge, and all requirements of the City have
been satisfied.
9. Receive final review and approval by the City on all Code interpretations.
10. Perform services within ten (10) calendar days upon receipt of notification that a review
has been authorized.
11. Provide administrative personnel to support project intake and tracking related to
Geotechnical, Coastal Engineering, and Environmental Health reviews.
12. Respond within one (1) business day to questions from the City and members of the
public.
13. Attend and participate in local and regional meetings on behalf of the City, including
locations other than Contractor's office and Malibu City Hall.
14. Calculate/Recalculate appropriate review fees based on the City's most current fee
schedule.
15. Accept all documents electronically, including utilization of SharePoint Land
Development Site, CDD SharePoint sites, OnBase (records management system),
Development Database (permitting software), and any additional electronic formats
accepted by the City.
16. Maintain Development Database project tracking and fees, post approvals to the
Development Portal, and abide by other internal and public-facing interfaces for
transparency.
17. Provide training for City staff, including graphic handout materials.
18. Prepare presentations for City Council, public, and other agencies/organizations as
requested by City staff.
19. Professional Conduct: Must maintain professionalism in all interactions with the public,
adhere to ethical standards, and follow all applicable laws and procedures.
20. Safety Protocols: Must follow City safety standards to protect consulting staff and the
public during field activities.

Section II
Proposal Format and Evaluation Process
A. To simplify the evaluation process, the proposal shall be submitted in the format
outlined below:
1. Letter of Transmittal - The proposal letter shall be addressed to the contact listed and
shall include the complete name of the firm or person(s) submitting the proposal, the
main office address, primary contact person's name, title, telephone number, email as
well as a signature of representative legally authorized to bind the proposal.
2. Table of Contents - Clearly defined sections and pages numbered.
3. Executive Summary - A summary of the proposal stating the understanding of the
requested needs and approach to work.
4. Vendor Profile and Qualifications - Include vendor and executive information,
including management team resumes and qualifications of all key staff assigned to the
City.
5. Experience - Provide a description of local government experience and experience
completing similar projects.
6. References - Provide at least three (3) references of current clients of similar scope with
the proposal. Include name, title, address, phone number, and email of contact person.
7. Cost Proposal - Under Separate Cover, provide two rate proposals: 1) fixed-fee services
for application reviews; and 2) professional rate proposal. The professional rate proposal
shall include hourly rates for all personnel and identify the hours and costs per task. The
Proposal must include the following tables:
Planning Application Review Fees
IMPORTANT: The fees associated with the City Biologist services are based on the City
Biologist consultant proposed fixed-fee schedule plus a 30% administrative fee. The current fees
are fixed for the initial period of this RFP and through the City's mid-year budget process.
Accordingly, proposers shall base their proposals and fee-related responses on the City's current,
established fee schedule.
Any potential modification to the established fee schedule would be subject to consideration and
approval through the City's mid-year budget process, anticipated to occur in February 2027.
Until such time as any changes are formally approved by the City, the existing fee schedule shall
remain in effect.

Proposers should not assume or include any fee increases or modifications in their proposals
unless expressly authorized by the City.
Service Performed Estimated Current Consultant Rate Proposed Consultant
Hours Rate
Site Inspection 2.00 $330
Planning Revisions 2.00 $330
*includes 1 review
Review: CDP (with ESH) 8.00 $1,324
*includes 3 reviews
Review: CDP (without ESHA) 4 .00 $662
*includes 2 reviews
CDP for OWTS Only 1.50 $248
*includes 1 review
APR with Development (without 2.00 $330
landscaping)
*includes 1 review
APR with Development (with 4.00 $662
landscaping)
*includes 2 reviews
APR Landscaping Only 3.00 $495
*includes 2 reviews
Time and materials review 1.00 $165/hour
Attend Meetings Regular Business 1.00 $175/hour
Hours
Attend Meetings After Hours 1.00 $200/hour
Professional Rates
Service Performed Hourly Rate Proposed
Hourly Rate
General Day-Time Hourly Rate $175
Evenings (after 5:30 PM) $200
Depositions, Court Appearances, Expert Witness, Legal Research $550
All rates listed above shall include overhead costs including, but not limited to salaries,
benefits, Workers' Compensation Insurance, office expenses, mileage and courier service.
If staff substitutions are necessary, or if staff is promoted, the original rates listed above
will still apply.

B. Confidential Material: Prior to the award of the contract, all proposals will be designated
confidential to the extent permitted by the Public Records Act. After award of the contract, or
if not awarded, after rejection of all proposals, all responses will be regarded as public
records and will be subject to the review of the public. Any language purported to render
confidential all or portions of the proposals will be regarded as non-effective and will be
disregarded.
C. Anticipated Schedule of Events:
Event Date
Release RFP to Vendors August 25, 2026
Proposals Due September 25, 2026 / 4:00 PM PST
Vendor Proposal Evaluations Complete Week of September 28, 2026
Finalists Notified Week of September 28, 2026
Vendor Demonstrations Week of October 5, 2026
Contract Finalized Week of October 12, 2026
Signed Contract Due to City October 19, 2026
Agreement to City Council November 23, 2026
(These dates are estimates and subject to be changed by the City)
D. Proposal Evaluation and Selection Process: Following the submission deadline, a selection
committee will evaluate all responses and short-list the proposing vendors. Responders will
be notified and finalists will be invited to present demonstrations to our staff. After all
demonstrations are completed, the selection committee shall reconvene to either make a
decision or to request further information.
The selection committee will then make recommendations regarding the selection and
request authorization to enter into a contract with the approved vendor. The committee
reserves the right to accept/reject any or all proposals. Submission of a proposal indicates
acceptance of the conditions contained in the RFP and an agreement to negotiate a contract
for services. An award can be made on the basis of greatest benefit and not necessarily the
lowest cost option.
E. Mandatory Requirement: Review of Standard Agreement Template
All firms must review the attached standard professional services agreement template issued
by the City of Malibu. Failure to review the agreement template or to disclose proposed
exceptions may result in the proposal being deemed non-responsive.
By submitting a proposal, the firm acknowledges the following:
a. Review and Understanding

The firm has fully reviewed and understands the terms, conditions, and obligations
outlined in the standard professional services agreement template.
b. Statement of Exceptions (if any)
Any proposed revisions, exceptions, or clarifications to the standard professional
services agreement template must be clearly identified in a dedicated section of the
proposal titled "Proposed Contractual Exceptions."
* Proposed exceptions must include rationale and suggested alternative language.
* The City of Malibu reserves the right to accept or reject any proposed exceptions
at its sole discretion.
c. Ability to Execute Agreement
The firm confirms its ability and intent to enter into the Agreement substantially in
the form provided, subject only to those exceptions expressly noted in its proposal
submission.
F. Conflict of Interest: The Consultant shall disclose any financial, business or other
relationships with the City that may have an impact on the outcome of this contract or any
resulting project. The City reserves the right to cancel the reward if any interest disclosed
from any source could either give the appearance of a conflict or cause speculation as to the
objectivity of the program. The City determination regarding any questions of conflict of
interest shall be final.
G. Limits of General and Professional Liability: The Consultant shall provide detailed
information pertaining to the limits of the general and professional liability insurance. See the
attached professional services agreement for details.

Section III - Additional Information
Right to Cancel - The City reserves the right to change any aspect of, terminate, or delay this
RFP, the RFP process and/or the program which is outlined within this RFP at any time, and
notice shall be given in a timely manner thereafter.
No Award - Recipients of this RFP are advised that nothing stated herein, or any part thereof, or
any communication during the evaluation and selection process, shall be construed as
constituting, offering or awarding a contract, representation or agreement of any kind.
Not Liable for Costs - The City is not liable and will not be responsible for any costs incurred
by any vendor(s) for the preparation and delivery of the RFP responses, nor will we be liable for
any costs incurred prior to the execution of an agreement, including but not limited to,
presentations by RFP finalists.
Property of the City - Responses to this RFP will become the property of the City of Malibu
and will form the basis of negotiations of an agreement with the apparent successful vendor.
Waiver of Irregularities - The City reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to waive minor
administrative regularities contained in any proposal.
No Obligation to Buy - The City reserves the right to reject any or all proposals at any time
without penalty and from contracting with any vendor. The release of this RFP does not convey
the initiation of a purchase.
Withdrawal of Proposals - Vendors may withdraw a proposal that has been submitted at any
time up to the proposal closing date and time. To accomplish this, a written request signed by an
authorized representative of the vendor must be submitted to the RFP Contact. The vendor may
submit another proposal at any time up to the proposal closing date and time.
Errors in Proposal - The City will not be liable for any errors in vendor proposals. Vendors
will not be allowed to alter proposal documents after the deadline for proposal submission.
Corrections or amendments due to errors identified in the vendor's Proposal may be accepted if
this type of correction or amendment is due to typing, transposition, or any other obvious errors.
Vendors are liable for all errors or omissions contained in their proposals.
Non-Assignability - The Consultant shall not assign, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of
the contract, or its right, title or interest, or its power to execute such a contract to any individual
or business entity of any kind without the previous written consent of the City of Malibu.