Environmental Justice Element, Safety Element Update, and Equitable Climate and Resilience Metrics

Agency:	City of Berkeley
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	R - Professional, Administrative and Management Support Services
Posted:	Oct 28, 2023
Due:	Dec 12, 2023
Solicitation No:	24-11641-C
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Finance Department

General Services Division

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)

Specification No. 24-11641-C

FOR

Environmental Justice Element, Safety Element Update, and Equitable Climate and Resilience Metrics

PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY

Dear Proposer:

The City of Berkeley is soliciting written proposals from qualified firms or individuals to update Berkeley’s

General Plan Safety Element, develop a new Environmental Justice Element, and create community-driven metrics

and a dashboard to assess Berkeley’s progress in equitably meeting climate and resilience goals. As a Request for

Proposal (RFP) this is not an invitation to bid and although price is very important, other factors will be taken into

consideration.

The project scope, content of proposal, and vendor selection process are summarized in the RFP (attached).

Proposals must be received no later than 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, Dec 12, 2023. Proposals are to be sent via email

with “Specification No. 24-11641-C Environmental Justice and Safety Element Update” clearly indicated in

the subject line of the email.

Please submit one (1) copy of all required documents of the complete proposal in Excel and PDF formats, as

appropriate, with the filename saved as, “Proposal Vendor Name - 24-11641-C Environmental Justice and

Safety Element Update.”

Email Proposals to:

City of Berkeley

Finance Department/General Services Division

purchasing@berkeleyca.gov

Proposals will not be accepted after the date and time stated above. Incomplete proposal or proposals that do not

conform to the requirements specified herein will not be considered. Issuance of the RFP does not obligate the City

to award a contract, nor is the City liable for any costs incurred by the proposer in the preparation and submittal of

proposals for the subject work. The City retains the right to award all or parts of this contract to several bidders, to

not select any bidders, and/or to re-solicit proposals. The act of submitting a proposal is a declaration that the

proposer has read the RFP and understands all the requirements and conditions.

An optional pre-proposal virtual meeting will be held at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, Nov 8, 2023 via Zoom at

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82201378174?pwd=YGAWCwjmJNSpO3Y2zLMByoxiqh2eXJ.1

Meeting ID: 822 0137 8174

Passcode: 442666

To Join by telephone: (1) (669) 444-9171 or (1) (669) 900-6833

This virtual meeting will provide a forum to as questions and may assist firms or individuals in identifying potential

partners for proposals.

2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7320 TDD: 510.981.6903

E-mail: purchasing@berkeleyca.org Website: cityofberkeley.info/finance/

City of Berkeley

Specification No. 24-11641-C

Environmental Justice Element, Safety Element Update, and Equitable Climate and Resilience Metrics

Page 2 of 29

Release Date 10/27/23

For questions concerning the anticipated work, or scope of the project, please contact Alisa Shen, Principal

Planner, via email at ashen@berkeleyca.gov no later than Wednesday, Nov 15, 2023. Answers to questions will

not be provided by telephone or email. Answers to all questions or any addenda will be posted on the City of

Berkeley’s site at Bid & Proposal Opportunities | City of Berkeley (berkeleyca.gov). It is the vendor’s responsibility

to check this site. For general questions concerning the submittal process, contact purchasing at 510-981-7320.

We look forward to receiving and reviewing your proposal.

Sincerely,

Darryl Sweet

General Services Manager

City of Berkeley

Specification No. 24-11641-C

Page 3 of 29

Environmental Justice Element, Safety Element Update, and Equitable Climate and Resilience Metrics Release Date 10/27/23

INTRODUCTION

The City of Berkeley (the “City”), in partnership with the Ecology Center and the Berkeley Climate Equity

Collaborative, was awarded a grant from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Adaptation

Planning Grant Program (APGP). The project includes co-creating with community an update to Berkeley’s

General Plan Safety Element, development of a new General Plan Environmental Justice Element, and creation of

an Equitable Climate and Resilience Monitoring and Evaluation Strategy and Dashboard. As part of this work, the

team will conduct additional technical analyses that will assess environmental justice impacts, which will guide

strategies, goals and policies of the Safety and Environmental Justice Elements, as well as future General Plan

Element updates. The intent of the project is to co-create equitable climate adaptation and resiliency policies with

vulnerable communities, as well as identify meaningful metrics for monitoring and evaluation that are specific and

measurable.

In addition to the OPR APGP funding, the City is contributing funds for several aspects of this project, including

the environmental review required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for final approval by

Berkeley City Council of the Safety Element and Environmental Justice Element.

The consultant or consultant team will work collaboratively with City staff, the Ecology Center and the Berkeley

Climate Equity Collaborative, and community members. Proposing consultants or consultant teams should provide

the full range of requested services under direction of a prime consultant (herein referred to as “consultant”). It is

expected that the consultant will:

• Demonstrate expertise in managing planning processes from an equity and community-driven approach.

• Be knowledgeable of the State requirements regarding the Safety and Environmental Justice Elements.

• Formulate realistic and creative solutions to reduce climate change-related impacts and compounded health

risks in disadvantaged communities that align with the City’s General Plan and State law.

• Be knowledgeable of technical vulnerability analyses and training, including identifying data sources and

assumptions.

• Formulate a strategy and implementation plan to monitor and evaluate equitable climate action, including

effective methods for data visualization and storytelling.

• Be knowledgeable of State requirements and able to provide CEQA environmental review, including an

Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

• Ensure consistency and cohesion among all project tasks listed in the Scope of Services below.

The City of Berkeley has a long and strong commitment to climate action and community resilience, and has

developed numerous long-range plans and short-term strategies from an equity and community-driven perspective

to outreach and engagement. Several relevant City-led planning efforts, either recently completed or currently

underway, will inform this project, both in terms of technical analysis and community engagement approach:

Community Resilience and Climate Action

• Community Health Assessment, Innovation and Improvement Plan: The City’s Health, Housing and

Community Services Department is embarking on a multi-year planning effort between 2023-2025 to

improve health equity and strengthen Berkeley’s public health strategy. The project consists of: 1) a

community-wide health assessment; 2) development of a Community Health Improvement Plan, including

the creation of a place-based Health Equity and Innovation District where investment and innovative

resources will be provided; and 3) design of a Health Innovation and Equity District pilot program to work

towards remedying severe health inequities identified in the Community Health Assessment in Berkeley's

neighborhoods that have the worse health outcomes.

• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP): The City is currently working on the 2024 update to the existing

LHMP, which is expected to be adopted by December 2024. The LHMP documents hazards in Berkeley,

vulnerabilities of each hazard, and the City’s mitigation strategy to reduce those vulnerabilities. It is an

Appendix to the Disaster Preparedness and Safety Element of the General Plan.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Specification No. 24-11641-C

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Environmental Justice Element, Safety Element Update, and Equitable Climate and Resilience Metrics Release Date 10/27/23

• Community Wildfire Protection Plan: Prepared in 2023, this plan provides a roadmap to mitigate the risks

posed by wildfires including goals for improving wildfire response, community preparedness, fuel

management, infrastructure, ignition reduction, home hardening, and more.

• Storm Water Master Plan (SWMP): The City’s Public Works Department is starting work on a

comprehensive Storm Water Master Plan (SWMP) taking place between 2023-2025. The SWMP will

include flow monitoring, condition assessment, hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, model calibration,

green infrastructure, watershed storage, peak flow attenuation, sea-level rise and other climate change

considerations. It will evaluate options for pure gravity flow operations, pumping options, and develop a

15-year Capital Improvement Project plan to address these needs.

• Existing Building Electrification Strategy: Adopted in 2021, this document provides a strategy to transition

existing buildings from natural gas appliances to all-electric alternatives in a way that benefits all residents,

especially members of historically marginalized communities.

• Vision 2050 Framework: Developed in 2020, the initiative encourages long-term planning to meet

challenges to the city’s infrastructure, including climate change, inequality, population increases, and

obsolescence.

• Resilience Strategy: Prepared in 2014 as part of the 100 Resilient Cities Initiative, the Resilience Strategy

articulates solutions that make Berkeley more resilient to physical challenges, such as earthquakes, sea

level rise, and aging infrastructure, and social challenges, such as racial inequity.

• Climate Action Plan (CAP): Adopted in 2009, the CAP sets forth a vision of a more sustainable, livable,

equitable, and economically vibrant community.

Land Use Planning Documents

• Adeline Corridor Specific Plan: Adopted in 2020, the Specific Plan provides a long-range, comprehensive

community vision and planning framework for the Adeline Corridor, one of Berkeley’s most culturally and

economically diverse neighborhoods.

• 2023-2031 Housing Element: Adopted in 2023, the updated Housing Element serves as a comprehensive

plan to meet the housing needs of Berkeley over the next eight years. Racial and social equity, and

protections for vulnerable and historically impacted communities, are key factors in this update to the

City’s housing plan.

Project Budget

This project is funded in part by an APGP grant awarded by OPR, as well as by the City of Berkeley, for a total not

to exceed budget of $632,000. The contract with the selected consultant will include a provision for full compliance

with APGP Grant Program requirements, including (but not limited to) expenses and reimbursements, clear

deliverables and record retention.

Contract Term

Per OPR APGP requirements, by January 2026, APGP’s grant deliverables must be met, including the creation of a

Final Public Review Draft Environmental Justice Element, a Final Public Review Draft Safety Element, and a

public dashboard reporting metrics and indicators as identified in the Climate & Resilience Monitoring and

Evaluation Strategy. The Ecology Center’s work will conclude at this time. The consultant’s focus in 2026 will be

completing the necessary environmental review, including certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report,

so that the Environmental Justice and Safety Elements can be formally adopted. This is anticipated by fall of 2026.

RFP Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Specification No. 24-11641-C

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Environmental Justice Element, Safety Element Update, and Equitable Climate and Resilience Metrics Release Date 10/27/23

Optional Virtual Pre-Proposal Meeting:

The City will hold an optional virtual meeting prior to the proposal submission due date to answer questions. The

pre-proposal meeting may also assist prime consultants in identifying consultant team members, if applicable. All

questions and answers will be provided publicly on the City’s website. For more information on the pre-proposal

meeting, see https://berkeleyca.gov/doing-business/working-city/bid-proposal-opportunities, and scroll to SPEC

#24-11641-C. The meeting will take place on November 8, 2023 at 3:00pm Pacific time.

Please click the link below to join the meeting (via the Zoom platform):

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82201378174?pwd=YGAWCwjmJNSpO3Y2zLMByoxiqh2eXJ.1

Meeting ID: 822 0137 8174

Passcode: 442666

Or Telephone:

(1) (669) 444-9171 or (1) (669) 900-6833

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The City seeks proposals from qualified consultant(s) to update the General Plan Safety Element, create a new

General Plan Environmental Justice Element, create an Equitable Climate and Resilience Monitoring and

Evaluation Strategy and Dashboard, prepare technical analyses and training to assess environmental justice and

climate change impacts, and complete all necessary CEQA documentation.

The consultant will work in partnership with City staff, the Ecology Center, and the Berkeley Climate Equity

Collaborative, and collaborate with other key community members. The Ecology Center has been working with the

City since 2022 to create and convene the Berkeley Climate Equity Collaborative, a forum to meaningfully engage

organizations that represent low-income, BIIPOC and frontline communities, to amplify their voices, elevate their

experiences and build their capacity to collaborate as partners in developing and implementing climate change and

resilience solutions. For this project, the Ecology Center will lead equitable community engagement, in partnership

with the Berkeley Climate Equity Collaborative.

Regular, ongoing communication with the City staff project manager will be expected throughout the project to

coordinate efforts.

With the exception of the environmental review (and its associated project management and coordination), the

scope of services must be completed by January 2026 to meet OPR grant deliverables. The entire scope is intended

to be completed no later than Fall 2026. The tentative schedule is defined in Section II, Subsection I. Once the

contract is executed for this project, work is expected to begin within two (2) weeks. The selected consultant will

provide a Proposal demonstrating their ability to complete the tasks below, consistent with the schedule provided.

A. Project Management and Coordination

This task is applicable throughout the project and includes project kick-off, data and document collection,

confirmation of the project work plan and schedule, meetings and other communications to ensure timely

delivery and adoption of the tasks listed below. The proposal should identify the number of meetings

anticipated and expectations of City staff. Strategies for ensuring coordination with the City and the Ecology

Center should also be addressed, as needed. Strategies or practices to ensure clear and timely communication

and effective project coordination should be described.

Note that all draft documents listed below must be provided in Word, and all final documents must be provided

in Word and PDF.

RFP Revised Nov2022

This is the opportunity summary page. You are currently viewing an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation. For more information, please visit the Publication URL Web page.

Environmental Justice Element, Safety Element Update, and Equitable Climate and Resilience Metrics

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See also