THE CITY OF GRASS VALLEY Request for Qualifications for Environmental Consultant Services to assist in a US EPA Brownfields Multipurpose Grant November 4, 2026

Description: INTRODUCTION The City of Grass Valley "City" requests written Request for Qualifications (RFQs) from qualified environmental firms with experience in brownfield assessment and cleanup grants. The City is soliciting RFQs for environmental services to implement its 2026 Brownfield Multipurpose Grant #97T67901 awarded by United States Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA"). The City seeks a highly qualified environmental assessment consultant that has the capacity and expertise to complete the tasks approved by the EPA in the City's grant application. The grant has a budget of $1,000,000 and will continue assessment work associated with past grants, which have identified extensive alluvial transport of hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of mine tailings which have resulted in contaminated sites within the City of Grass Valley. As with previous Brownfield Grants, the overall objective is to put contaminated mine-scarred properties in a better position for the safe reuse of the land, and also to cleanup a minimum two sites. The Multipurpose Grant budget allocates $288,300 for contract work by a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) to conduct assessment work and to help in the procurement of qualified cleanup contractors. BACKGROUND This grant represents the sixth (6th) EPA Assessment grant, and the second (2nd) cleanup grant received and managed by the City of Grass Valley. Most recently, the EPA awarded a FY22 Community-wide Assessment grant to the City of Grass Valley. The assessment identified extensive alluvial transport of hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of mine tailings. These impacts are a legacy of large-scale historical mining activity associated with the area's major mining complexes and numerous smaller historical mining and ore processing operations. The purpose of this Multipurpose Grant is to put contaminated infill properties back to use and to continue the City's strategic planning for acquisition and revitalization of mine-scarred properties in Grass Valley. The target area of assessment includes six key sites, which were selected based on their alignment with the Wolf Creek Community and Connectivity Project and the City's broader land use and revitalization plans and priorities, as well as community input. The Grass Valley Wolf Creek Community and Connectivity Project links the downtown core with residential and commercial areas to promote accessibility and connectivity across the community. The City has already constructed the southern, 1.2-mile segment of the Wolf Creek Trail extending from the North Star Mining Museum to River Otter Road. By 2029, the City will complete the 1.75-mile northern trail segment, with trailhead access at Key Site #1 downtown and extending upstream to Key Site #6 and residential areas beyond. SCOPE OF SERVICES For this RFQ, the term "Staff" refers to City staff. All activities conducted with grant funds must comply with the EPA's Cooperative Agreement, which is included with this RFQ as Attachment 1. The QEP consultant's budget is set at $288,300 but could possibly be adjusted as the project evolves. The City plans to remediate at least two sites, complete at least three site assessments and cleanup plans, and develop an overall plan for revitalization of the Brownfield sites in the target area, including feasible reuse strategies for four of the six key sites (the other two already have reuse plans). If budget and schedule permit, additional sites in the target area will be selected for assessment and/or strategic planning based on (A) the ability to leverage private or public funding for redevelopment, (B) the relative difficulty of revitalization without funding for assessment and strategic planning, and (C) public input regarding cleanup and redevelopment priorities. Priority will be given to sites in the South Auburn Street Corridor, which is recognized as disadvantaged by designation as a federal and state opportunity zone and has the highest CalEnviroScreen rankings for poverty and number of cleanup sites. Grass Valley will select a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) to perform the following tasks: • Eligibility applications • Regulatory agency oversight agreements • Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) • Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs) • Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) • Phase II ESAs and Human and Ecological Risk Assessments (HERAs) • Cleanup Plans / Assessments of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives (ABCAs) • Quality assurance testing and reporting during site cleanup • Assisting the Planning Department with strategic planning • Assisting with Community Engagement • Assisting the Planning Department with ACRES reporting SUBMITTAL FORMAT AND CONTENT The contents of the submittal must be clear, concise, and complete. Each section of the submittal shall include a tab consistent with the numbering system shown below. A table of contents should be included. Total sheet count for the submittal should not exceed 15 sheets (30 double-sided pages), not including covers and dividers. Please print on double-sided paper. 1. Executive Summary (3 pages maximum, included in 30-page limit) The submittal shall include an executive summary, which includes the name, address, telephone number, website address of the firm, and list of any subconsultants you plan to use for this project. The summary should be brief and explain any omissions of requested materials. Describe how the firm will deliver environmental consulting services to the City, the location of the firm's offices, and the anticipated response time to the City's requests. If the firm is proposing to co-respond with another firm, the cover letter must specify the type of services provided by each firm and the proposed percentage allocated to that phase or function of the service. The summary shall also include: • An overview of the firm: how long the firm has been in business, size of the firm, the average number of clients within the firm's portfolio, the type(s) of clients within the firm's portfolio and any commonalities that exist among clients. • Firm's area(s) of expertise. • Identification, background and contact information of lead person(s) that will serve as the City's primary contact. 2. Qualifications and Experience Include a concise description of the company's experience, and primary team members' experience, providing environmental consulting services for public entities, and/or the private sector. Then include a detailed description of the experience of the project team, including the team's project manager and other key staff members. Descriptions of experience should include, but not be limited to, experience in projects with oversight under the State of California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA), Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), Regional Water Quality Control Board, and Nevada County, or other California counties, Environmental Health Departments, and cleanup grant programs available from the U.S. EPA and the State of California. This section should reflect experiences that the firm and assigned individuals have in completing tasks as outlined under the Scope of Services. Also, identify your firm's ability to adapt to adjusted priority sites or work tasks as the grant evolves (e.g., the City or community identifies another site of higher priority). 3. Project Approach Include any unique approaches to completing tasks outlined in the Scope of Services, particularly as it pertains to working with mine-scarred lands and with DTSC. Include your firm's approach to Quality Assurance and Quality Control as it pertains to completing tasks for City/DTSC review. Since EPA requires quarterly reporting through ACRES, the City will rely heavily on the consultant to assist in this reporting. Also include any proposed MBE/WBE firms that will assist in the implementation of any tasks. 4. Client List and Three References (included in 15-page limit) Provide a list of current or recent clients and contact information for three references. 5. Cost Schedule (1 page, excluded from 15-page limit) Provide a statement that your firm can complete the tasks listed in the Scope of Services within the budget allocated for the QEP and provide an itemized cost proposal for the various services performed. The cost breakdown shall identify: • Estimated task charge and estimated hours to be assigned for staff members and sub-consultants. • All other direct costs, such as mileage, materials, and reproduction costs. QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS Questions pertaining to this RFQ must be sent by email to awolfson@grassvalleyca.gov. The last day to submit questions / inquiries is Friday, November 20, 2026. Staff will respond to any questions via email by Wednesday, November 25, 2026. SUBMITTAL TIME AND PLACE The RFQ submittal shall be delivered no later than 4:00 P.M. Pacific Standard Time on Tuesday, December 8, 2026. The envelope should be clearly marked as "EPA Grant- Request for Qualifications" and submitted to: City of Grass Valley Attn: Amy Wolfson 125 E. Main Street Grass Valley, CA 95945 The submittal shall include five (5) stapled, binder-clipped or comb bound copies and one USB drive copy of the submittal. EVALUATION CRITERIA The City will establish a committee to evaluate all proposals. Committee members will evaluate all submittals according to criteria including understanding of the requested work and responsiveness to the RFQ, conformance to specified format, organization and content, specialized experience and technical competence, capacity to perform tasks, qualifications of key personnel, local knowledge, and experience with federally funded projects and compliance requirements. SUBMITTAL SELECTION PROCESS The City's committee will first review submittals that meet the requirements. The committee may interview top candidates. Interviews are tentatively scheduled to occur the week of December 14, 2026. Staff will inform all firms that submit an RFQ of the selected or top-ranked firm by email. Staff will negotiate with the selected firm and will provide a recommendation to the City Council. The City Council will authorize a Professional Services Agreement between the consultant and the City of Grass Valley. SUMMARY OF SCHEDULE Issue Date: November 4, 2026 Submitting Inquiries: November 20, 2026 RFQ Submittal Deadline: December 8, 2026 Interview Date if needed: Week of December 14, 2026 Anticipated Selection Approval Date: January 12, 2027 Contract Effective Date: January 15, 2027 TERMS AND CONDITIONS Issuance of this RFQ does not commit the City to award a contract, to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this request, or to procure a contract for services. The City retains the right to reject all submittals and to waive informalities and minor irregularities. Selection is dependent upon approval of the City and negotiation of a mutually acceptable contract. The selected firm will be required to provide evidence of public liability and property damage insurance and professional liability insurance per the RFQ. Additional federal grant terms and programmatic conditions are included in Attachment 1 (EPA Cooperative Agreement) and Attachment 2 (Standard City Contract for Services Agreement).