How should I prepare an RFP/RFQ for a general plan consultant that addresses climate change?

Tags

HistoryEdited Mar 15, 2010 1:05 PM by Kif Scheuer…

Before even putting a pen to paper, the city staff charged with writing the RFP/RFQ should perform some internal reconnaissance. First, it is essential to know where you are. Conduct a preliminary inventory of city practices and programs that may relate to climate change impacts. Second, sketch out an idea of where you want (or have) to go with climate change targets. Third, consider how the general plan ultimately will help shape a strategy – a climate change action plan – to meet these targets.

The following guidelines and questions are intended to inform the development of the RFP/RFQ. Answering them before initiating the general plan process can help prepare the various departments for their involvement later, and ensure that the RFP/RFQ accurately reflects the city’s needs and its expectations for the consultant.

1. Assess your city’s organizational capacity to address climate change

What departments will be involved in potential implementation actions? Who has been monitoring climate change related activities:

California Climate Change web portal http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/index.php
California Air Resources Board (CARB) Climate Change Program http://www.arb.ca.gov/cc/cc.htm
Land Use Subgroup of the Climate Action Team (LUSCAT) http://www.climatechange.ca.gov/luscat/meetings.html
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) http://opr.ca.gov/index.php?a=ceqa/index.html
California Air Pollution Control Officers Association http://www.capcoa.org/climatechange/
CEQA/Climate Change litigation

What has been done already (Council resolutions, policies and programs instituted, participation in programs offered by organizations such as ICLEI, CA Climate Action Registry, etc.)?
What’s included in the city budget that relates to responding to climate change impacts? Can different department budgets be used to fund the general plan update?

2. Determine who will administer the general plan update process (e.g., Planning Department, City’s Manager’s Office)

3. Review the current general plan to identify substantive and structural issues

What elements, if any, address climate change?
How has the implementation program worked, or not?
What topics/issues, based on City Council priorities, General Plan vision, or new regulatory requirements need to be covered in the general plan update?

4. Identify technical expertise you require of a consultant to demonstrate knowledge of climate change issues

Familiarity with local and state regulations (e.g., regional water quality control board and air quality management district rules)
Experience with green building and sustainable development (e.g. demonstrated understanding of smart growth principles and LEED rating system; LEED Accredited Professionals)

5. Discuss the schedule for OPR to prepare the guidelines and significance thresholds for climate change, and note that the GP EIR should be consistent with those guidelines.

Identify climate change as a separate topic to be discussed and analyzed in the EIR

6. Consider, in advance of the GP and/or the EIR, how the city may develop a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan

Require consultants to have expertise in providing air quality analysis and air emissions inventory services
Require consultants to demonstrate experience working with the local air district
Consider the preparation of a separate EIR for the GHG Emissions Reduction Plan
Begin to think about measures that could be specified in the GP EIR that would streamline subsequent project-level processing

Comments

/groups/cp/search/index.rss?tag=hotlist/groups/cp/search/?tag=hotWhat’s HotHotListHot!?tag=hot2/groups/cp/sidebar/HotListMinor editkifKif Scheuer2010-03-15 19:46:47+00:002010-03-15 19:46:47updated13kifKif Scheuer2008-10-22 21:03:14+00:002008-10-22 21:03:14updated12kifKif Scheuer2008-09-11 16:46:01+00:002008-09-11 16:46:01updated11kifKif Scheuer2008-09-09 19:50:34+00:002008-09-09 19:50:34updated10kifKif Scheuer2008-09-09 19:37:11+00:002008-09-09 19:37:11updated9kifKif Scheuer2008-08-28 18:54:00+00:002008-08-28 18:54:00updated8kifKif Scheuer2008-08-28 18:23:59+00:002008-08-28 18:23:59updated7kifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:52:30+00:002008-07-31 15:52:30updated6kifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:51:50+00:002008-07-31 15:51:50updated5Added tag - hotkifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:51:49+00:002008-07-31 15:51:49addTag4kifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:51:12+00:002008-07-31 15:51:12updated3kifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:50:55+00:002008-07-31 15:50:55updated2First additionkifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:48:02+00:002008-07-31 15:48:02created1wiki2010-03-15T19:46:47+00:00groups/cp/wiki/b4deaFalseEmerging Issues/groups/cp/wiki/b4dea/Emerging_Issues.htmlKif Scheuer13 updatesEmerging Issues home This section provides a place to examine in greater depth specific topics critical for climate change planning and policy development...Falsekif2010-03-15T19:46:47+00:00Minor editkifKif Scheuer2010-03-15 19:46:47+00:002010-03-15 19:46:47updated13kifKif Scheuer2008-10-22 21:03:14+00:002008-10-22 21:03:14updated12kifKif Scheuer2008-09-11 16:46:01+00:002008-09-11 16:46:01updated11kifKif Scheuer2008-09-09 19:50:34+00:002008-09-09 19:50:34updated10kifKif Scheuer2008-09-09 19:37:11+00:002008-09-09 19:37:11updated9kifKif Scheuer2008-08-28 18:54:00+00:002008-08-28 18:54:00updated8kifKif Scheuer2008-08-28 18:23:59+00:002008-08-28 18:23:59updated7kifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:52:30+00:002008-07-31 15:52:30updated6kifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:51:50+00:002008-07-31 15:51:50updated5Added tag - hotkifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:51:49+00:002008-07-31 15:51:49addTag4kifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:51:12+00:002008-07-31 15:51:12updated3kifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:50:55+00:002008-07-31 15:50:55updated2First additionkifKif Scheuer2008-07-31 15:48:02+00:002008-07-31 15:48:02created1wiki2010-03-15T19:46:47+00:00groups/cp/wiki/b4deaFalseEmerging Issues/groups/cp/wiki/b4dea/Emerging_Issues.htmlKif Scheuer13 updatesEmerging Issues home This section provides a place to examine in greater depth specific topics critical for climate change planning and policy development...Falsekif2010-03-15T19:46:47+00:00hot/groups/cp/search/index.rss?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcomelist/groups/cp/search/?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcomeRecent ChangesRecentChangesListUpdates?sort=modifiedDate&kind=all&sortDirection=reverse&excludePages=wiki/welcome0/groups/cp/sidebar/RecentChangesListmodifiedDateallRecent ChangesRecentChangesListUpdateswiki/welcomeNo recent changes.reverse5search