BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
Government Code § 84308 Applies: Yes ☒ No ☐
(If “YES” Complete Attachment A - Gov. Code § 84308)
SUBJECT: Title
Approve the Agreements with Five Consultant Firms to Provide On-Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services: Dudek, Agreement No. A5710A; Environmental Science Associates, Agreement No. A5711A; GEI Consultants, Inc. Agreement No. A5712A; Panorama Environmental, Inc., Agreement No. A5713A; and Rincon Consultants, Inc., Agreement No. A5714A, PlanetBids File No.VW0594, for a Not-To-Exceed Fee of $3,000,000 for Each Agreement.
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommendation
A. Approve Agreement No. A5710A, with Dudek, for On-Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services for a Total Not-to-Exceed fee of $3,000,000;
B. Approve Agreement No. A5711A, with Environmental Science Associates for On-Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services for a Total Not-to-Exceed fee of $3,000,000;
C. Approve Agreement No. A5712A, with GEI Consultants, Inc., for On-Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services for a Total Not-to-Exceed fee of $3,000,000;
D. Approve Agreement No. A5713A, with Panorama Environmental, Inc., for On-Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services for a Total Not-to-Exceed fee of $3,000,000; and
E. Approve Agreement No. A5714A, with Rincon Consultants, Inc., for On-Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services for a Total Not-to-Exceed fee of $3,000,000.
Body
SUMMARY:
Valley Water environmental planning staff provide critical support for projects and programs that fulfill its water supply, flood protection and environmental stewardship missions. To effectively respond to pressing project schedules and provide necessary technical support for complex CEQA and permitting processes, five on-call environmental planning services agreements are recommended to augment environmental planning staff. The on-call agreements will:
1. increase flexibility to meet demands of project schedules;
2. provide expertise and support on an as-needed basis for the regulatory permitting and planning process for highly complex projects;
3. support public outreach and stakeholder engagement for Valley Water’s role as CEQA Lead Agency.
The agreements will allow environmental planning staff to quickly and efficiently obtain a range of technical and regulatory expert services, on a task-by-task basis. These services will supplement existing staff resources. Examples of services include preparing environmental review documents; conducting visual, cultural, archaeological, traffic, noise, socio-economic studies; developing mitigation strategies; supporting public outreach and stakeholder engagement; and providing expert review and technical advice.
Consultant Selection Process
Prior to publishing the Request for Proposal (RFP), staff conducted outreach to 362 firms registered under the relevant National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP) Category Codes within Valley Water’s Procurement Portal, PlanetBids. The targeted category codes for this solicitation included: 10020 - Environmental Impact Studies & Counseling Services; 91843 - Environmental Consulting; 92600 - Environmental and Ecological Services; 92642 - Environmental Services (Not Otherwise Classified); 92652 - Environmental Impact Studies; 92670 - Environmental Permitting Services; 92672 - Environmental Planning and Advisory Services; and 96132 - Environmental Impact Studies.
On September 23, 2025, a RFP for On-Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services was published on Valley Water’s Contract Administration System. Valley Water received proposals from twelve consultant firms. An Evaluation Committee (EC), consisting of four subject matter experts with planning expertise and representing Valley Water’s capital, maintenance, and dam project needs ranked the written proposals. Based on this
evaluation six firms were invited to participate in the virtual oral interviews, conducted on December 11, 2025.
Based on the combined (written and oral) rating scores, the EC recommended staff to proceed with five highest ranked firms for contract negotiations, i.e., Dudek, Environmental Science Associates, GEI Consultants, Inc., Panorama Environmental, Inc., and Rincon Consultants, Inc. Negotiations with these firms have been completed successfully.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
There are no Environmental Justice impacts associated with this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Agreements for On-Call Environmental Planning and Permitting Services each have a not-to-exceed amount of $3,000,000. Each agreement term is for four (4) years with an option for a one-year time extension. No funds will be encumbered at this time. On-call services will be charged in accordance with each approved task order to budgeted funds from the appropriate capital or maintenance projects.
CEQA:
The recommended action to approve the Agreement does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have the potential to result in direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: Gov. Code § 84308
Attachment 1: Agreement, Dudek
Attachment 2: Agreement, Environmental Science Associates
Attachment 3: Agreement, GEI Consultants, Inc.
Attachment 4: Agreement, Panorama Environmental, Inc.
Attachment 5: Agreement, Rincon Consultants, Inc.
UNCLASSIFIED MANAGER: Manager
John Bourgeois, 408-630-2990