REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
PROFESSIONALWATERSHED MANAGEMENT SERVICES
CITY OF ASHEVILE

September 21, 2004

The City of Asheville Water Resources Department is seeking professional watershed management firms to provide watershed management services to approximately 23 square miles of mountainous land surface known as the North Fork Watershed and approximately 7 square miles of mountainous land surface known as the Bee Tree Watershed.  Firms or Consultants submitting proposals must demonstrate considerable expertise and experience in watershed management services and must provide the City a scope of service that is cost-effective, and flexible enough to be adapted to the periods of time when greater or lesser service is needed.

The proposals received by the deadline stated in this Request for Proposals will be reviewed by City of Asheville and Water Resources staff in each of the following areas: (1) demonstrated qualifications to provide watershed management services on a continuing basis; including the qualifications of the actual personnel to be assigned to conduct and recommend watershed improvements; (2) the firm’s specific project approach, including flexibility of service and management techniques to promote and enhance proper management of the forest over the life of the contract and beyond; (3) the financial standing and capability of the firm; (4) references of other clients for whom similar work has been performed and completed within the past two years; (5) plan for minority participation; and (6) proposed fees.  The Water Resources staff may make a recommendation for award of contract to the Asheville City Council for the November 16, 2004 meeting.  Provided a contract is awarded, contract execution is anticipated to be completed by the end of November, 2004.

The successful firm must be able to schedule to begin watershed long range and short range planning beginning on January 3, 2005 and shall be for a period of five (5) years and shall be Renewable on an annual basis for up to five (5) years, provided the City is satisfied with the services of the selected Firm/Consultant.  As part of the proposal the submitting firm should indicate the availability of a four-wheel drive vehicle and/or all terrain vehicle for use inside the watershed.  Most of the access roads within the watershed are one lane with gravel, some are on steep grades and some areas may not be accessible by vehicles. 

Submitting firm must be qualified to address best watershed management concepts and the scope of the proposal must include but is not limited to the following:

·	Provide annual detailed recommendations to City of Asheville Water Resources staff for managing the watershed in the next fiscal year (July 1 thru June 30)
·	Insure annual recommendations maintain water quality as the primary objective
·	Annual plan must be approved by City Council during annual budget process for each fiscal year plan to proceed
·	Provide detailed information on cost and any projected revenues of the annual proposed plan
·	Identify areas within the watershed which require annual maintenance and specifically identify using best forestry management techniques ways to address the annual maintenance needs
·	Provide recommendations to reduce the risk of catastrophic events, such as fire, insects or disease to preserve the watershed to produce high quality water
·	Identify trees, underbrush, plants, shrubs, etc which require one time maintenance or removal
·	Identify trees, underbrush, plants, shrubs, etc which require on going maintenance through the life of the contract
·	Identify roads, bridges, stream crossings, road shoulders that require immediate maintenance
·	Identify roads, bridges, stream crossings, road shoulders that require long term maintenance
·	Identify invasive plant and tree species and action plans for removal or termination to insure continued health of the watershed
·	Provide annual watershed plans that are compatible with the North Carolina Conservation Trust easement
·	Provide annual watershed plans that protect and preserve the scenic view sites of the watershed from the Blue Ridge Parkway
·	Assist in the determining which emergency access roads should be maintained, closed or developed within the watershed
·	Determine sites within the watershed for re-establishment of the American Chestnut tree
·	Provide annual plans that will enhance native plants, wildlife, and other species found within the watershed 
·	It is the desire of the City to appoint a Watershed Advisory Committee made up of Water Resources and other City staff, representatives from the North Carolina Conservation Trust, Blue Ridge Parkway, and City of Asheville Tree Commission. This committee will be used to provide technical assistance and recommendations to the watershed management plan
·	Any watershed-related work the firm is qualified to do (or sub-contract), as directed and mutually agreeable to both parties

Proposals must be concise but thorough and address all aspects of the firm’s ability to perform the work as outlined by the specific categories listed above. Proposed annual costs (fee) for providing watershed management studies and plans is requested detailing contract years one (1) to Five (5) of the initial contract period. Cost (fee) proposal should include flat rate for annual service and hourly rates. 

Very important!!  There will be no formal pre-submittal conference for this Request for Proposals.  However, Providers submitting proposals are still required to comply with the Minority Business Enterprise good faith requirements established by the Asheville-Buncombe Minority Affairs office, a copy of which is attached to this Request for Proposals.  Specifically, if the firm submitting a proposal intends to do all the work required by the contract with its own labor, with no subcontracting, the proposal must include Form 2 completely filled out and signed.  If the firm submitting a proposal intends to subcontract, a good faith effort must be demonstrated and appropriate forms submitted to demonstrate that effort.  It is the responsibility of the firm submitting a proposal to understand the minority business requirements which must be fulfilled to contract with the City of Asheville and failure to submit the appropriate completed documents with the proposal will render the proposal non-responsive, and result in its rejection.  For questions on the minority business requirements, please contact the Minority Business Office at (828) 250-4120.  

Four copies of the proposal must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Friday, November 5, 2004 to the Water Resources Director and may be hand delivered at the office of the City of Asheville Water Resources Department or received by mail at Post Office Box 7148, Asheville, NC  28802.

Questions regarding this RFP should be directed to Mr. David Hanks, Water Resources Interim Director, at (828) 259-5955.  Firms are invited to ask questions, and site visits may be arranged for the watershed for those interested.