Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project Environmental Support Services

Agency:	City of Berkeley
State:	California
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541330 - Engineering Services 541620 - Environmental Consulting Services
Posted Date:	Mar 23, 2024
Due Date:	Mar 28, 2024
Solicitation No:	24-11627-C
Bid Source:	Please Login to View Page
Contact information:	Please Login to View Page
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Finance Department

General Services Division

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ)

Specification No. 24-11627-C

FOR

Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project Environmental Support Services

PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE OPENED AND READ PUBLICLY

Dear Proposer:

The City of Berkeley is soliciting written proposals from qualified firms or individuals for environmental support

services for the Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry (WTPF) Project. As a Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

this is not an invitation to bid.

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

Proposals must be received no later than 2:00 pm, on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Proposals are to be sent via

email with the “Specification No. 24-11627-C” and “Berkeley WTPF Project Environmental Support Services”

clearly indicated in the subject line of the email. Please submit one (1) PDF of the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)

with the filename saved as, “SOQ - 24-11627-C - Berkeley WTPF Project Environmental Support Services”.

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 RFQ 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 RFQ and understands all the requirements and conditions.

For questions concerning the anticipated work, or scope of the project, please contact Liza McNulty, Project

Manager, Capital Improvement Program Manager, via email at LMcNulty@berkeleyca.gov no later than

March 14, 2024. 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

2180 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 Tel: 510.981.7320 TDD: 510.981.6903 Fax: 510.981.7390

E-mail: finance@berkeleyca.gov Website: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/finance

City of Berkeley

Specification No. 24-11627-C

Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project Environmental Support Services

BACKGROUND

Page 2 of 24

Release Date 2/27/2024

Project Introduction

The Berkeley Municipal Pier was closed in July 2015 due to visually observed structural problems on the

underside of the concrete decking and pilings. In 2017, the City retained the GHD Structural Engineering

firm to assess the problem and develop a range of potential solutions and costs. In 2018, the Water

Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) staff-initiated discussions with City staff regarding the

possibility of new ferry service at the Berkeley Waterfront. During those initial discussions, WETA and City

staff realized that it could be cost-effective to investigate a single pier that would provide two uses, ferry

service and public recreation. In 2019, WETA and the City Council authorized a Memorandum of

Understanding Agreement (MOU) to jointly fund a planning study to evaluate the feasibility of a dual-

purpose pier.

In December 2021, staff presented the preferred concept from the Feasibility Study (Feasibility Study for

the Ferry Facility at Berkeley Municipal Pier, GHD, June 2023) to City Council (Large Scale Ferry

Feasibility Study – A Preferred Concept, Work Session Memorandum, December 7, 2021). The next phase

of the Project is to complete engineering, environmental, and design efforts. This Request for

Qualifications (RFQ) is for environmental support services for the Berkeley WTPF Project.

Project Description

The project will replace approximately the first 1,080 LF, of the existing failed pier (as measured from the

eastern-most side of the existing Pier), at the Berkeley Marina with a new pier and ferry infrastructure.

Additionally, the project also includes landside improvements related to the pier or ferry such as public

transit, vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, and Bay Trail.

Conceptual Waterside Elements Include:

• A new ferry boarding pier (580 LF) extending from the shoreline at Seawall Drive westward

to a new breakwater. The ferry pier will include new piles, boarding float(s), gangway(s), and

security entrance.

• A new breakwater structure (400 LF) perpendicular to the new pier to create a safe harbor from

the predominant southwesterly wind and waves for ferry boarding on the north side of the new

pier. The breakwater will have surface decking to allow public access.

• An extension of the new pier from the breakwater westward into the Bay for public access (500

LF). All together, these elements will provide approximately 1,480 Linear Feet of pier available

for ferry and public access.

• The new pier will be 22 feet wide to accommodate both ferry foot traffic, public access, and

emergency and maintenance vehicles (the existing failed pier is 22 feet wide).

• Waterside electric vessel charging infrastructure may include batteries, charging cables, switch

gear and other related facilities or equipment.

Conceptual Landside Elements Include:

• A renovation of the existing parking lot (330 total spaces) whereby 250 parking spots will be

designated for ferry users.

• Street improvements at Seawall Drive with new pavement, drop-off zone for shuttles, rideshares,

and family vehicles, safety striping for vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian crossings, and

stormwater bioswales to treat stormwater.

• Street improvements at University Ave. with new layover pullouts for public buses and shuttles,

safety striping for vehicles, bike lanes, and pedestrian crossings to the ferry terminal.

• Extension of the existing Bay Trail at the Marina westward (from Adventure Playground) to the

ferry terminal.

• Renovated pedestrian pathways and safety lighting, new restroom, new fish cleaning area, trash

receptacles and benches, and additional amenities.

RFQ Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Specification No. 24-11627-C

Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project Environmental Support Services

Page 3 of 24

Release Date 2/27/2024

• Relocation of the existing parking zone along Seawall Drive from the west side to east side of

the road to allow for the Bay Trail Extension to the ferry terminal.

• A new water access point at the small peninsula at the southwest corner of Seawall Drive.

• Landside electric vessel charging infrastructure may include batteries, charging cables, switch

gear and other related facilities or equipment.

This conceptual scope may be modified based on the results of environmental and engineering studies and

final design.

Project & Funding Partners

• Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC – Vehicle Registration Fee)

• State of California Coastal Conservancy (SCC)

• Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA)

Project Reference Files

All proposers should familiarize themselves with the following links to existing project documents,

including but not limited to:

• WETA Berkeley Ferry Service Business Plan

• Feasibility Study for the Ferry Facility at Berkeley Municipal Pier (GHD, June 2023)

https://berkeleyca.gov/your-government/our-work/capital-projects/berkeley-pier-ferry-

access-project(The Feasibility Study and additional background files are available at the City’s Project

website)

II. SCOPE OF SERVICES

The Final Scope of Services will be developed with the selected firm. The selected firm will assist with

environmental review and permitting services in support of the Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry

(BWTPF) Project. The Final Scope of Services is anticipated to include, but not be limited to, the following

tasks:

Project Management & Coordination

• Regular, bi-weekly meetings with City Project Manager to coordinate overall work

• Coordination with Design Team regarding project alternatives, scope, impacts and mitigation

measures

• Coordination with other City consultants (including but not limited to existing Parking &

Transportation Consultants) as needed to deliver project environmental documents and permits

Environmental Technical Studies

Conduct all necessary technical studies that will be required to evaluate and assess the impacts of the BWTPF

Project. These studies will be documented in technical memorandum that are suitable for inclusion in

CEQA/NEPA appendices. This includes, but not limited to:

• Biological Technical Report (Aquatic and Terrestrial)

Note: Suitable both for CEQA, NEPA and consultation with state and federal permitting

agencies (i.e. California Department of Fish & Wildlife, National Marine Fisheries Service,

etc.)

• Hydroacoustic Assessment

• Greenhouse Gas Emissions

• Tribal Cultural Resources

• Hydrology / Water Quality

• Geology / Soils

• Recreation

• Noise

• Air Quality

• Land Use / Planning

RFQ Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Specification No. 24-11627-C

Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project Environmental Support Services

Page 4 of 24

Release Date 2/27/2024

• Aesthetics

• Utilities / Service Systems

Note: City has initiated the BWTPF Project Parking & Transportation Demand

Management Analysis by others, and a Parking & Transportation technical memorandum

is not anticipated to be included in the scope of work for this contract.

Alternatives Analyses

Coordinate with City and design team to identify technically feasible alternatives or Project elements that

could avoid or substantially lessen one or more of the significant effects, if any.

CEQA Document

• The City has published a Draft Waterfront Specific Plan (WSP), which is a long-term programmatic

planning document for the Berkeley Waterfront that is a separate project from the Pier-Ferry Project.

The City is in the process of evaluating the need for revisions to the Draft WSP, which may impact

the schedule for adoption and/or environmental analyses for the WSP. Until the WSP scope and

schedule is determined, it is unknown what level of coordination between the WSP and BWTPF

environmental documents will be required (e.g., two separate but coordinated environmental review

processes or a single combined process).

• Firms should submit qualifications regarding their experience developing CEQA Documents for

Projects of a similar scale and complexity. The initial contract will not fund Task C. A future

amendment will be authorized via a Contract Amendment once the CEQA document scope and

schedule has been finalized.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) / Federal Compliance

• Federal funding has not been secured for this Project at this time, however, it is assumed that federal

funding will be required for Project construction, and that an Environmental Assessment (EA) or

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be required for the NEPA review. It is further assumed

that the future federal lead agency will be the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).

• The selected firm will be tasked to develop a stand-alone EA in accordance with the (23 CFR

771.115) and the FTA Guidelines. It is anticipated that the NEPA process will be conducted with

the FTA after the CEQA process is complete. To the greatest extent possible, the EA shall utilize

the same analyses conducted for CEQA.

• Section 4(f) Determination: It is anticipated that the Project will need to comply with Section 4(f).

Selected firm shall support the development of a Section 4(f) Determination for submittal to federal

funding agencies. Qualifications should demonstrate experience in Section 3(f)

consultation/determination.

Public / Stakeholder Outreach &Meetings

• Prepare and distribute all required notices and conduct outreach to regulatory agencies, interested

parties, the public at large and stakeholders to comply with applicable state and federal rules and

regulations. This includes, but is not limited to, AB52 (Tribal Cultural Resources) and Section 106

(SHPO) Consultation.

• Assist the City in leading up to six scoping and public meetings regarding the environmental review

for the Project and provide documentation of these processes, pursuant to CEQA and NEPA

requirements.

Resource Agency Permitting

The selected firm will support the City with initial permit consultation, application preparation and submittal

and support through permit approvals. Project permits are anticipated to potentially include:

• Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) major amendment to existing BCDC

Permit

RFQ Revised Nov2022

City of Berkeley

Specification No. 24-11627-C

Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project Environmental Support Services

Page 5 of 24

Release Date 2/27/2024

• California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW): Lake/Streambed Alternation Agreement;

California endangered species act incidental take permit

• National Marine Fisheries and US Fish and Wildlife Services: Endangered Species Act (ESA),

Section 7 Consultation; Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA) for

Essential Fish Habitat Consultation; Biological Assessment for ESA Section 7 and MSA Essential

Fish Habitat

• San Francisco Bay Water Quality Control Board: Clean Water Act, Section 401 Water Quality

Certification

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, Section 10 Consultation; Clean

Water Act, Section 404 Consultation; Regional General Permit

Construction Administration

Construction Administration Phase will be authorized via Contract Amendment once the construction

schedule and funding has been defined. No detailed scope of work / project understanding is necessary at

this time, but the qualifications should include demonstration of construction administration support for

representative Projects with a similar scope and complexity.

This Project is anticipated to be constructed as a Design-Bid-Build Project. The contract may include support

during the construction phase of work.

III. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

All Statements of Qualifications shall include the following information, organized as separate sections of

the SOQ. The SOQ should be concise and to the point.

A. Consultant Identification:

Provide the name of the prime consultant firm, the firm's principal place of business (see section

VII, F. – Local Vendor Preference), the name and telephone number of the contact person and

company tax identification number.

B. Firm Experience:

Provide a listing of projects completed by the primary firm within the past five (5) years involving

environmental review and permitting of pier / ferry structures, with a focus on structures on and

within the San Francisco Bay (including in-water construction) with a similar scope and complexity

as the Berkeley WTPF Project. This listing should include a brief description of each project

including budget, key staff and their role on the project, the location, date, and (if possible) the

address and telephone number of a contact person.

C. Individual Staff Experience:

Provide a listing of each key staff person in the firm who will be assigned to the project and

background information demonstrating their capabilities and qualifications to perform the assigned

task/scope. For each individual, provide current professional registrations, related experience,

educational background, and years of experience with the team. The SOQ should identify specific

individuals proposed to provide day-to-day management and perform key functions for this Project.

D. Consultant Team:

Provide a description of the team, the organization and its general experience, and specific

experience of assigned staff. Provide a listing of similar projects of similar scope, which have been

completed by members of the consultant team within the past five (5) years. This listing should

include a description of each project; the location; construction cost; date; and (if possible) the

clients’ name, address, and phone number of a contact person.

E. Client References:

RFQ Revised Nov2022

Berkeley Water Transportation Pier Ferry Project Environmental Support Services

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