Design and Outreach for a City Park-Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project

The City of Palo Alto (“City”) is soliciting proposals from qualified CONSULTANTS to provide engineering design services for a City Park Green Stormwater Infrastructure Project (“Project”). The Project Manager oversees the Stormwater Compliance Program, which resides in Watershed Protection of the Environmental Services Division of Public Works. The requested engineering design services include evaluation of existing site conditions, verification and/or development of specific site scope items, engineering design, preparation of construction documents (plans, specifications, and cost estimates) for Public Works construction bidding, and supporting the City during public outreach and the Parks Improvement Ordinance process required for constructing this Project in a City park.

A preliminary evaluation of City parks identified Juana Briones Park as the "best fit" location for a "stormwater park." The park has an existing depressed area that could serve as an ideal location for a green stormwater infrastructure measure that could be designed with community-friendly, non-infrastructure features (such as paths, large boulders, etc.)to be used during dry periods. The design process will involve a thorough and comprehensive public outreach process.

The design of this Project is anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2026.

This Project design is funded by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) San Francisco Bay Water Quality Improvement Fund grant. The grant provides water quality benefits through construction of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI), supports continuous improvement in GSI construction and maintenance, and promotes community engagement and learning about GSI through four tasks:

• EPA Grant Task 1: constructing GSI at one site in each of two cities – Palo Alto (Project) and Santa Clara.
• EPA Grant Task 2: developing a “lessons learned” document that provides guidance for managing GSI projects with multiple goals such as improving green spaces and pedestrian safety in areas surrounding GSI. The Lessons Learned document will also build on existing guidance and design specifications and document water quality benefits.
• EPA Grant Task 3: training grant partners on proper maintenance of GSI features and producing a memorandum describing a framework for a GSI work force development program.
• EPA Grant Task 4: educating and engaging local communities, including students, regarding Project co-benefits, stormwater quality, and stormwater and GSI maintenance.

This RFP focuses on the design of the City of Palo Alto GSI project mentioned in Task 1. The proposed site location is Juana Briones Park.