Environmental Monitoring and Biological Sampling Services for the Newport Bay Watershed

The County of Orange, OC Public Works (hereinafter referred to as “County”), is soliciting proposals from qualified firms (hereinafter referred to as “Respondents”) for Environmental Monitoring and Biological Sampling Services for the Newport Bay Watershed . Respondents must meet the minimum qualifications and requirements as set forth within the RFP and be capable of providing services identified in the Scope of Work herein.

The proposed schedule below is subject to change. Any changes to the schedule for the RFP process will be issued to all Respondents via addenda on the County's eProcurement Portal.

This is a fully electronic Request for Proposals (RFP). Respondents must submit their proposals online via the County’s online bidding system. Only electronic proposals will be accepted. Facsimile and e-mail proposals will NOT be allowed. For assistance on uploading proposals via County’s eProcurement Portal, please contact procurement-support@opengov.com or https://help.procurement.opengov.com/en/ .

All questions or requests for interpretations must be received within this solicitation by Tuesday, March 3, 2026 , before 2:00 pm as specified in the solicitation. Respondents are not to contact other County personnel with any questions or clarifications concerning this solicitation. Verbal clarifications or responses will not be considered binding.

The County of Orange, through OC Public Works, conducts ongoing environmental monitoring within the Newport Bay watershed to support compliance with state and federal water quality regulations, including Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements for selenium and organochlorine compounds. These regulatory programs require periodic biological tissue sampling and habitat assessments to evaluate the presence, distribution, and bioaccumulation of contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.

The Newport Bay watershed includes a mix of urbanized drainage systems, constructed wetlands, natural channels, and ecological reserves that provide habitat for a variety of freshwater and estuarine fish and bird species. Monitoring of fish tissue, bird eggs, and fish community structure is necessary to assess ecological conditions, track trends over time, and evaluate compliance with regulatory objectives established by the Regional Water Quality Control Board and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The County requires qualified environmental professionals with appropriate regulatory permits and technical expertise to conduct biological sampling, habitat and community surveys, quality-assured data collection, laboratory coordination, and reporting in accordance with approved Quality Assurance Project Plans (QAPPs) and applicable monitoring protocols, including California Surface Water Ambient Monitoring Program (SWAMP) guidelines and California Environmental Data Exchange Network (CEDEN) reporting requirements.

These services are professional environmental monitoring and scientific support services and do not involve architectural design, engineering design, or construction-related activities. The selected Contractor will provide field sampling, data analysis support, and regulatory reporting services to assist the County in meeting ongoing environmental compliance and watershed management objectives.

This scope of work will provide a Vendor with experienced biologists and appropriate state and federal permits to collect fish and bird egg samples and to conduct fish community/habitat surveys principally in the Newport Bay watershed (Watershed), County of Orange, California. This scope of work is part of a watershed-wide environmental assessment for selenium and other bio accumulative contaminants, most notably organochlorine compounds.