REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR GREEN SCHOOLS RESOURCE CONSERVATION EDUCATION AND RELATED SERVICES

The County of Santa Cruz Department of Community Development and Infrastructure is requesting proposals for education on resource conservation and environmental services for the County’s Green School Program. This program involves classroom presentations and assemblies for all grades. The selected organization is also responsible for recruiting new site leaders and engaging principals and custodians and participating in environmental clubs or helping the schools start one. Attached you will find the Request for Proposal (RFP) for these services. Responses are due no later than 2:30 pm on Wednesday, May 27, 2025.

If you have any questions concerning the RFP please contact Beau Hawksford at 831-454-2160.

The County of Santa Cruz Green Schools Program (GSP) is a project that works with the schools in Unincorporated Santa Cruz County to educate students, teachers and staff on environmental topics such as storm water runoff, water quality and conservation, energy conservation, recycling and waste reduction. The goal of this program is to support the county’s schools as they evolve into “Green Schools” that model wise resource use, eliminate waste, reduce non-point source pollution and train students to conserve scarce resources like energy and water. The program provides both in-class and school-wide presentations, educational assemblies and technical assistance to member schools. Presentations are available to all grades (Transitional Kindergarten thru 12 ^th grade), teachers, administrators, food service staff and custodians. The program is funded by the County of Santa Cruz Community Development and Infrastructure Department and GreenWaste Recovery.

The County of Santa Cruz is seeking qualified Consultants to conduct classroom presentations on resource conservation for the GSP. In addition, the County conducts landfill tours to schools and presentations need to prepare students on the functions of the landfill and its resource recovery and diversion programs. A presentation has to be scheduled at the school prior to the landfill visit. The County’s goal is to educate participating schools on environmental issues and help create an infrastructure that prepares participating schools to attain certification for their facilities under the Monterey Bay Green Business Network.

Participating schools have assigned site leaders who are the point of contact at schools. They serve as a liaison between the County and Consultant to remind other teachers and administrators of the goals and priorities of the GSP and influence changes that would incorporate the conservation and waste reduction methods discussed in their meetings with GSP staff. Site leaders meet with GSP staff to gain assistance in reducing trash/increasing recycling efforts, increasing water and energy conservation and in planning school events that support the goals of the GSP. Each school, with the help of GSP staff, will develop their own individualized plan to reduce use of resources, minimize waste and increase recycling. The students at participating schools, under teacher supervision, are required to participate in a beach, watershed or river cleanup and other community events to help spread the environmental message to the greater school community and tie their learning together with the program’s goals.

The County requests that interested Consultants submit proposals detailing the processes they intend to use, their qualifications and experience in performing such services for similar clients and their rate schedule.