Request for Proposals (RFP) COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE FOR THE THE CITY'S PHASE I MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM (MS4) PERMIT FOCUSING ON THE ILLICIT DISCHARGE AND ELIMINATION PROGRAM AND THE AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM

Request for Proposals (RFP)
COMPLIANCE ASSISTANCE FOR THE
THE CITY'S PHASE I MUNICIPAL SEPARATE STORM SEWER SYSTEM
(MS4) PERMIT
FOCUSING ON THE ILLICIT DISCHARGE AND ELIMINATION PROGRAM
AND THE AMBIENT MONITORING PROGRAM
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT DIVISION
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
City of Jackson, Mississippi
RFP # 92688-042826
RFP SUMMARY: The City is seeking proposals to provide compliance assistance for
the City of Jackson's Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit.
The focus of the compliance effort will be water quality sampling required by the Illicit
Discharge Detection and Elimination Program and water quality sampling required by
the Ambient Monitoring Program
RFP ISSUE DATE April 2, 2026
Proposals will be accepted by the City of Jackson until April 28,
PROPOSAL DUE
2026, at 3:30 pm. Proposals submitted after deadline will NOT be
DATE
considered.
A pre-proposal conference will be held at 10:00 am Central Time on
April 14, 2026. It is highly recommended that all offerors attend.
PRE-PROPOSAL
CONFERENCE The pre-proposal conference will be held in the Andrew Jackson
Room on the 1st Floor of the Warren Hood Building at 200 S.
President Street, Jackson, MS 39205
The deadline for questions is April 22, 2026, at 5:00 pm. Questions
and/or inquiries must be submitted in writing to Andrea Holmes at
aholmes@city.jackson.ms.us.
DEADLINE FOR
QUESTIONS
The answers to all questions submitted by offerors will be made
publicly available by 5:00 pm on April 24, 2026, on the City of
Jackson Website and at www.jacksonmsbids.com.
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You may submit your proposals electronically at
www.jacksonmsbids.com or in hardcopy form.
For electronic submissions, proposals may be submitted through
www.jacksonmsbids.com. Electronic submissions shall be the
complete original (non-redacted) version of the proposal including all
attachments in a searchable format, preferably in Microsoft Word or
PDF, and labeled accordingly.
For hard copies, responses shall be submitted in a sealed envelope
or box. The exterior of the sealed envelope or box shall be clearly
PROPOSAL
labelled "MS4 Water Quality Monitoring Services" and include the
SUBMISSION
proposer's business name. Please submit your signed proposal:
PROCESS
1. By mail to Jackson City Clerk's Office: P. O. Box 17, Jackson,
MS 39205
-OR-
2. By hand delivery to Jackson City Clerk's Office/City Hall
located at 219 South President Street, Jackson, MS 39201,
(601) 960-1035.
For additional instructions and details on the proposal
submission process, consult Section 3.2 ("Submission
Process") of the RFP.
Electronic copies of the RFP may be found at one of the following
websites online:
RFP WEBSITE
1. www.jacksonmsbids.com
2. State of Mississippi:
https://www.ms.gov/dfa/contract_bid_search/Bid
For additional information regarding specifications, contact:
Andrea Holmes
Stormwater Project Construction Manager
Department of Public Works
200 S. President Street -Suite 424
P.O. Box 17, Jackson, MS 39205
Email: aholmes@city.jackson.ms.us
OFFICIAL RFP Office 601.960.2352
CONTACT
For additional questions on the RFP submission process or to
request access to the digital proposal templates, please contact:
The Purchasing Division
Department of Finance & Administration
Warren Hood Building
200 S. President St., Room 604
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 960-1025
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................................... 3
1. The Opportunity..................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Summary ......................................................................................................................... 4
1.2 Background .................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Outcome Goals .............................................................................................................. 5
1.4 Award Terms .................................................................................................................. 5
2. Scope of Work ....................................................................................................................... 6
2.1 Services to be Provided ................................................................................................ 6
2.2 Performance Metrics and Contract Management .................................................. 10
Performance Metrics .......................................................................................................... 10
Contract Management ........................................................................................................ 10
2.3 Proposal Content ......................................................................................................... 12
2.4 Submission Instructions .............................................................................................. 12
3. How We Choose ................................................................................................................. 13
3.1 Minimum Qualifications .............................................................................................. 13
3.2 Evaluation Criteria ....................................................................................................... 13
3.3 Selection Process, Award, and Protest Procedures .............................................. 14
Selection Schedule ............................................................................................................. 14
Selection and Award Process ........................................................................................... 14
4. Terms and Conditions ........................................................................................................... 15
5. Appendix ................................................................................................................................. 20
Appendix A: Response Workbook ........................................................................................... 20
Proposer General Information: ................................................................................................. 20
Narrative Responses (Scored): ................................................................................................ 21
Category 1: Qualifications, Experience, and Capacity ......................................................... 22
Category 2: Service Delivery or Project Approach ............................................................... 23
Category 3: Project Management, Performance Improvement, and Communications .. 24
Category 4: Cost Proposal and Narrative .............................................................................. 25
Additional Information: ............................................................................................................... 25
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1. The Opportunity
1.1 Summary
The purpose of this project is to assist the City in coming into compliance with the Illicit Discharge
Detection and Elimination (IDDE) and Ambient Monitoring requirements of its Phase I Municipal
Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. The IDDE requirements of the permit involve
updating the City's current storm sewer system maps, outfall sampling, creation of an industrial
site inspection program, and creation of a procedure for keeping the maps updated, and the
creation of a program for the outfall sampling. Currently, the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is recommending that the City complete a full cycle of permit
sampling of 120 outfalls this calendar year.
With respect to the ambient monitoring required under the MS4 permit, the program must be
created. The City would like to complete the first cycle dry weather sampling and the wet
weather sampling this calendar year, if at all possible.
1.2 Background
The City is subject to a Phase I MS4 permit issued by the Mississippi Commission on
Environment. Quality under the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System. The current
permit was issued in 2012 and expired in 2017. The City needs to implement the Illicit Discharge
Detection and Elimination ("IDDE") requirements of the permit and complete the ambient
monitoring requirements of the permit. With respect to the IDDE requirements, storm sewer
maps need to be updated, the procedures for illicit discharge monitoring must be established,
and the required outfall monitoring performed. With respect to the ambient monitoring
requirements, the permit requires dry weather and wet weather ambient water quality monitoring
of all 11 sub-watersheds of the Pearl River. A monitoring plan for the ambient water quality
monitoring will need to be developed and submitted to the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality.
The City has consistently struggled to implement the technical aspects of its Phase I MS4 permit
as demonstrated by the date of the current permit-2012, and the current date-2026. The
factors that have hampered the City's efforts have been adequate funding for implementation of
the IDDE and ambient monitoring requirements of the MS4 permit. In the past, the City has
lacked focused leadership on implementing the requirements of the permit. That issue has been
resolved through the appointment of Andrea Holmes as the Stormwater Project Construction
Manager. The City has also lacked in the technical expertise to create and implement these
programs. The Engineering Division is currently without a licensed professional engineer and
must rely upon outside consultants to provide the required technical expertise. The City is
seeking to resolve the issues of compliance with the IDDE requirements of the MS4 permit and
the ambient monitoring requirements of the MS4 permit through consultants with an established
record of providing compliance assistance with MS4 permits. The goal of this RFP is to provide
the City with a program for the IDDE requirements of the permit, provide the initial outfall
sampling required under the permit, create a program for ambient monitoring and provide the
water sampling required under that program.
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MS4 Compliance Assistance Overview
The City was issued its initial Phase I MS4 permit in 1997 and the City retained the firm of Neel-
Schaffer, Inc. to assist the City with the development of the programs to comply with the
requirements of that permit. During the 2007 permit cycle, the City failed to meet certain
requirements and was issued an administrative order by the Mississippi Commission on
Environmental Quality. The City resolved those permit violations and was issued its current
permit in 2012. The City has experienced numerous setbacks in complying with all the
requirements of the 2012 MS4 permit, particularly, the requirements related to IDDE and ambient
monitoring. This has been due primarily to a lack of personnel specifically assigned to ensure
compliance with the MS4 permit, sufficient technical expertise for developing the required
processes and programs, and a lack of funding to perform the water quality sampling required
by both the IDDE and the ambient monitoring.
The City began addressing these issues during 2024. The Storm Water Management Division
is now a separate division within the Department of Public Works housed alongside the
Engineering Division. Andrea Holmes, who previously worked with on the City's MS4 permit,
when it was a program in the Solid Waste Division, is now the manager of the division. Ms.
Holmes provides programmatic knowledge and specific training in Storm Water Management.
She is currently limited by having only one inspector who currently is tasked with most of the
compliance requirements for construction activities throughout the City.
1.3 Outcome Goals
The Storm Water Management Division has established the following goals for this Request for
Proposals:
1) Enabling the Storm Water Management Division to perform investigative IDDE testing
based on outfall sampling results;
2) Compliance with the IDDE and ambient monitoring requirements of the City's MS4 permit.
1.4 Award Terms
Contract Duration: Time required to complete the required
sampling
Renewal Options & Terms: At the conclusion of the initial term,
renewable from year to year upon the
mutual agreement of the parties for up to
four additional one-year terms
Contract Type Expected: Annual Task Order
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2. Scope of Work
2.1 Services to be Provided
The successful proposer will be expected to provide the following services:
2.1.1 Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination
* Develop Procedures for conducting dry weather screenings of the City's storm sewer
system. The procedures should include the following and the inspection checklist found
in Appendix to the City's 2012 Phase I MS4 permit:
o Sample runoff according to the following requirements if flow or ponded runoff is
observed at a field screening station and there has been at least 144 hours of dry
weather:
If the discharge cannot be identified and no likely source is determined
then water quality sampling can be used to determine whether the flow is
likely to have resulted from an illicit discharge. The current minimum
requirement is to conduct an analysis for ammonia and detergent-
surfactants. Ammonia and detergent-surfactants are the best parameters
to detect sewage which in the City of Jackson is documented to be the
most numerous illicit discharge.
If the type of discharge still cannot be determined, then at a minimum, the
analysis shall include the parameters of fluoride and potassium. This will
aid in determining if the discharge is from a potable water source or an
industrial or commercial waste source. Samples must be collected and
analyzed consistent with the procedures required by 40 CFR Part 136.
o The procedures must also record general information such as time since last
rain, quantity of last rain, site descriptions (e.g., conveyance type, dominant
watershed land uses), flow estimation (e.g., width of water surface, approximate
depth of water, approximate flow velocity, flow rate), and visual observations
(e.g., odor, color, clarity, floatables, deposits/stains, vegetation condition,
structural condition, and biology).
o The screening procedures should include a prioritization of the currently mapped
outfalls (excluding the outfalls into the Hanging Moss Creek Watershed, which
will be screen annually) based on criteria that would make outfalls more likely to
be the source of illicit discharges, such as, older neighborhoods with
deteriorating storm drain systems or which may have a higher likelihood of cross
connections with the sanitary sewer.
o Dry weather screening procedures-When dry-weather flow is observed, visual or
odor observations (e.g., observation of pieces of toilet paper, strongly colored or
very muddy discharge, or the odor of sewage or chemicals) may provide enough
information to determine that the discharge is illicit and to identify the likely
source. Inspectors will use the inspection form found in Appendix to aid in this
determination.
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o Procedures for investigating and tracing illicit discharges or other sources of non-
storm water including enforcement measures that will be followed in eliminating
illicit discharges or other sources of non-storm water should include the following:
(i) At a minimum, the procedures must include the requirement to conduct
an investigation(s) to identify and locate the source of any continuous or
intermittent non-storm water discharge within 48 hours of becoming aware
of the illicit discharge.
* - Illicit discharges suspected of being sanitary sewage and/or
significantly contaminated must be investigated first.
* - Investigations of illicit discharges suspected of being cooling
water, wash water, or natural flows may be delayed until after all
suspected sanitary sewage and/or significantly contaminated
discharges have been investigated, eliminated and/or resolved.
* - The procedures must include a requirement to report immediately
the occurrence of any dry weather flows believed to be an
immediate threat to human health or the environment to MDEQ at
601/961-5171.
* - The procedures must track all investigations to document at a
minimum the date(s) the illicit discharge was observed, the results
of the investigation, any follow-up of the investigation, and the date
the investigation was closed.
(ii) At a minimum, the procedures are required to include a requirement to
determine and document through investigations the source of all potential
illicit discharges. If the source of the illicit discharge is found to be a
discharge authorized under an active NPDES permit, no further action is
required.
(iii) If an illicit discharge is found, but within six (6) months of the beginning
of the investigation neither the source nor the same non-storm water
discharge has been identified/observed, then the procedure must include
a requirement to maintain written documentation for audit review.
(iv) If the observed discharge is intermittent, the procedures must include
a requirement to document that a minimum of three (3) separate
investigations were made to observe the discharge when it was flowing. If
these attempts are unsuccessful, the procedure must include a
requirement to maintain written documentation for review by the permitting
authority. However, since this is an ongoing program, the procedures
should include a requirement periodically recheck this suspected
intermittent discharge.
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* Develop benchmark concentration levels for analytical monitoring results whereby
exceedance of the benchmark will require follow-up investigations to be conducted to
identify the source causing the exceedance of the benchmark.
* Develop the curriculum and materials for training new City inspectors and for providing
refresher training to all inspectors on a five-year cycle to ensure they are knowledgeable
on how to identify illicit connections and discharges and the procedures for dry weather
sampling.
* Perform dry weather screenings of the 120 outfall locations on the existing storm sewer
map during the current year, 2026.
* Thereafter, at the City's request, screen twenty percent (20%) of the one hundred and
twenty (120) currently mapped and designated outfalls for illicit discharges and improper
disposal annually, such that all outfalls have been screened at the end of five (5) years
(excluding the currently mapped and designated outfalls into the Hanging Moss Creek
watershed, which will be screened annually).
* Assist the Storm Water Management Division in preparing annual reports documenting
efforts and results of the IDDE, including benchmarking, corrective actions, and
enforcement activities.
2.1.2 Ambient Monitoring Requirements
* In addition to the monitoring requirements for illicit discharge detection and elimination,
the successful proposer will conduct two rounds of ambient monitoring separated by a
one-year interval.
* Prior to conducting the first round of ambient monitoring, the successful proposer shall
develop a monitoring plan that includes, at a minimum, the following elements:
o The sampling parameters shall, at a minimum, include turbidity, total phosphorus,
total nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, flow, and pH.
o The frequency shall be, at a minimum, after two (2) storm events in the wet
season (November - April) and after two (2) storm events during the dry season
(May - October). The storm events should be greater than 0.1 inches in
magnitude and occurring at least 72 hours from the previously measurable storm
(greater than 0.1 inch of rainfall).
o In order to ensure the ambient monitoring plan chooses sampling locations that
sufficiently represent the MS4 area, the plan shall include all 11 sub-watersheds
of the Pearl River (Purple Creek, White Oak Creek, Hanging Moss Creek,
Eubanks Creek, Belhaven Creek, Town Creek, Lynch Creek, Three Mile Creek,
Hardy Creek, Cany Creek, Trahon Creek). This is intended to represent nearly
100 % of the surface area draining to the Pearl River. The sampling stations
must be located near the terminus of the above designated creeks so that it
integrates most, if not all discharges upstream of the station or stations, but
before mixing with the Pearl River where dilution by such a large water body may
make results difficult to interpret.
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o In addition, the successful proposer must determine if any similar monitoring is
occurring within the MS4 and if it is logical to link efforts. The successful proposer
may recommend additional monitoring sites that it believes will result in more
accurate or precise data.
* Prepare a report at the conclusion of each monitoring cycle.
The services required by the City include negotiation with the Mississippi Department of
Environmental Quality about how to best fulfill the goals of the IDDE requirements in the City's
Phase I MS4 permit. The permit, which is included as an appendix to the Request for
Proposals, includes minimum requirements set forth in this scope of work. Proposers are
encouraged to propose other more efficient and cost-effective processes and procedures to
achieve the same results as the permit minimum requirements. Proposers recommending
alternative processes and procedures must be willing to meet with and advocate to
representatives of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality for the adoption of the
proposer's recommendations.
2.1.3 General Requirements
The Successful Proposer will be expected to execute an agreement similar in form to the 2014
edition of EJCDC(R) E-505, Agreement Between Owner and Engineer for Professional Services
- Task Order Edition. The final form of the Agreement will be negotiated between the City and
the successful proposer.
Proposers should be familiar with the state and federal laws, regulations, guidance documents
relating Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System permits. Proposer should also
familiarize themselves with Chapter 122. Article IV. -Stormwater Quality Protection of the Code
of Ordinance of the City of Jackson, which is available online at
https://library.municode.com/ms/jackson/codes/code_of_ordinances.
Proposers are encouraged to thoroughly review the City's current Phase I MS4 permit, which
is attached as an appendix to this Request for Proposals.
Proposer will be required to carry legally required Workers' Compensation insurance, General
Commercial Liability Insurance in an amount of at least $1,000,000.00 coverage, Automobile
Liability Insurance in at least the minimum required by law; and Professional Liability Insurance
in an amount of at least $1,000,000.00. The successful proposer will be required to provide a
certificate of insurance evidencing the required insurance coverages and naming the City of
Jackson as an additional insured.
The successful proposer will be expected to provide hourly rates for each classification of
employee involved in providing the scope of work. The successful proposer will be required to
provide a monthly bill detailing the work performed, the number of hours worked on each
segment of work, and the identity of the employee performing the work, all to provide
transparency in billing.
Role of Storm Water Management Division
The Storm Water Management Division will provide necessary information to the successful
proposer to perform the scope of work. The Storm Water Management Division will work closely
with the successful proposer to implement the various programs to the extent appropriate staff
is available.
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2.2 Performance Metrics and Contract Management
Performance Metrics
The Storm Water Management Division is interested in identifying metrics to work collaboratively
with the awarded offeror(s) to monitor and improve performance during the life of the contract.
The Storm Water Management Division has identified initial metrics of interest and looks forward
to working with the awarded offeror(s) to add to or refine this list during contract negotiations.
The final set of performance metrics and frequency of collection will be negotiated by the
successful offeror and the Storm Water Management Division prior to the finalization of an
agreement between parties and may be adjusted over time as needed.
Performance Data Source Data Data Data Review
Metric Collection Collection Cadence
Frequency Responsibility
Dry Weather Outfall Outfall Monthly, with Contractor Monthly
Sampling Program Sampling a goal for
and Samples Program and completing
Samples program and
20 samples
plus Hanging
Moss Creek
Samples
within four
months
Ambient Monitoring Ambient Monthly, with Contractor Monthly
Program and Monitoring a goal for
Samples Program and completing
Samples program and
dry weather
sampling with
four months
Contract Management
As part of the Storm Water Management Division's commitment to improved outcomes, the
Division seeks to actively and regularly collaborate with awarded offeror to enhance contract
management, improve results, and adjust service delivery based on learning what works.
Reliable and relevant data is necessary to drive service improvements, facilitate compliance,
inform trends to be monitored, and evaluate results and performance. As such, the Storm Water
Management Division reserves the right to request/collect other key data and metrics from the
awarded offeror.
Communication
The successful proposer's project manager will be expected to meet monthly with the City's
project manager and, as deemed necessary, with the Director of the Department of Public Works
after submitting its monthly invoice. At such meeting, the successful proposer's project manager
should be prepared to review the invoice, discuss the progress to date, and respond to any
questions from the City.
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