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Approve four Master Services Agreements for as-needed professional planning and environmental review services supporting private project development applications processed by the Department of Resource Management, including California Environmental Quality Act administration and review and land use entitlement processing, through June 30, 2029; Delegate authority to the County Administrator or designee to execute the agreements and any subsequent amendments within the approved project budgets
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Resource Management recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve four Master Services Agreements for as-needed professional planning and environmental review services supporting private project development applications processed by the Department of Resource Management, including California Environmental Quality Act administration and review and land use entitlement processing, through June 30, 2029 (Attachment A); and
2. Delegate authority to the County Administrator or designee to execute the agreements and any subsequent amendments within the approved project budgets.
SUMMARY:
The Department of Resource Management recommends approval of four (4) Master Service Agreements (MSAs) with consulting firms selected through a competitive Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process conducted in accordance with the County Contracting and Purchasing Policy. The MSAs will establish a pool of qualified consultants to provide as-needed land use planning, environmental review, CEQA compliance and related technical support services through June 30, 2029.
Approval of the MSAs does not guarantee work to any consultant or, by itself, authorize projects or project-specific expenditures. Services will be assigned on an as-needed basis through project-specific authorizations within approved project budgets.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the MSAs does not commit the County to a project or a specific amount of work or expenditure. Project-specific services will be authorized on an as-needed basis through Adjusted Service Authorizations (ASAs), with each authorization identifying the applicable scope, deliverables, schedule, and cost. Funding for authorized services will be reimbursed through land use entitlement application deposits and environmental review fees, as applicable.
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2026/27 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
To support the processing and environmental review of complex private land use applications, the County uses on-call consultants with specialized expertise in land use planning, environmental review, CEQA compliance, and related technical disciplines. These consultants supplement County staff capacity and provide specialized technical expertise as needed for individual development applications.
On June 3, 2026, the Department of General Services in collaboration with the Department of Resource Management issued the Request for Qualification (RFQ) to identify and select qualified consulting firms to provide a range of on-call planning, environmental consulting and review, and technical support services on an as-needed basis.
The RFQ was publicly posted on the OpenGov Procurement platform, and direct outreach was conducted to firms that had previously expressed interest in contracting with the County. Approximately 11,254 firms were notified.
Services Requested
The RFQ sought qualified firms to provide a range of on-call land use planning, environmental review, CEQA compliance, and related technical support services on an as-needed basis.
Consultant Evaluation Process
A County Evaluation Committee consisting of staff from General Services and Resource Management evaluated the 21 SOQs using the criteria established in the RFQ. Firms were evaluated based on approach and management plan; qualifications, experience, and references; work plan, quality control, and cost control; representative projects and work efforts; and fee schedules.
Recommended Firms
Based on the evaluation results, staff recommends awarding MSAs to the following four firms, which demonstrated the qualifications, experience, and capacity to provide as-needed professional technical services:
1. EMC Planning Group
2. FCS International, Inc. dba FirstCarbon Solutions
3. LSA Associates
4. PlaceWorks, Inc.
The recommended firms have experience serving public agencies and possess the technical expertise and resources necessary to assist with a variety of land use planning and environmental review services.
Approval of these MSAs will provide the County with timely access to qualified consultants, improve project delivery, and streamline environmental review for a variety of land use entitlement projects. Consultants will perform assigned technical and environmental review services under the direction of the Department of Resource Management. The County will retain responsibility for its decisions and independent judgment as lead agency under CEQA.
The Department of Resource Management has prepared corresponding Master Services Agreements for Board approval.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could elect to award no, or fewer, MSAs. This action is not recommended because the selected firms provide as-needed technical and professional services necessary to support the review and processing of complex land use applications, including required CEQA analysis. Without these MSAs, the County may need to conduct separate procurements and execute individual contracts for project-specific service needs, which could delay land use entitlement review and processing.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Department of General Services led the development and administration of the RFQ and participated with Resource Management in the consultant evaluation and selection process. County Counsel provided legal guidance throughout the solicitation and consultant selection process and has approved the agreements as to form.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION