2030 Merced County General Plan

The County of Merced is undertaking a comprehensive update to its Housing Element as part of the broader 2030 General Plan, in compliance with California state law requiring local jurisdictions to plan for their allocated regional housing needs. This update, mandated for the 2023–2031 planning cycle, must accommodate a Regional Housing Needs Allocation of 4,250 housing units across all income levels and must include a detailed Site Inventory, an Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing assessment, and policies to eliminate regulatory barriers to housing development. The project is led by the County’s Community and Economic Development Department and is governed by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), following the certification of the 2030 General Plan Environmental Impact Report in December 2013. All environmental analyses evaluate potential impacts across multiple factors including air quality, biological resources, greenhouse gas emissions, traffic, public services, and wildfire risks, using qualitative ratings to determine significance and mitigation requirements. The project is administered from the County’s office at 2222 M Street in Merced, California, with planning and environmental review activities conducted countywide, primarily in unincorporated areas. While no formal federal contract vehicle, solicitation number, or pricing structure is established, the work is classified as a forecast under NAICS code 541370 and is not governed by Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses. Administrative oversight is handled by County staff, with Mark Hamilton, Planner III, serving as the primary point of contact for inquiries. Submissions for environmental documentation, including draft and final reports, must be delivered to the County’s Planning Department and may be submitted in physical or electronic form via the County’s public website. The performance period aligns with the regulatory horizon through December 2031, with all deliverables required to meet strict statutory standards outlined in the California Government Code and integrated with existing General Plan policies and state environmental codes. There are no procurement-specific evaluation factors, contract types, or federal compliance certifications applicable, as the effort remains wholly within the scope of local planning and environmental review under CEQA.