North Richmond Living Levee and Collaborative Shoreline Plan: Planning & Design Services

In May 2024, the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority (SFBRA) awarded a grant to West County Wastewater (WCW) to continue the planning and design efforts for the North Richmond Living Levee & Collaborative Shoreline Plan Project. This phase of the work will focus on completing 65% design of the Phase 1 Living Levee project, CEQA and NEPA studies/strategies, continuing community stakeholder engagement, conceptual design of the Phase 1A (North Cluster) and 1B (South Cluster) projects, continuing governance and agency coordination, technical support for construction grant funding pursuits, and the design and construction of sediment storage. Project HistoryThe proposed project area is a part of the North Richmond Shoreline’s Baylands, which have been extensively degraded and fragmented, though some components of the historic ecology persist. The area comprises unincorporated Contra Costa County and the City of Richmond. Currently, segments of the Bay Trail exist in the project area, as do two parking area trailheads operated by East Bay Parks District. For Phase 1, where the project proposes detailed design work, the extents lie within parcels owned by WCW. For Phases 1A and 1B, which includes investigating public-private implementation framework, WCW is one of the parcel owners. Other parcel owners in these areas include Republic Services and County Flood Control, both of which support the proposed project and have provided letters to that effect.In 2020, the SFBRA awarded a grant to WCW to determine feasibility and alignment options for a 'Living Levee' along the North Richmond shoreline. This project builds on the work of previous shoreline planning efforts focused on preservation and resilience, including the North Richmond Shoreline Community Vision (2017, San Francisco Estuary Partnership), and the Resilient by Design Challenge (2018, Mithun and The Watershed Project) to undertake technical studies and data collection; develop conceptual designs and associated cost estimates; and engage the public, key stakeholders, and the regulatory community as the initial phase in understanding how to respond to critical flooding and future sea level rise in North Richmond.The previous design and planning efforts completed in December of 2023, by Mithun, Inc. yielded two major outcomes, shaped by community co-design:1. 30% Design Drawings for an ecotone-slope levee, wetland restoration and trails amenity project along the approximately .65-mile length of marsh edge on parcels owned by WCW. This portion of the project is referred to as the North Richmond Living Levee, or “Phase 1.” These drawings will be used to initiate regulatory conversations, develop cost estimates for continuing the design work, and identify potential grant funding and cost-sharing opportunities to move towards implementation and construction. Phase 1 is envisioned as a demonstration project that will implement designs and techniques that could be applied in other areas identified in the Collaborative Shoreline Plan.2. Concept design report illustrating approaches for multi-benefit Sea Level Rise (SLR) adaptation along a 5-mile stretch of North Richmond shoreline. This portion of the project us referred to the North Richmond Collaborative Shoreline Plan, or Phase 1A and Phase 1B. This planning and concept design effort identifies adaptation opportunities, continued stakeholder collaborations, and funding possibilities that will be important to implementation of SLR adaptation at the regional scale. Prioritization is placed on identifying 'multi-benefit' projects that combine essential flooding resilience measures with habitat restoration, improved bike and pedestrian access, and community amenities along the shoreline; as well as tribal partnership for protection and honoring of sites of cultural concern, and creation of interpretive material.Project Overview/FocusThe Phase 1 project will implement several nature-based coastal flood protection features. The Phase 1 project will incorporate generous setbacks to allow for restoration of historic wetland habitats, include a gently sloped “Living” levee to provide coastal flood protection for critical WCW facilities, and will provide a stormwater retention basin and pump to manage runoff and accommodate rising groundwater levels. In addition, the living levee will provide upland and transition-zone habitat adjacent to the restored tidal marshes and provide safer and more reliable public access to the shoreline. The levee as currently designed to 30% drawings will run along the 0.65-mile boundary of the WCW treatment plant at Wildcat Marsh, and tie-in to existing flood protection features managed by Contra Costa County Flood Control District along San Pablo Creek to the north and Wildcat Creek to the south. The levee’s gentle slopes on the bay-facing side will provide transition-zone and upland habitats between the levee crest trail and tidal marsh habitats. This buffer will provide refuge areas for wildlife (including threatened Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse) and reduce disturbance of marsh from the recreational use of the trail. Phase 1 includes seven (7) acres of tidal marsh restoration in the near-term. Thanks to a reconfiguration of the WCW treatment facility (a modernization for the plant happening concurrently), the Phase 1 project can transition formerly diked ponds into tidal wetland, allowing for near term habitat improvements. The Phase 1 project was included as an authorization (up to $45 million as an Environmental Infrastructure project) for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) support for construction as part of the 2022 Water Resources Development Act. The project team is in conversation with federal partners to help support the authorization becoming a budget appropriation.The North Richmond Collaborative Shoreline Adaptation Plan, funded by the 2021 SFBRA grant, blended community vision for trails, access and amenities, and nature-based adaptation features into a suite of multi-benefit SLR concepts along the 5-mile shoreline from Castro Cove to Dotson Marsh. WCW and their consultant team reached out to property owners and other stakeholders to discuss shared vulnerabilities and potential adaptation measures. From those conversations, the plan identified two “Collaboration Clusters” north and south of the Phase 1 project where near-term SLR vulnerability overlapped with cooperative land-holding partners and community priorities. The Phase 1A North Cluster, where Republic Services, WCW, and Contra Costa Flood Control District are primary landowners, included conceptual designs for hydrologic reconnection of San Pablo Creek to Wildcat Marsh (to restore a historic landscape connectivity pattern), tidal reconnection of diked stormwater ponds, and SLR adaptation concepts to help protect the capped landfill edge as rising seas and wave action increases. Enhanced access points for pedestrians from the Richmond Parkway were also provided in the concepts. In addition, input from members of the Confederated Villages of Lisjan identified the need for a small boat launch to support their traditional programming on San Pablo Bay, and the opportunity exists near the outfall of San Pablo Creek to provide this amenity. In Phase 1B, where stakeholders include the Flood Control District and East Bay Parks, the plan identified opportunities for living levee and trail connections to help bolster SLR resilience on a future flooding path that would affect the Parkway and homes in North Richmond.Additionally, community and stakeholder engagement remain vital in the successful delivery of both the above-mentioned scopes of this project. There is a continued need to engage with local residents, businesses, and organizations to understand the specific vulnerabilities and priorities to best serve the community. Ultimately, WCW would like to continue to help take the lead on organizing workshops and focus groups, conducting outreach to the community, and developing strategies that would help target the audience of community members.Notice Inviting ProposalsWest County Wastewater District (WCW) is seeking proposals from qualified firms to provide planning and design services for the North Richmond Living Levee and Collaborative Shoreline Plan (Services), as further detailed in Section 3, Scope of Services. If approved by WCW's Board of Directors, the successful Proposer will execute an agreement in the form of Attachment A for one (1) year base term with up to four (4) one year option terms. .The project scope, content of proposal, and selection process are summarized in this Request for Proposals (RFP). WCW intends to adhere to the solicitation schedule shown in the Timeline below, which is subject to change at WCW's sole discretion.Solicitation ScheduleThe complete Solicitation Schedule for this Project, North Richmond Living Levee and Collaborative Shoreline Plan: Planning & Design Services is stated in the Timeline section below.All proposals must be submitted through WCW's eProcurement Portal, OpenGov Procurement, in accordance with the solicitation schedule. All Questions must be submitted in writing through OpenGov Procurement by clicking the Question/Answer Tab. All Questions submitted and answers provided will be electronically distributed to Proposers through OpenGov Procurement, pursuant to the solicitation schedule in the Timeline below.Proposals will not be accepted after the proposal submission deadline. An incomplete proposal or a proposal that does not conform to the requirements may not be considered, in WCW's sole discretion. Issuance of this RFP does not obligate WCW to award a contract. WCW is not liable for any of Proposer’s costs to prepare and submit a proposal. WCW may award all or parts of this contract to several Proposers, select no Proposers, and/or to re-solicit proposals. By submitting a proposal, the Proposer agrees that it has read and understands all requirements and conditions of this RFP.Submission of a proposal constitutes a firm offer to WCW for 180 days from the deadline. Submission of a proposal indicates an intent to be bound to the conditions contained in this RFP unless a clear exception request is included in the proposal. Questions regarding this RFP are to be submitted and answered through WCW's eProcurement Portal.