CITY OF SEATTLE
NOTICE TO CONSULTANTS

Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for
                                                                                               

NATURAL SOIL BUILDING PROGRAM (2018-2022)
SPU RFQ/Contract# 16-191-S 

The City of Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is requesting qualifications from qualified consultants to provide expertise in public outreach on horticultural/landscape conservation and solid waste subjects, to provide the Garden Hotline information and outreach service and the Master Composter & Sustainability Steward volunteer outreach program. These services are a part of SPU’s overall Natural Yard Care and resource conservation outreach. Through these services, information on soil building, composting of yard debris and food scraps, use of compost and mulch, grasscycling, natural lawn care, soil biology, plant care and selection, insect, animal and plant pests, IPM alternatives to pesticide use, weed management, urban food growing, food waste prevention and other waste prevention strategies, organics collection, appropriate recycling of compostable or recyclable packaging, outdoor water conservation, reducing storm water runoff and protecting water quality is made available to residents of the City of Seattle, and, in the case of the Garden Hotline, to residents of King County at large. The estimated first-year (2018) cost of this contract is $440,000. The estimated overall 5-year (2018-2022) cost of this contract is a maximum of $2,621,800. 

SPU is also interested in Statements of Qualifications that include practical ideas to enhance outreach and participation by all residents of our multi-cultural, ethnically and economically diverse customer base.

Interested consultants are encouraged to review the RFQ, background documents, and any RFQ addenda online at https://www.ebidexchange.com/seattle. Note that you are required to complete a free registration to view, print or save documents posted on this website and to view contact information for other consultants who have downloaded documents from this website.

The deadline for submitting Qualifications is 2:00 PM, Wednesday, May 31, 2017, at the 50^th Floor, Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Avenue, P.O. Box 34018, Seattle, WA 98104-4018.

SPU PRE-SUBMITTAL CONFERENCE: A pre-submittal conference will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2017, in Conference Room SMT 4080 (40th Floor) of the Seattle Municipal Tower Building, 700 Fifth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 from 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM. Seattle Public Utilities will review the scope of work, consultant expectations, and answer questions from the prospective bidders. Time will be allocated for prospective bidders to network with each other and discuss teaming arrangements. Although attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, attendance is highly encouraged.

Written questions related to this RFQ are encouraged and shall be directed to Lisa Hill, Contract Administrator & SPU’s designated contact person, at lisa.hill@seattle.gov . In order to facilitate preparation of responses to questions, please submit questions by no later than 3:00 PM on Friday, May 5, 2017. All responses to questions will be issued to all RFQ recipients in the form of an addendum to this RFQ. Addenda will be posted at https://www.ebidexchange.com/seattle.

The City of Seattle is an Equal Opportunity Employer and selection of the Consultant is subject to applicable laws and ordinances regarding equal opportunity employment.