Approve contract with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for Implementation of the Inventory and Feasibility Study to Remove Fossil Fuels from County Operations. (General fund impact: $330,030) (Lindbo/Olsen)

Approve contract with AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for Implementation of the Inventory and Feasibility Study to Remove Fossil Fuels from County Operations (Att. A.).

On September 29, 2020, the Yolo County Board of Supervisors passed Resolution No. 20-114, titled “A Resolution Declaring a Climate Crisis Requiring Urgent and Inclusive Mobilization in Yolo County”. This resolution created the Yolo County Climate Action Commission (YCCAC) and initiated the development of the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP). The CAAP is a roadmap that outlines the actions that Yolo County will take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help Yolo County be more resilient to climate impacts such as higher temperatures, more frequent wildfires and floods, and drought.  

From September 2021 to January 2022, Yolo County Sustainability staff and the YCCAC sought applications from the public for early actions to further Yolo County’s climate action and sustainability initiatives and support the goals in the 2020 emergency climate resolution. The effort focused on short-term actions Yolo County can undertake to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon prior to development of the updated CAAP, scheduled to begin in the Summer/Fall of 2022. In January 2022, the YCCAC approved early action eligibility and prioritization criteria, which County staff used to recommend rankings of 21 early action proposals received by the YCCAC. County staff used the approved prioritization criteria to recommend seven early action priorities to the YCCAC, one of them being the Inventory and Feasibility Study to Remove Fossil Fuels from County Operations (‘Inventory and Feasibility Study’) wherein the County seeks to develop an inventory of all fossil fuels used in Yolo County operations, assess the feasibility of removing these fossil fuels from use, and outline a proposed process for doing so. The YCCAC then approved recommending the seven early action priorities to the Board of Supervisors with some policy and technical changes, which staff incorporated. The YCCAC voted to recommend the Board of Supervisors approve the Inventory and Feasibility Study description on June 7, 2022, and staff recommended utilizing American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to allocate to this project.  On July 25, 2023, the Board approved a $300,000 allocation of ARP funding for the feasibility study.

On February 13, 2024, the County issued a Request for Proposals (Att. B.) for the Inventory and Feasibility Study to Remove Fossil Fuels from County Operations. The RFP deadline for proposals was March 12, 2024, and the County received two proposals. After careful review and evaluation, AECOM Technical Services, Inc was selected as the consultant for this project (Att. C.). Evaluation criteria considered qualifications and experience, a detailed project management plan and timeline, and cost. The proposed agreement with AECOM is for a one-year term not to exceed $330,030. (Att. D.)

County of Yolo, AECOM, Yolo County Climate Action Commission (YCCAC)

A Request for Proposals for consultants/consulting firms to provide Climate Action & Adaptation Planning Services within unincorporated Yolo County was issued on February 13, 2024 and posted until March 12, 2024. Two proposals were received and evaluated. After evaluation of the two proposals, it was determined that AECOM should be awarded the contract. Additional information regarding the competitive bid process is included below, including the evaluation criteria and scoring breakdown of the proposals received. No protests concerning the contract award have been received.

Evaluation Criteria Included in RFP