Introduction
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded a Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund
(RLF) Grant to Big Sky Economic Development (BSED).
This is a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) issued by BSED. The intent of this RFQ is to request technical
qualifications from qualified environmental consulting firms (Respondents) interested in providing
environmental oversight services to BSED. BSED plans to qualify one or more Respondent(s) that meet
the threshold and selection criteria outlined in this RFQ.
The RFQ is open to all qualified environmental professionals (QEPs) capable and qualified to meet the
objectives and requirements described in this document. Qualified Woman-owned businesses (WBE),
Minority-owned businesses (MBE), and/or Veteran-owned businesses (VBE) are encouraged to respond.
Upon receipt, all RFQ submissions will be reviewed for completeness in accordance with the threshold
and selection criteria contained herein. If threshold criteria are satisfied, BSED will assess each
Respondent’s qualifications based upon the selection criteria. Responses that meet the threshold and
selection criteria set forth below will be evaluated for further consideration by BSED and the selection
committee.
Once the selection committee has reviewed all Respondent proposals, two or more may be selected for a
video or in-person interview with the selection committee.
Background
BSED has received a Brownfields RLF grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to support
remediation efforts (e.g., loans or subgrants to eligible entities for cleanup planning and remediation) of
sites affected by petroleum and/or hazardous materials. The goal of our brownfield program is to
support the cleanup of brownfield sites so they may be redeveloped and returned to a beneficial reuse
for the communities in Yellowstone County. BSED has successfully managed several EPA Brownfield
assessment grants, supporting the redevelopment of many properties in Yellowstone County. This RFQ
is to secure services for our recently awarded EPA Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund grant.
BSED anticipates the selected Respondent(s) will achieve the following goals outlined within the
Brownfields RLF Program:
• Provide environmental engineering oversight of brownfield loans and subgrants made by
BSED to ensure we comply with all applicable EPA and Montana Department of
Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations and program requirements.
• Support BSED’s Brownfield RLF work in as timely and cost-effective manner as possible.
Scope of Work
The proposed scope of work under this RFQ consists of the following:
• Cleanup Oversight Activities such as, but not limited to:
o Review and signoff of payment requests
o Drafting Analyses of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA)
o Consultation and coordination with the Montana Petroleum Tank Release
Compensation Board regarding possible reimbursements
o Verification of Davis-Bacon and other cross-cutting requirements compliance
o Conducting periodic site inspections
o Confirmation of final clean up sampling (QAPP required for all sampling)
o Any additional oversight as requested by BSED
Terms, Conditions and Exceptions
a. BSED does not create any obligation, expressed or implied, of any kind or description
in issuing this RFQ or receiving a response. Neither this RFQ nor the response shall be
construed as a legal offer.
b. BSED reserves the right to alter, amend, or modify any provisions of this RFQ, or to withdraw
this RFQ, at any time prior to the award of the contract resulting from qualification under this
process, if it is in the best interest of BSED to do so.
c. BSED reserves the right to reject any or all responses without cause, waive irregularities in all
procedures related to this RFQ, make inquiries of Respondents and their references and clients
regarding qualifications or information submitted as part of their responses as deemed
necessary, conduct personal interviews of any or all Respondents, and request and receive
additional information as BSED deems necessary.
d. Work performed under agreements resulting from this qualification may be subject to federal
contractual provisions. BSED hereby puts Respondents on notice that a successful award at
the end of this process may be contingent upon an agreement between BSED and the
Respondent to comply with standard federal contractual provisions, including but not limited
to, minimum Federal wage rates (Davis-Bacon).
e. In the event the selected Respondent does not enter into the required agreement with BSED to
carry out the purposes described in this RFQ, BSED may, in addition to any other rights and
remedies available at law or in equity, commence negotiations with another person or entity.
f. In no event shall any obligation of any kind be enforceable against BSED unless a written
agreement has been entered into.
g. By submitting a response to the RFQ, each Respondent waives all rights to protest, or seek
remedies whatsoever regarding any aspect of this RFQ, the selection of a Respondent or
Respondents with whom to negotiate, the rejection of any or all offers to negotiate, or a
decision to terminate negotiations.
h. BSED will not assume any responsibility or liability for any expenses incurred by a Respondent, or
prospective Respondent, in connection with the preparation or delivery of a response, requested
interview, or any action related to the process of completing and submitting a response to this
RFQ.
Responses to this RFQ
Responses must be received on or before 12:00 P.M, Mountain Time, Thursday, January 11, 2024.
Respondents should submit via email to:
Thom MacLean – thom@bigskyeda.org
Responses not received by the deadline WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR CONSIDERATION.
Please note the following:
a. For ease of evaluation, the response should be presented in a format that corresponds to and
references sections outlined within this RFQ and should be presented in the same order.
Responses to each section and subsection should be labeled to indicate which item is being
addressed. If the Respondent wishes to provide other supplemental information, it should be
segregated at the end of the response document and identified separately from the
information requested.
b. An individual or individuals legally authorized to bind the Respondent must sign the cover
letter.
c. Any questions regarding this RFQ must be submitted in an e-mail to Thom MacLean at
thom@bigskyeda.org no later than 12:00pm MT, Thursday, January 4, 2024. A timely written
response, which includes electronic transmittal, to all e-mail questions will be provided to the
Respondent and all firms who received the RFQ.
d. Other than as provided above, inquiries pertaining to the RFQ are NOT to be directed to any
other staff member of BSED. Any such action MAY disqualify the Respondent from further
consideration. Respondents may not rely upon verbal responses to any inquiry.
e. Respondent shall certify that to the best of its knowledge, all information provided in their
respective response materials is accurate and complete. Any misrepresentation by a
Respondent shall be treated as fraudulent concealment from BSED of the true facts relating to
the qualification.
f. Respondent shall disclose any information that may materially impair the Respondent’s ability
to provide the level of service required. Qualifications which appear unrealistic in terms of
commitments, lack of technical competence, or are indicative of failure to comprehend the
complexity of this RFQ, may be rejected.
g. Respondent shall disclose any existing or potential conflict of interest relative to the
performance of the contractual services resulting from this RFQ. Any such relationship that
might be perceived or represented as a conflict should be disclosed. By submitting a
qualification in response to this RFQ, Respondents affirm that they have not given, nor intend to
give at any time hereafter, any economic opportunity, future employment,
gift, loan, gratuity, special discount, trip, favor, or service to a public servant of BSED or any
employee or representative of same, in connection with this qualification process. Any attempt
to intentionally or unintentionally conceal or obfuscate a conflict of interest will automatically
result in the disqualification of a Respondent’s qualification. BSED will determine whether a
conflict of interest exists and whether it may reflect negatively on BSED’s selection of a
Respondent. BSED reserves the right to disqualify any Respondent on the grounds of actual or
apparent conflict of interest.
h. Respondent shall disclose details of any past and/or current relevant criminal investigation,
pending litigation, regulatory or civil enforcement action in which your firm is or was
involved during the past five years.
Selection Process
BSED will review all the responses in the following manner:
a. Each response will be evaluated based on the threshold eligibility and selection criteria
listed below.
b. BSED reserves the right to conduct interviews with any Respondent it deems necessary as a
part of its evaluation of responses. Based on the results of that evaluation, the response(s)
determined to be most advantageous to BSED, considering all the evaluation criteria, will be
selected by BSED.
Threshold Eligibility
Responses will be evaluated based upon the documented ability of the Respondent to satisfy the
requirements of this RFQ. Threshold eligibility requirements include the following:
a. Respondent has at least one (1) full-time Qualified Environmental Professional.
b. Respondent has a minimum of five (5) years’ environmental practice experience.
c. Respondent has a minimum of five (5) years’ experience working with the US Environmental
Protection Agency Brownfield program and the Montana DEQ Brownfields and Voluntary Cleanup
Redevelopment programs.
d. Respondent must have a minimum of $1,000,000 in Professional Errors and Omissions
insurance and $1,000,000 in General Liability Insurance.
e. Respondent must have a thorough understanding of the U.S. EPA Brownfields Program.
If a Respondent does not satisfy the threshold eligibility requirements above, the response will not be
further evaluated, and scoring will not be completed.
RFQ Response Content:
Each Respondent must include the following materials in its response to this RFQ:
a. QUALITY OF THE FIRM AND PERSONNEL – Proposals shall include descriptions of roles for key
personnel who would be assuming primary responsibility for this project; their resumes
including those meeting the definition of Montana licensed professional geologist(s), Montana
licensed professional engineer(s), which indicate work location, education/certifications, and
experience with Brownfields cleanup projects.
b. CAPACITY OF THE FIRM – Description of the capacity of the firm to adequately and timely
provide the services listed in the Scope of Work.
c. CAPABILITY OF THE FIRM – Statement describing the Respondent’s general understanding of
each of the items listed in the Scope of Work and the key issues associated with performing the
required services. The statement must include Respondent’s experience with environmental
education, community outreach, and work with municipal and regulatory agencies such as the
City of Billings, RiverStone Health – Yellowstone County’s health department, Yellowstone
County, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency.
d. PAST PERFORMANCE AND REFERENCES – Please provide a description of the history,
experience, and qualifications of the Respondent to perform tasks outlined in the Scope of
Work. Please provide references.
e. PRICING OF SERVICES.
Proposal Evaluation
a. QUALITY OF THE FIRM AND PERSONNEL – 25 pts.
b. CAPACITY OF THE FIRM – 15 pts.
c. CAPABILITY OF THE FIRM – 20 pts.
d. PAST PERFORMANCE AND REFERENCES – 15 pts.
e. PRICING OF SERVICES – 25 pts.
TOTAL POSSIBLE – 100 pts.
Big Sky Economic Development
201 North Broadway, Billings, MT 59101
www.bigskyeconomicdevelopment.org