8/15/2024 Sound Communities RFP HAZMAT Inspection Services for Norwalk Scattered Sites
Environmental Consultant Services
Sound Communities, Inc. is requesting proposals from qualified consultants to provide hazardous building materials inspection services for scattered Sites in Norwalk, CT.
KEY INFORMATION
RFP Release Date: 8/15/2024
Submission Deadline: 8/30/2024 at 5:00PM ET
Submission Process: All proposals must be submitted to:
Guillermo Benda, Procurement Specialist via email at Procurement@norwalkha.org
Requests for Information: RFIs may be sent to Sophia Stewart - email sstewart@norwalkha.org
RFIs must be received by August 27, 2024.
1. Scope of Work:
Sound Communities, Inc., the development arm of Norwalk Housing Authority (NHA), is seeking proposals from Environmental Consultants to provide hazardous building material surveying and testing for the "Mutual Housing Project", as listed in Section #2 Site Description.
The scope of work includes visual inspections, surveying, sampling, and testing to determine the presence of asbestos-containing materials, universal waste materials, lead, and PCB-containing materials at the listed properties. The deliverable for this scope of work is a written report that summarizes the findings of the inspections, includes lab reports and other documentation, and provides an estimated cost of abatement for each property.
At properties that are occupied by tenants, inspections must be visual or involve sampling that is not destructive or invasive. Sound Communities ("Client") will be responsible for notifying tenants of on-site inspections at least 48 hours in advance.
All work must be performed cost effectively and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations of the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) and the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority's Environmental & Hazardous Materials guidelines.
A. Hazardous Materials Inspections:
• Review any existing documents and/or surveys of the properties made available by Client.
• Establish an investigation and sampling plan of the project sites to adequately and safely collect material samples for testing.
• Receive Client approval of the investigation and sampling plan prior to commencing on-site work.
• Conduct site investigations and collect samples. Testing of materials shall be completed in an accredited laboratory.
• Determine location and quantity of all hazardous materials on the project sites, including asbestos-containing materials, universal waste materials, lead, and possible PCB-containing materials.
B. Hazardous Materials Report:
• Description of the field activities, observations, and sampling protocols.
• Description of locations, type, friability, and condition of the assessed hazardous materials.
• Tabulated results of the sampling and analysis.
• A map indicating building materials, sampling locations and estimates of hazardous material quantities
• A discussion of applicable Federal, State and local regulations followed.
• Estimated abatement cost for each property.
• Conclusions and recommendations concerning the assessed hazardous materials associated with the project as they relate to the Client's redevelopment and/or rehabilitation plans.
2. Site Description:
The "Mutual Housing Project" being managed/developed by Sound Communities, Inc. involves the following three scattered site properties in Norwalk, CT.
a) 25 Leonard is a vacant 3-story, 10-unit building, located at 25 Leonard St, Norwalk. The building was constructed in 1865 with a total of 48 rooms and a finished basement. It has a gross area of 11,890SF and sits on 0.16 acres of land. It has been vacant since 2018.
b) 79 South Main Street and 6&8 Chestnut Street are occupied residential and commercial properties located on one parcel of 0.56 acres. There is a commercial building constructed in 1920 that has 3 retail storefronts and a gross area of 1,709SF. The property also consists of 3 residential buildings - one building that was built in 1880 and has a gross area of 6,555SF, and two 2-story buildings each built in 1953 that have gross areas of 8,610SF and 1,344SF, respectively. Combined, the property contains 16 dwelling units. There is also a shed/garage outbuilding structure of approximately 520SF on the site.
c) 72 and 74 South Main Street & 2 Hanford Place are occupied residential buildings located in Norwalk that have gross areas of 5,473SF and 4,890SF, respectively. 72 and 74 South Main Street were built in 1880 and 1890, respectively. The buildings are registered as nationally historic. 2 Hanford Place is an occupied 2.5 story, colonial style building constructed in 1885 that has 3 dwelling units.
3. Qualifications/Proposals Format
Complete proposals for this project must include the following information:
· Company overview and relevant experience
· Resumes of key staff that will be involved in this work
· Copies of relevant company certifications
· Cost for the scope of work described in this RFP, with a breakdown of anticipated hours and hourly rate for labor and materials
· Reimbursable expenses with a descriptive list and quantities of each, if applicable
· Schedule for completion and delivery of draft and final reports
· Client References (3)
· Signed Proposal Cover Sheet (see RFP Appendix 1)
· Signed Debarment Certification (see RFP Appendix 2)
4. Other Terms and Conditions
Sound Communities (SC) reserves the right to cancel this RFP or to reject any and all proposals received in response to this RFP. Further, SC reserves the right to waive any minor informalities in any proposals received, if in its best interest. The determination of the selection criteria and the process whereby proposals are evaluated shall be made at the sole discretion of SC.
A proposal may be corrected, modified, or withdrawn provided that the correction, modification, or request for withdrawal is made by the Respondent in writing and is received prior to the Submission Deadline. After the Submission Deadline, the Respondent may not change the proposal fee or any other provision in its proposal in a manner prejudicial to the interests of SC and fair competition. SC reserves the right to retain submitted proposals and not permit withdrawal for a period of 90 days after the Submission Deadline.
SC reserves the right to revise, change or terminate a contract awarded pursuant to this RFP at any time for its convenience upon 30 days' written notice to the Contractor without prejudice or liability if:
- Funding is not available
- Legal restrictions are placed upon the expenditure of monies for this category of service, or
- Sound Communities' requirements in good faith change after contract award.
Termination for Cause and for Convenience
Sound Communities (SC) may terminate this contract in whole, or from time to time in part, for SC's convenience or the failure of the Contractor to fulfill the contract obligations (cause/default). SC shall terminate by delivering to the Contractor a written notice of termination specifying the nature, extent, and effective date of termination. Upon receipt of the notice, the Contractor shall: (1) immediately discontinue all services affected (unless the notice directs otherwise), and (2) deliver to SC all information, reports, papers, and other materials accumulated or generated in performing the contract, whether completed or in process. If the termination is for the convenience of SC, SC shall be liable only for payment for services rendered before the effective date of the termination.
If the termination is due to failure of the Contractor to fulfill its obligations under the contract (cause/default), Sound Communities may (1) require the Contract to deliver to it, in the manner and to the extent directed by SC, any work described in the Notice of Termination; (2) take over the work and prosecute the same to completion by contractor of otherwise, and the Contractor shall be liable for any additional cost incurred by NHA; and (3) withhold any payment to the Contractor, for the purpose of set-off or partial payment, as the case may be, of amounts owned by NHA by the contractor. In the event of termination for cause/default, NHA will be liable to the Contractor for reasonable costs incurred by the Contractor before the effective date of the termination. Any dispute shall be decided by the Contracting Officer.
Payment & Taxes
Contractor will be required to submit invoices monthly. The invoice will include a breakdown of all services provided, including timesheets of employees assigned to the project. Sound Communities (SC) will authorize and process payment each invoice within thirty (30) days' receipt of invoice.
All Contractors doing business with SC are hereby made aware that SC is exempt from paying Connecticut State Sales and Use Taxes. A letter of Tax Exemption will be provided upon request.
Hold Harmless
The successful respondent agrees that it shall indemnify and hold harmless SC from and against any and all claims for injury, loss of life, or damage to or loss of property caused or alleged to be caused by acts or omissions of the successful respondent, its employees, and invites on or about the premises and which arise out of the successful respondent's performance or failure to perform as specified in the agreement.
Official, Agent and Employees of NHA Not Personally Liable
It is agreed by and between the parties hereto that in no event shall any official, officer, employee, or agent of SC in any way be personally liable or responsible for any convent or agreement herein contained whether expressed or implied, nor for any statement, representation or warranty made herein or in any connection with this agreement.
Change Orders
SC reserves the right to increase or decrease this contract, if required, regarding service, frequencies of the service and type of service, with mutual consent of the Contractor.
Non-Performance
In the event the Contractor does not fulfill its obligations under the terms and conditions of the contract, SC may purchase equivalent services on the open market.
Force Majeure
Neither the Contractor nor SC shall be held liable for non-performance under the terms and conditions to the contract due, but not limited, to government restriction, strike, flood, fire or unforeseen catastrophe beyond either party's control. Each party shall notify the other of any situation that may prevent performance under the terms and conditions of the contract.
Debarred/Suspended
The Respondent certifies by submission of a proposal that it is not a debarred, suspended, or ineligible contractor by any Agency of Federal of State government. No proposal received from a debarred, suspended, or ineligible contractor will qualify for award.
Section 3 Requirements
The work to be performed under this contract is subject to the requirements of Section 3 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968, as amended, 12 U.S.C. 1701u (Section 3) and 24 CFR Part 75. The purpose of Section 3 is to ensure that employment and other economic opportunities generated by HUD assistance or HUD-assisted projects covered by Section 3, shall, to the greatest extent feasible, be directed to low- and very low-income persons, particularly persons who are recipients of HUD assistance for housing.
The parties to this contract certify that they are under no contractual or other impediment that would prevent them from complying with the part 75 regulations. Specifically, contracts must be:
(1) Consistent with existing Federal, state, and local laws and regulations, Public Housing Authorities, and other recipients of public housing financial assistance, and their contractors and subcontractors, must make their best efforts to award contracts and subcontracts to business concerns that provide economic opportunities to Section 3 workers.
(2) (2) PHAs and other recipients, and their contractors and subcontractors, must make their best efforts in the following order of priority:
(a) To Section 3 business concerns that provide economic opportunities for residents of the public housing projects for which the assistance is provided;
(b) To Section 3 business concerns that provide economic opportunities for residents of other public housing projects or Section-8 assisted housing managed by the PHA that is providing the assistance;
(c) To YouthBuild programs; and
(d) To Section 3 business concerns that provide economic opportunities to Section 3 workers residing within the Stamford-Norwalk, CT metro area.
Insurance Requirements
The Contractor shall furnish evidence of the following forms of insurance from a company with B+ or better rating in the current edition of Best's Rating Guide which must be maintained through completion of the project.
1) Professional & Pollution Liability Coverage: Minimum Coverage $500,000
2) Comprehensive General Liability with broad form Comprehensive General Liability endorsement and auto (non-owned and hired): Minimum Coverage $1,000,000
3) Worker's Compensation and Employer's Liability: Minimum Coverages $100,000 each employee, $500,000 policy limit
4) Automotive Liability (owned vehicles), if applicable: Minimum Coverage $1,000,000
Sound Communities, Inc. must be added as Additional Insured.
APPENDIX 1
PROPOSAL COVER SHEET
Company Name: _______________________________________________________
Company Address: _______________________________________________________
Proposal Contact Person: _______________________________________________________
Phone: Email:
Company Diversity Metrics
Company Ownership Company Employees
Percentage of company owners and/or executive management
who identify as:
% Black/African American
% Native American
% Asian
% Latino/Hispanic
% Women Percentage of full and part-time employees who identify as: % Black/African American % Native American % Asian % Latino/Hispanic % Women
NOTE: Percentages will not total 100%. Informed estimates are acceptable.
WMBE Certification Number (if applicable, not required):
Verification Statement
The undersigned proposer hereby states that by completing and submitting this form s/he is verifying that all information provided in this proposal is, to the best of his/her knowledge, true and accurate, and agrees that if NHA discovers any information herein is false, that shall entitle NHA to not consider nor make award or to cancel any award with the undersigned party.
Signed: Date:
Print Name:
APPENDIX 2
DEBARMENT CERTIFICATION
The undersigned, a Respondent of the Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by Sound Communities, Inc. hereby certifies on behalf of itself and each member of Respondent's team, as follows:
In accordance with HUD 24 CFR 85.35, Respondent certifies that neither Respondent nor any member of the Respondent's team is debarred or suspended or is otherwise excluded from or ineligible for participation in Federal Assistance programs under Executive Order 12549 "Debarment and Suspension."
Signed: Date:
Print Name:
Title:
Company Name: