FY27-09: BROWNFIELD COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT GRANT

The City of Fairmont, West Virginia ("the City") is soliciting competitive qualifications and proposals from qualified environmental consulting firms (Respondents) to provide professional environmental assessment services, cleanup planning, community outreach, and project management. The selected firm will assist the City in administering its FY26 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Grant.

Fairmont is a community of approximately 18,000 residents in North Central West Virginia with an extensive industrial history in the glass, coal, and manufacturing industries. The City's Brownfields Program targets the characterization and cleanup planning of these commercial and industrial properties to foster local economic redevelopment.

The selected environmental consulting firm will serve as the Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) and collaborate with the City's Grant Administration team, EPA Region 3, and the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) and will include but not be limited to:

Task 1: Project Management and Administration

• Facilitate bi-weekly coordination calls and submit monthly project progress reports detailing milestones, data findings, and billing.
• Assist the City with preparing and submitting quarterly progress reports, financial reviews, and annual reports for EPA Region 3 oversight.
• Regularly populate, update, and manage property records in the EPA Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment Exchange System (ACRES) and Brownfield Inventory Tool (BiT) databases.
• Assist City staff in drafting, securing, and recording access agreements with property owners.

Task 2: Brownfields Assessment, Site Inventory, & Prioritization Activities

• Update and maintain a municipal brownfields inventory using GIS mapping and historical land use data.
• Conduct reconnaissance and site screening across target commercial and industrial corridors.
• Establish an objective site selection matrix to recommend sites for Phase I and Phase II evaluations.
• Draft a program-wide Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) and site-specific QAPPs (SS-QAPPs) adhering to EPA Region 3 and WVDEP standards.
• Prepare site-specific Health and Safety Plans (HASPs) for all field investigation activities.
• Perform Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (estimate of 15) adhering strictly to ASTM E1527-21 and federal All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) standards (40 CFR Part 312).
• Formulate site-specific Sampling and Analysis Plans (SAPs) for City and EPA approval.
• Execute Phase II ESA intrusive field sampling (soil, groundwater, vapor intrusion, and hazardous building materials such as asbestos, lead-based paint, and PCBs).
• Prepare comprehensive draft and final Phase II ESA Reports (estimate of 4) characterizing contamination nature and extent.

Task 3: Community Outreach & Involvement

• Formulate and implement a comprehensive Community Engagement Plan (CEP).
• Create, coordinate, and facilitate a community-led Brownfields Advisory Committee (BAC) / Task Force.
• Conduct at least four (4) public informational meetings and regular stakeholder briefings.
• Prepare public educational collateral, including brochures, press releases, website content, and FAQ sheets.

Task 4: Cleanup & Reuse Planning

• Develop Analysis of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCA) reports and Remedial Action Plans (RAPs) aligned with the WVDEP Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP) (estimate of 4).
• Complete parcel-level infrastructure capacity reviews, market analyses, and redevelopment visioning profiles.

**Submission:** Sealed bids are received by US Postal Service, courier system or hand delivery. Respondents must submit three (3) hard copies of the technical proposal, one (1) digital PDF copy on a USB flash drive, and one (1) separate, sealed envelope marked "FY27-09: Cost Proposal – RFQ FY26-10". The City does not accept electronically submitted bids.

**Scoring:** 100-point model: Technical Approach 20, Past Performance 20, Project Staffing & Licensure 20, Outreach & Administration 10, Innovation & Sustainability 5, Cost Proposal & Rates 25. Interviews may add up to 25 additional points.

**Insurance:** $1,000,000 each occurrence / $2,000,000 Aggregate Commercial General Liability; $1,000,000 Auto Liability; Statutory Workers' Compensation; and $1,000,000 Errors and Omissions/Professional Liability.

**Bonds:** Performance and Payment Bond requirements upon formal contract execution.

**Contract term:** The resulting contract will be for four (4) years.

**Mandatory** pre-bid meeting: Monday, November 9, 2026 at 2:00 PM.