request for proposals for a forest stewardship plan of the...

$: Request for Proposals for a Forest Stewardship Plan of the ...capitalregionwater.com/.../RFP_Forest-Stewardship-Plan_final-draft.pdf · A:\Sustainability\DeHart Comprehensive Management\RFP_Forest$
Capital Region Water | Administrative Offices

212 Locust Street, Suite 302 Harrisburg, PA 17101 | 717-525-7677

www.capitalregionwater.com

Request for Proposals for a

Forest Stewardship Plan of the

DeHart Reservoir Property

Issued: April 24, 2015

A:\Sustainability\DeHart Comprehensive Management\RFP_Forest Stewardship Plan_final draft.docx

Request for Proposals Forest Stewardship Plan for the DeHart Reservoir Property


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Invitation Capital Region Water (CRW) is requesting Proposals for a Consulting Forester (CF) to assist in the

management of the approximately 8,000 acres CRW owns surrounding the DeHart Reservoir in

Clarks Valley, Pennsylvania. CRW is seeking the services of a CF to prepare a forest management

plan that will guide forest and water management efforts for the next 10 years. A Request for

Proposals (RFP) for surveying services for a property/boundary assessment is also attached hereto.

Proposers are welcome and encouraged to submit additional Proposals if the professional or firm

can demonstrate expertise in multiple facets of ecosystem management and surveying.

Proposal Process Schedule Task Date

RFPs Issued April 24, 2015

Proposal Due Date June 5, 2015 by 4:00 PM EST

Interview Period June 15-19, 2015

Selection of Consultants/Teams June 24, 2015

General Information and Background CRW owns approximately 8,000 acres in Rush Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The land

(largely forested) surrounds the DeHart Reservoir – the primary drinking water source for the City

of Harrisburg and nearby communities. The DeHart Reservoir is made possible due to an

impoundment of Clark Creek, a high quality, cold water fishery. Protection of this raw water source

is of utmost importance to the staff and Board of CRW. In addition to water quality concerns, CRW

is also responsible for a downstream conservation release benefitting Clarks Creek. CRW oversees

the management of the watershed and forest related activities.

CRW is interested in retaining full ownership of the property and actively managing it to ensure

long-term watershed and ecosystem health. Specifically, CRW is interested in sustainable

management in order to preserve the natural filtration that ultimately minimizes water treatment

costs. CRW also recognizes potential to generate revenue and seeks an assessment of the viability

of economic opportunities in timber and non-timber products. To date, the land has not been

actively managed. Forest management contracts have existed in the past and portions of the

property have been timbered for hardwood and pulpwood sales. This management has been

piecemeal with varying levels of success. CRW’s Board and staff desire to see a comprehensive

management approach to the acreage owned in Clarks Valley, including an option for the land to be

conserved in long-term perpetuity. The Consulting Forester contracted under this Proposal should




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be prepared to coordinate closely with personnel and consultants preparing, developing and

implementing a comprehensive watershed stewardship plan. The Forest Stewardship Plan is a

single component of a plan likely to include a legal analysis of permanent conservation protection

(i.e., restriction or easement), surveying services, and source water protection planning.

Although, CRW is not interested in expanding recreation access to the property due to safety and

security concerns, CRW is interested in continuing its partnership with the Pennsylvania Game

Commission. A portion of CRW’s land is enrolled in the Public Access Program – Cooperative Forest

Game Use Project Agreement granting hunting and hiking access to the property in unrestricted

zones.

More specifically, CRW desires to see a plan that satisfies the stewardship goals below:

1) Water: Preserve and/or enhance the high quality drinking water by improving the capacity

of the system to produce the resource. Watershed security must also be maintained to

insure the safety of the supply. Critical riparian buffer zones must be maintained and

established as necessary. All water resources on the property must be recognized, including

any springs, tributaries, and wetlands. In addition, the plan must complement existing

operations and source water protection efforts that provide drinking water to nearly 67,000

people.

2) Revenue: Improve the capacity of the watershed and downstream properties to produce

carbon-friendly revenue options. Revenue streams will allow CRW to enhance and protect

the asset. This includes sustainable timber harvesting and monetizing of ecosystem services.

3) Ecosystem health: Maintain and enhance long-term ecosystem health and viability. Identify

and conserve high priority conservation areas, contribute to the conservation of biological

diversity and habitat, and actively manage the property for resiliency to withstand threats

(invasive species, particularly Hemlock woolly adelgid and gypsy moth, storms, insect

invasions, changing climate).

4) Compliance and recordkeeping: Ensure any active management of the property exceeds

any federal, state and local requirements and best practices. Implementation of the plan

must be monitored and documented with incremental benchmarks.

Proposal Requirements

Scope of Work CRW has outlined the scope of work below. Please reference and provide a response to CRW’s scope

and specific tasks.

Task 1: Prepare a 10-year Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) compliant forest management

plan consistent with CRW’s overarching stewardship goals for the property




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a) Assess current forest conditions and produce an inventory of resources on the

property, including general tree communities/composition, health, and regeneration

potential

b) Identify any invasive species of concern and propose appropriate management

techniques

c) Divide the property by specific management zones to allow for optimal forest health

and water protection. A water resources/riparian inventory should be considered

d) Provide a harvest schedule and recommendations for long-term management of the

property describing how planned activities will achieve stewardship goals

e) Provide projected revenue estimates based on production capacity

Task 2: Provide an examination of potential revenue from non-timber resources

a) Evaluate current and future markets for ecosystem services

b) Citing specific examples, discuss the policies and implementation process necessary

to enter markets

c) Based on the above evaluation, produce a recommendation

Optional task: Perform a boundary retracement survey in accordance with the Manual of

Practice for Professional Land Surveyors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to establish the

real property title or rights of the referenced CRW properties. See the attached Boundary

Survey RFP for the scope of work.

Deliverable Schedule CRW anticipates the development of the Forest Stewardship Plan and associated tasks to take

approximately three (3) months to complete with a separate contract for ongoing consulting

services outside the initial scope of work. Please provide a review of CRW’s preliminary schedule

and any suggested variations in the Proposal.

Proposal Qualifications

CF Qualifications Must be a graduate of a Society of American Foresters accredited School of Forestry

Demonstration of experience in forest management, related to and not necessarily limited to:

- Forest management planning

- Marketing of forest products

- Certified timber and timberland appraising

- Erosion and sedimentation plans

- Sustainable forest stewardship

- Forest economics/ecosystem valuation




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- Carbon sequestration

- Game and forest related activity

- Hydrology, water quality and watershed management

- Mapping and geographic information systems

- Surveying/spatial analysis

Proposal (limit to 3 pages) Provide a work plan summarizing your understanding and approach for the scope of work outlined

above. The Proposal should also include the following:

Qualifications and experience of provided services similar to those required by this RFP

Time availability to devote to this project

Any additional information which may distinguish the CF from others, including background or

special expertise

Any additional ways in which scope of work/associated tasks could be improved or enhanced to

CRW’s benefit

Credentials/proof of training and insurance (may include as additional attachment if referenced)

Provide a not-to-exceed fee including all expenses under the scope of work. In addition to the fee,

please include the estimated fee schedule that outlines major tasks and the hourly rate for field

work, hourly rate for any additional administrative work, including research and sale prep, and an

hourly rate for travel time.

Reference Letters Provide up to three (3) relevant references from entities with whom similar work was performed in

scope to the requirements of this RFP.

Submission of Proposals Interested individuals or firms should submit their Proposal, clearly labeled “Proposal Enclosed –

Forest Stewardship Plan for the DeHart Reservoir Property”, by 4:00 PM on Friday, June 5, 2015.

Please submit electronically in PDF format via email to [email protected] and

mail one (1) hard copy to:

Attn: Tanya Dierolf

Sustainability Manager

Capital Region Water

212 Locust Street, Suite 302

Harrisburg, PA 17101

mailto:[email protected]




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Selection Criteria Evaluation and selection of Proposals will be based on content and responsiveness to all Proposal

requirements. It is the intent of CRW to review CF Proposals within two weeks of receipt, and select

no more than three (3) CF’s to conduct phone interviews. Following discussions, CRW will select a CF

who offers the highest quality services and with a price structure that is within the best interest to

CRW. It is CRW’s goal to select the CF at the June 24, 2015 Board Meeting and issue a Notice to

Proceed by July 1, 2015.

CRW reserves the right to require any firm to submit additional information deemed necessary in

evaluating the Proposals and reserves the right to negotiate final contract, scope of services and

cost with the selected CF.

General Terms CRW reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals and to select the Proposal that it determines

to be in the best interest of CRW.

The contract is subject to the approval of CRW’s Board of Directors and is effective only upon

their approval.

Proposals will remain effective for CRW review and approval for 60 days from the deadline for

submitting Proposals.

The proposer is encouraged to add to, modify, or clarify any scope of work items it deems

appropriate to develop a high quality plan at the lowest possible cost. All changes shall be

explicitly listed and explained. However, the scope of work proposed must accomplish the goals

and work stated in the RFP.

If proposer incorporates CRW branding into the Proposal, brand standards should be met.

Please see http://capitalregionwater.com/media-kit/ for additional information.

Attachments Project Site Map

Property Boundary RFP

If there are any questions regarding this Request for Proposals, please contact Tanya Dierolf at

Capital Region Water, 212 Locust St. Suite 302, Harrisburg, PA 17101, by email at

[email protected], or by phone at 717-525-7677.

http://capitalregionwater.com/media-kit/


Attachments

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1 inch = 7,000 feet O April 24, 2015

DeHart Reservoir and Surrounding PropertiesCRW Water Transmission Line

Streams

CRW Owned Parcels

PA State Game Land

Privately Owned Parcels

Fort Indiantown Gap(Military Installation)

Capital Region Water's Parcelssurrounding the DeHart Reservoir

Privately Owned Parcels within Watershed

United States owned Parcel(Appalachian Trail)

Schuylkill County(not owned by Capital Region Water,

Assumed Private)

DeHart Reservoir

Privately Owned Parcels within Watershed

Capital Region Water'sTransmission Water Mainto Water Services Center

Dauphin County

Lebanon County

Route 325

Capital Region Water | Administrative Offices

212 Locust Street, Suite 302 Harrisburg, PA 17101 | 717-525-7677

www.capitalregionwater.com

Request for Proposals for a

Boundary Survey of the

DeHart Reservoir Property


A:\Sustainability\DeHart Comprehensive Management\RFP_Boundary Survey_final draft.docx

Request for Proposals Boundary Survey of the DeHart Reservoir Property


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Invitation Capital Region Water (CRW) is requesting Proposals for the professional services and expertise of a

licensed land surveyor to establish and verify the boundaries of the approximately 8,000 acres of

CRW property surrounding the DeHart Reservoir in Clarks Valley, Pennsylvania.

Proposal Process Schedule Task Date

RFP Issued April 24, 2015

Proposal Due Date June 5, 2015 by 4:00 PM EST

Interview Period (if deemed necessary) June 15-19, 2015

Selection of Consultant June 24, 2015

General Information and Background CRW owns approximately 8,000 acres in Rush Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The land

(largely forested) surrounds the DeHart Reservoir – the primary drinking water source for the City

of Harrisburg and nearby communities. The DeHart Reservoir is made possible due to an

impoundment of Clark Creek, a high quality, cold water fishery. CRW is interested in a boundary

survey to confirm the location of property lines for management and planning purposes, including

conservation protection.

CRW’s Board and staff desires a comprehensive management approach to the acreage owned in

Clarks Valley, including an option for the land to be conserved in long-term perpetuity. The property

boundary survey is a single component of a plan that may include a legal analysis of permanent

conservation protection (i.e., restriction or easement), forest management services, and source

water protection planning. Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for a forest stewardship plan and legal

assistance are also attached hereto. Proposers are welcome and encouraged to submit additional

Proposals if the professional or firm can demonstrate expertise in multiple facets of ecosystem

management, surveying, and legal analysis.

Proposal Requirements

Scope of Work CRW has outlined the scope of work below. Please reference and provide a response to CRW’s scope

and specific tasks.




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Task: Perform a boundary retracement survey in accordance with the Manual of Practice for

Professional Land Surveyors in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to establish the real property

title or rights of the referenced CRW properties.

a) Consultant will commission the performance of a Title Report for the applicable

subject tracts comprising the above mentioned 8,000 acres.

b) Consultant will review the resultant Title Report to identify elements therein requiring

location on the face of the earth and depiction on the record plat of final survey.

c) Consultant will perform a field run boundary retracement survey for the subject

property including the location of adjoining property boundary evidence as necessary

for the proper determination of the record boundary of the CRW property.

d) Consultant shall determine the title boundaries and rights encumbering the subject

tracts, including updated legal descriptions and the monumentation of

external/perimeter property corners based upon this determination.

e) Consultant shall provide a record plat of survey, deliverables in both hardcopy and

portable document format (PDF), based on the above, of the perimeter of the

property owned by CRW and all easements, rights-of-way or other matters affecting

property within CRW boundaries. Internal tract lines shall be depicted.

f) Consultant shall provide written legal descriptions of all property easements,

improvements, encumbrances, elements, etc. impacting title or rights of the property.

g) Consultant shall provide a certified survey report detailing the performance of this

survey.

h) Consultant shall provide all data layers and associated annotation developed for the

various boundaries, easements, right-of-ways, etc. in ESRI-based geodatabase format

for incorporation into CRW’s enterprise GIS.

Optional task: Identifying and marking of the property boundary lines in addition to the

property corners using informational signage provided by CRW, marking paint, and/or a

combination. If requested, this task will be completed in close coordination with CRW field

operations staff.

Deliverable Schedule CRW anticipates the development of the Property Boundary Survey and associated tasks to take

approximately three (3) months to complete. Please provide a review of CRW’s preliminary schedule

in the Proposal, including an estimate of time required to complete initial planning and research.

Please also submit a schedule for completion of the land survey and associated report.




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Proposal Qualifications

Qualifications Must be a Pennsylvania licensed Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) with no less than five (5) years

of experience providing land surveys (include licenses and memberships in professional

organizations)

No less than five (5) years of experience evaluating and reporting upon legal title to, and

encumbrances upon, real estate property parcels in Pennsylvania, including legal expertise

necessary to identify, assess and resolve conflicts, discrepancies, irregularities, and claims

regarding property boundaries or title

Proposal (limit to 3 pages) Provide a work plan summarizing your understanding and approach for the scope of work outlined

above. The Proposal should also include the following:

Technical description outlining research and surveying methodology, including but not limited

to, information assembly process, sequencing of tasks, and a schedule/timeline of deliverables

Approach to title search and analysis, including how you might identify and manage potential

conflicts of interest

Time availability to devote to this project

Any additional information which may distinguish the surveyor from others, including

background or special expertise

Any additional ways in which scope of work/associated tasks could be improved or enhanced to

CRW’s benefit

Credentials/proof of training and insurance (may include as additional attachment if referenced)

Provide a not-to-exceed fee, including all expenses under the scope of work. In addition to the fee,

please include the estimated fee schedule that outlines major tasks and the hourly rate for field

work, hourly rate for any additional administrative work, including research and writing, and an

hourly rate for travel time. Please also include a separate, not-to-exceed fee for marking property

boundary lines.

Reference Letters Provide up to three (3) relevant references from entities with whom similar work was performed in

scope to the requirements of this RFP. Please include a description of the land surveying services

and description of title search and analysis performed.




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Submission of Proposals Interested individuals or firms should submit their Proposal, clearly labeled “Proposal Enclosed –

Boundary Survey of the DeHart Reservoir Property”, by 4:00 PM on Friday, June 5, 2015. Please

submit electronically in PDF format via email to [email protected] and mail one

(1) hard copy to:

Attn: Tanya Dierolf

Sustainability Manager

Capital Region Water

212 Locust Street, Suite 302

Harrisburg, PA 17101

Selection Criteria Evaluation and selection of Proposals will be based on content and responsiveness to all Proposal

requirements. It is the intent of CRW to review Proposals within two weeks of receipt and, if

necessary, select no more than three (3) consultants to conduct phone interviews. Following review,

CRW will select a surveyor who offers the highest quality services and with a price structure that is

within the best interest to CRW. It is CRW’s goal to select a consultant at the June 24, 2015 Board

Meeting and issue a Notice to Proceed by July 1, 2015.

CRW reserves the right to require any firm to submit additional information deemed necessary in

evaluating the Proposals and reserves the right to negotiate final contract, scope of services and

cost with the selected surveyor.

General Terms CRW reserves the right to reject any or all Proposals and to select the Proposal that it determines

to be in the best interest of CRW.

The contract is subject to the approval of CRW’s Board of Directors and is effective only upon

their approval.

Proposals will remain effective for CRW review and approval for 60 days from the deadline for

submitting Proposals.

The proposer is encouraged to add, modify, or clarify any scope of work items it deems

appropriate to develop a high quality plan at the lowest possible cost. All changes shall be

explicitly listed and explained. However, the scope of work proposed must accomplish the goals

and work stated in the RFP.





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If proposer incorporates CRW branding into the Proposal, brand standards should be met.

Please see http://capitalregionwater.com/media-kit/ for additional information.

Attachments Project Site Map

Forest Stewardship RFP

Legal Services RFP

If there are any questions regarding this Request for Proposals, please contact Tanya Dierolf at

Capital Region Water, 212 Locust St. Suite 302, Harrisburg, PA 17101, by email at

[email protected], or by phone at 717-525-7677.

http://capitalregionwater.com/media-kit/


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