Posting Language
Title
Authorize a contract for consulting services to update the Community Wildfire Protection Plan for the Austin Fire Department with SWCA Environmental Consultants, for an initial term of one year with up to two, two-year extension options in an amount not to exceed $300,000. Funding: $232,500 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Southern Area State Fire Capacity Hazard Mitigation Grant of Austin Fire Department.
Body
Lead Department
Financial Services Department.
Client Department(s)
Austin Fire Department.
Fiscal Note
Funding in the amount of $232,500 is available in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Southern Area State Fire Capacity Hazard Mitigation Grant of Austin Fire Department. Funding for the remaining contract term is contingent upon available funding in future budgets.
Purchasing Language:
The Financial Services Department issued a Request for Proposals solicitation RFP 8300 JOG3027 for these services. The solicitation was issued on December 31, 2024, and closed on January 21, 2025. Of the three offers received, the recommended contractor submitted the best evaluated responsive offer. A complete solicitation package, including a log of offers received, is available for viewing on the City’s website. This information can currently be found at https://financeonline.austintexas.gov/afo/account_services/solicitation/solicitation_details.cfm?sid=142111.
MBE/WBE:
This solicitation was reviewed for subcontracting opportunities in accordance with City Code Chapter 2-9B (Minority-Owned and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Procurement Program). For the services required for this solicitation, there were no subcontracting opportunities; therefore, no subcontracting goals were established.
For More Information:
Financial Services Department - Central Procurement at: FSDCentralProcurementRCAs@austintexas.gov or 512-974-2500. Respondents to the solicitation and their Agents should direct all questions to the Authorized Contact Person identified in the solicitation.
Additional Backup Information:
The contractor will provide consulting services to update and expand the existing 2014 Community Wildfire Protection Plan for the City, Travis County and members of the Austin Travis County Wildfire Coalition. The updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan will be a multi-jurisdictional plan that is scalable for use by local neighborhoods, cities and emergency service districts in developing their own detailed Community Wildfire Protection Plans.
The purpose of the update is to reduce risks associated with wildfires, including the potential loss of life and property. The plan will address community needs for wildfire prevention, suppression, mitigation, and recovery in the project area. The contractor will conduct data collection, risk analysis, and provide recommendations for implementable actions to prepare for and mitigate wildland fire.
On March 21, 2024, the City Council issued Resolution 20240321-036, directing the City Manager to empower all City departments with a role in wildfire resiliency to meaningfully engage in the Community Wildfire Protection Plan update and collaborate with Travis County, Texas A&M Forest Service, and other key stakeholders and cooperators to ensure the plan is comprehensive, collaborative, inclusive, and actionable.
To support the consulting contract costs, the City has secured a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, in partnership with Texas A&M Forest Service, an agency of the state of Texas and member of The Texas A&M University System. This grant is part of the Southern Area State Fire Capacity Hazard Mitigation Grant and aims to mitigate wildfire risks. Authorization amounts were determined based on available grant funding and the contractor’s quoted price.
An evaluation team with expertise in this area evaluated the offers and scored SWCA Environmental Consultants as the best to provide these services based on project concept and strategy, experience, previously completed projects and references, price, and small business preference.
If a contract is not approved, the City would not be able to update the plan for mitigating risks of loss of life or property from wildfires, which have increased due to growth and development over the past decade.