Project Information

Bid Title

RFQ EPA Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Grant

Issuing Agency

City of West Columbia

Location

South Carolina

Published Date

Oct 17, 2025

Closing Date

Dec 2, 2025

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

RFQ EPA Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Grant

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Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) Services

City of West Columbia, South Carolina

EPA Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Grant

Issue Date: Friday, October 17, 2025

Submission Deadline: Tuesday, December 2, 2025, 3:00 PM EST

1. Introduction

The City of West Columbia (City) has been successfully awarded a U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) Brownfields Community-Wide Assessment Grant to facilitate environmental

assessments throughout the City. The City’s current Cooperative Agreement with the EPA is for a

grant of $500,000. These grant funds are to support a full range of tasks, including public

outreach, site inventory and selection, assessment activities, and reuse planning.

The City is seeking a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) for the Brownfields

Community-Wide Assessment Program. The QEP serves as the overall Project Manager for the

implementation of this grant program, working in close collaboration with City staff to ensure

that all grant funding requirements and deliverables are met, and that site assessments and

required reporting are conducted in accordance with EPA and South Carolina Department of

Environmental Services (SCDES) regulations.

2. Background

The City of West Columbia is launching a transformative Brownfield Community Assessment

a pivotal step toward driving economic revitalization and fostering sustainable growth within

one of the city’s most dynamic commercial and residential areas. This comprehensive, grant-

funded initiative reflects a strong commitment to the community’s more than 17,000 residents

and its potential for continued development and renewal.

Situated along key corridors such as Highway 378, Highway 321, and Airport

Boulevard/Charleston Highway, this area has long served as a central connector within the

region. Now, through this assessment, West Columbia is building upon that strategic advantage

to enhance local commerce and create new opportunities for growth.

This effort represents a foundational investment in the future of West Columbia. By

evaluating environmental conditions and identifying strategic redevelopment opportunities, the

city will pave the way for these corridors to evolve into vibrant community destinations. This

forward-looking initiative will attract new investment, support job creation, and strengthen the

local economy—ensuring that West Columbia continues to be a place where businesses thrive

and residents flourish.

With an inventory of approximately 56 potential brownfield sites, including several former

service and automotive-related properties, this initiative represents an important investment in

West Columbia’s long-term success. The project will focus on properties that offer the greatest

opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and community enhancement, while

emphasizing the needs of historically underserved populations.

By proactively assessing and preparing these sites for future redevelopment, the City of

West Columbia is advancing its vision for a more sustainable, inclusive, and economically vibrant

community for all residents.

3. Scope of Services

The QEP will be responsible for providing technical assistance and oversight for a full range of

tasks, as outlined in the City’s Cooperative Agreement with the EPA. Cooperative agreement

funding will be used to cover the costs of activities at or in direct support of brownfield sites as

defined under CERCLA 101(39). The overall coordination of the cooperative agreement will be

carried out by the West Columbia Project team, with technical assistance and oversight to be

performed by the QEP.

The scope of services includes, but is not limited to, the following key areas:

3.1. Outreach/Programmatic Support:

• Coordinate and support two (2) community outreach meetings/events.

• Assist in developing content for ads in local target areas.

• Support a targeted social media campaign in the community.

3.2. Brownfield Assessment Activities:

• Conduct and finalize up to twenty-four (24) Phase I ESAs.

• Develop and finalize one (1) Generic Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP).

• Oversee and manage up to ten (10) Phase II ESAs, including site-specific Sampling

and Analysis Plans (SSQAPPs).

• Assist the City in securing Site Access Agreements for properties identified for

assessment.

• Conduct Property Eligibility Determinations in accordance with EPA guidelines.

3.3. Site Inventory:

• Develop and implement an Evaluation Ranking Tool for prioritizing brownfield

sites.

• Maintain and update a comprehensive site inventory list of potential brownfield

sites.

3.4. Remediation/Reuse Planning:

• Prepare four (4) analyses of Brownfields Cleanup Alternatives (ABCAs).

• Facilitate two (2) Visioning Sessions/Charrettes with community stakeholders to

guide future reuse.

• Develop one (1) Brownfield Revitalization Plan.

3.5. Grant Compliance and Reporting:

• Ensure all activities comply with EPA Brownfields Grant requirements and SCDES

regulations, including the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP).

• Assist the City in preparing and submitting all required EPA reports (e.g.,

quarterly progress reports, ACRES database updates).

• Serve as the primary technical liaison with EPA and SCDES.

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The City has a total of $500,000, with $487,000 budgeted for consulting services, which includes

all fees, expenses, and necessary materials.

4. Qualifications and Experience

Proposing firms and their proposed QEP must demonstrate substantial experience and

qualifications relevant to the scope of services. Specifically, proposals should address the

following:

4.1. Firm Qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience managing and implementing environmental

remediation projects of similar scope and size.

• Experience working with municipalities and other public entities on

environmental redevelopment projects.

• Familiarity with South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES)

regulations, particularly the Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP).

• Capacity to manage multiple assessment projects concurrently and meet grant

timelines.

• Financial stability and sufficient resources to perform the required services.

4.2. Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) Qualifications: The proposed Project

Manager (QEP) must meet the definition of a "Qualified Environmental Professional" as

outlined in 40 CFR Part 312.10(b) – "All Appropriate Inquiries." This typically requires a

combination of education and experience:

• Possession of a current professional license or certification in a relevant discipline (e.g.,

Professional Engineer, Professional Geologist) AND at least five (5) years of relevant full-

time experience.

• OR a Baccalaureate degree or higher in environmental science, engineering, geology, or

a related scientific discipline AND at least five (5) years of relevant full-time experience.

• OR at least ten (10) years of relevant full-time experience.

The QEP must also demonstrate:

• Proven experience as a project manager on environmental remediation projects.

• Strong understanding of CERCLA, ASTM E1527 (Phase I ESA), ASTM E1903 (Phase II ESA),

and other relevant federal and state environmental regulations.

• Experience with developing quality assurance and sampling plans.

• Excellent communication, organizational, and public engagement skills.

4.3 Options-Based Procurement: The resulting contract will be for four years. The City

of West Columbia may amend or extend this contract beyond the initial four years to

accommodate the terms and conditions of the FY25 Brownfields Assessment Grant or future

EPA grants awarded to the City of West Columbia within this four-year period, provided a

market survey conducted by the City of West Columbia indicates that the prices the contractor

proposes are reasonable.

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5. Selection Criteria

The City of West Columbia reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submittals. All

submittals become the property of the City upon receipt. A Project Review Subcommittee

comprised of representatives from the City will evaluate each proposal according to the

following factors and percentage scale:

• 30% - Demonstrated experience in addressing contaminated properties/environmental

remediation and successfully completing tasks/projects

• 10% - Demonstrated experience in effectively engaging with community members and

federal and state agencies

• 20% - Experience and capacity of project team/personnel

• 25% - Reasonableness of cost/price proposal (e.g., rates) based on a comparison of

prices among competing offerors and other available information on market rates for

consulting services

• 15% - References

Please note that the maximum score is 100%

6. Submittal Procedure: 3:00 PM (EST) on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025.

Five (5) copies of the RFQ must be submitted in a sealed envelope marked “City of West

Columbia EPA Brownfields Community Wide Assessment: RFQ” to:

City of West Columbia

Attn: Katherine Call, Director of Community Development

200 N. 12th Street

West Columbia, SC 29169

Electronic-only submissions will not be permitted.

The Proposal shall include the information outlined below. To ensure fair and equitable

evaluation, proposals should be organized into the following separate sections.

a. EXPERIENCE:

Include a summary of the following:

- History of the firm’s experience in providing each of the environmental services listed in

the scope of work (section 3).

- Experience in effectively engaging with community members and federal and state

agencies

b. ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT:

- Description of the firm’s proposed project approach, organizational structure, and the

names and experience of key individuals who will be performing the specific services

requested.

- Identify the location of staff to be committed to the project.

- Identify any potential subcontractors.

c. COST PROPOSAL:

- Provide an estimated itemized Not-to-Exceed (NTE) budget for completing

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the activities listed above. It is understood that activities such as the Phase II ESAs will be

difficult to accurately budget prior to completion of Phase I.

- Include staff billing rates along with subcontractor administration fees/markup

percentages and any travel costs. These rates will be considered during the selection

process.

- Provide rates for asbestos, lead paint, mold, geophysical surveys, and radiation surveys.

Include laboratory costs and per-sample rates, if known.

- Based on the City’s Cooperative Agreement with EPA, Davis-Bacon Act prevailing wage

requirements will not apply to these projects since assessment activities

generally, do not involve construction, repair, or alterations within the meaning of the

Davis-Bacon Act.

d. REFERENCES:

- List up to three (3) references for similar services/projects that have been provided by

your firm. Please include a description of the services, dates of service, and a list of the

key personnel who were involved in the project. Please include a contact person,

organization, email address, and phone number for each reference.

e. INSURANCE AND LIABILITY COVERAGE:

- The limits of liability for the insurance shall provide coverage for not less than the following

amounts or greater, where required by Laws and Regulations:

1. Workers’ Compensation and related coverages:

State:

Employer’s Liability:

Bodily injury, each accident

2. Contractor’s Commercial General:

General Aggregate

Statutory

$ 1,000,000

$ 2,000,000

Each Occurrence (Bodily Injury and Property

Damage)

$ 1,000,000

3. Automobile Liability:

Bodily Injury:

Each person

Each accident

Property Damage:

Each accident

4. Excess or Umbrella Liability:

Per Occurrence

General Aggregate

5. Contractor’s Pollution Liability:

Each Occurrence

General Aggregate

$ 1,000,000

$ 1,000,000

$ 1,000,000

$ 4,000,000

$ 4,000,000

$ 1,000,000

$ 1,000,000

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Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541611Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
• NAICS 541620Environmental Consulting Services
• NAICS 541690Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
• NAICS 541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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