Active SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · WATSONVILLE
AI Summary
The City of Watsonville seeks qualified consultants to update development impact fees via a Nexus Study in compliance with California's Mitigation Fee Act. The update covers traffic, utilities, public facilities, parks, affordable housing, and a new police fee. Proposals due July 24, 2026.
The City of Watsonville (“City”) requests proposals from qualified consultants to prepare a Nexus Study for development impact fees in compliance with the requirements of the Mitigation Fee Act (also known as “AB 1600,” California Government Code Sections 66000 – 66025). The City seeks proposals to update and replace the current impact fees identified in the “City of Watsonville Annual and Five-Year Report Development Impact Fees Report for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025” (“2025 Annual Report”). It is anticipated that the updated impact fees may be evaluated and completed in phases, and the City will seek recommended approaches from the successful proposer. The City will consider proposals from proposers that include either: (a) an update to the entire scope of public facilities to be funded with impact fees, or (b) an update to one or more types of public facilities for which the proposer has experience and expertise. As identified in more detail in the 2025 Annual Report, the City is planning to update and replace the following categories of development impact fees: (1) Traffic-related impacts (including citywide, vehicle miles traveled, carbon impacts, and 13 geographical areas); (2) Underground Utilities In-Lieu Fee; (3) Public Facilities (including fire impact fee); (4) Park Land and Improvement Fees (including community center facilities, public art, as well as a replacement of a “Quimby Act” land dedication in-lieu fee with an impact fee); and (5) and Affordable Housing impacts. Additionally, the City is planning to add a Police Impact fee. The City requests that each proposal include an option to evaluate the feasibility of establishing one or more new fees (e.g., to fund public facilities needed for solid waste collection services), based on projected new development and the proposed improvements to be discussed with the successful Proposer (“Consultant”) upon selection.
The City of Watsonville (“City”) is requesting proposals from qualified firms (“Firms”) to provide objective, independent Development Impact Fee Study for the City. All questions should be directed in writing to Marissa Duran, Administrative Services Director, at marissa.duran@watsonville.gov. Such contact shall be for clarification purposes only. The City must receive all questions no later than July 17th, 2026.
The City, at its sole discretion, reserves the following rights:
Proposalwill be evaluated using the criteria stated in this document. Proposal from firms meeting the mandatory criteria described below will be evaluated for the other selection criteria.
Compensation shall be determined as part of the formal contracting process.
1 General
Submissions will be evaluated based on the general completeness of the response and the City's evaluation of the firm's approach, experience, knowledge, and references related to the specific scope of work requested. Some key areas considered in the selection process are highlighted below, but not an exhaustive list of what may be considered in the selection process.
2 Mandatory Elements
The firm has no conflict of interest with regard to any other work performed by the firm for the City.
The firm adheres to the instructions in this document and has provided a clear, well-formatted, professional and concise Proposal.
4.3 Qualifications
The firm’s reputation and past experience in the performance of other similar services for similar agencies.
The quality of the firm’s professional personnel to be assigned to the scope of work and the quality of the firm’s management support personnel to be available for technical consultation.
The quality of the planned approach and demonstration of the experience and qualifications needed to complete the requested scope of services.
Demonstrated results performing the requested services for agencies with similar goals and challenges, including client references which the City may contact.
4.4 Team Readiness and Availability
Demonstration that the current workload of the firm's listed team members will not impact their ability to fulfill the services required for this contract.
4.5 Submittal Selection Process
A Selection Committee will review and evaluate the submittals, with a focus on the Selection Criteria highlighted above. Based on the evaluations of the Selection Committee, the qualified respondents will be ranked. The City may request an informal interview with one or several of the top ranked firms which will be taken into consideration in final selection. RFQ: Once selected, the top ranked team overall will be requested to meet with the City to develop a Scope of Work and cost proposal. If agreement cannot be reached, negotiations will be terminated with the firm and opened with the respondent ranked next in order. If a contract is awarded, the City will contract with the selected consultant utilizing the City’s standard consultant services agreement. The agreement requires the consultant to secure auto and general commercial liability insurance naming the City and its employees additional insured, professional errors and omissions insurance and workers compensation insurance. A copy of the City’s standard consultant services agreement is available for inspection by request. The negotiated contract will require approval by the City of Watsonville City Council for services exceeding $100,000.
The respondent understands that issuance of this solicitation does not commit the City of Watsonville to award a contract, to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a response to this solicitation, or to procure a contract for services. The respondent should note that the execution of any contract pursuant to this solicitation is dependent upon the approval of the Watsonville City Council, as required.
The respondent agrees, if selected, that they shall perform the services as independent contractor(s) and not employee(s) of the City.
Questions regarding this solicitation shall be directed through the City's OpenGov Procurement portal located at: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/watsonville-ca.
All questions are due before 5:00 pm on Friday, July 17, 2026.
The City will make every effort to adhere to the schedule provided below:
| Issue Document: | June 25, 2026 |
| Deadline for Submitting Questions: | July 17, 2026, 5:00pm |
| Response Due: | July 24, 2026, 5:00pm 250 Main Street, |
| Notice of Selection: | August 12, 2026 |
The respondent understands that as a general rule all documents received by the City are considered public records. Therefore all submittals shall be made available for public inspection according to applicable disclosure rules and regulations.
The City will not share the details of individual responses to this solicitation with competing respondents during the selection process. After the selection process ends and a contract is awarded, all solicitations become public information.
The respondent agrees, if selected, that the City will review and approve all news releases pertaining to this solicitation and/or subsequent agreement(s). All news releases will be submitted in writing to the City’s project manager. The project manager will review and submit the news release to the appropriate City personnel for final review and approval in a timely manner.
The respondent agrees, if selected, to comply with the City’s duly adopted Conflict of Interest Code. Key personnel who will be performing services under this Agreement are required to make disclosures with respect to the City of Watsonville.
The respondent agrees, if selected, to accept the City of Watsonville standard consultant agreement, including specifically listing City’s Hold Harmless Indemnity requirements and insurance coverage requirements, without modification.
The respondent understands that the information provided herein is intended solely to assist the respondent in submittal preparation. To the best of the City’s knowledge, the information provided is accurate. However, the City does not warrant such accuracy, and any errors or omissions subsequently determined will not be construed as a basis for invalidating this solicitation. Further, by submitting a response to this solicitation, the respondent represents that it has thoroughly examined and become familiar with work required in the solicitation and is capable of performing quality work and to achieve the objectives of the City.
The City of Watsonville is strongly committed to equal opportunity in solicitation of services. All eligible service providers including individuals, contractors, vendors, consultants, grantees, lessees, and banks, must comply with applicable Equal Opportunity Guidelines.
The respondent shall not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, or disability in the solicitation, selection, hiring or treatment of its employees, the City staff, other City consultants or other members of the public.
Provide evidence of insurance coverage in the following amounts:
Will there be a need for the electronic pricing table in this RFQ?
Enter if this is a Proposal or an SOQ
SLED stands for State, Local, and Education. These are solicitations issued by state governments, counties, cities, school districts, utilities, and higher education institutions — as opposed to federal agencies.
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