Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

The Town of Nantucket, through its Planning & Land Use Services Department, invites qualified responders to submit quotes for the Nantucket Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. This Request for Quotes ("RFQ") is made in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws, Ch 30B.

Background

The Town of Nantucket is located within the County of Nantucket. The Town functions under a Town Manager/Select Board form of government. The Select Board operates under a Charter and enacts policies intended to promote and enhance the general welfare of the Town. In addition to customary municipal operations, the Town operates a skilled nursing facility, a public school system, two wastewater treatment facilities, a housing department, and a solid waste facility.

The Town of Nantucket is located 30 miles off the south coast of Cape Cod. It was settled in 1659 and incorporated in 1671. The Town has an annual year-round population of approximately 18,000 and up to 65,000 seasonal residents. The island is 14 miles in length and 3 1/2 miles wide. Nantucket is comprised of residential, commercial, and large tracts of undeveloped land, including a state forest. Transportation routes include a busy airport, a thriving seaport, and a locally maintained road system which includes urban, suburban and rural road systems.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-PLUS-0323
• Department: Planning & Land Use Services
• Department Head: Leslie Snell (Director of Planning)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-04-21T18:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-04-24T20:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Terms of Service —

  The successful bidder shall perform services as necessary from May 15, 2026 to October 15, 2027. This is intended to be a seventeen (17) month contract.

• Location —

  Planning & Land Use Services, 2 Fairgrounds Road, Nantucket MA 02554.

• Overview —

  This is a required update to the Nantucket Hazard Mitigation Plan with Federal Grant Funding (HMGP) via MEMA. The plan addresses important changes in the community to address mitigation of multiple natural hazards that may affect the community, including flood hazards, winter storm hazards, wind hazards, wildfire hazards, extreme temperature hazards, and geologic hazards. The end deliverable is an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan approved by FEMA.

• Quality of Work —
  1. Reporting 

  Throughout the study the winning proposer will work closely with the Preservation Planner or their designee and will be expected to provide regular updates a specified time. The proposer will spend considerable time explaining the methodology, the analysis and the draft to the PLUS Department before being presented. The final product will be presented by the proposer to the Board of Selectman in a public meeting.

  2. Analysis 

  A completed report will include an executive summary, methodology, data analysis, source materials, critical observations, and final recommendations.

  3. Project Completion 

  The consultant must be ready to commence the project within thirty (30) days of the contract award and must complete the project by October 15, 2027.

• Nantucket Hazard Mitigation Plan Update —

  The proposed project shall include the update of a multi-jurisdictional all-hazard mitigation plan update to the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (2019) for the Town of Nantucket, Nantucket, MA. The plan shall be prepared in accordance with the updated FEMA guidelines (APR 19, 2023) for all plans approved after April 19, 2023. The outcome of the project shall be a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approved updated Hazard Mitigation Plan ("Plan").

  The Plan will present the information in a unified framework to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated plan covering the entire island of Nantucket, located within the Town and County of Nantucket, to assess Nantucket's vulnerability to natural and manmade hazards, to identify mitigation actions and activities to reduce potential losses from identified hazards, and to update the previously established coordinated process to implement, monitor, and update the plan. Upon completion, the Plan must be approved by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ensuring the Town of Nantucket remains eligible for funding under the Federal Hazard Mitigation Program.

• Major Tasks for the Mitigation Plan —

  The major tasks of the Mitigation Planning process include:

  (1) revisit the hazard profiles for each hazard that impacts the community,

  (2) facility inventory,

  (3) community vulnerability assessment,

  (4) update mitigation goals,

  (5) identify and analyze specific mitigation actions,

  (6) plan, review, evaluate, and implement the overall hazard mitigation strategy,

  (7) plan maintenance,

  (8) public review and draft of plan; and

  (9) MEMA/FEMA plan review and approval.

  Coordinating and Contracting  

  • • Collaborate with Key Stakeholders: Work closely with the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Coordinator for the Town of Nantucket, the Planning Team, and the Steering Committee throughout all phases of the project. Ensure active participation from local agencies and provide opportunities for community members to engage in the planning process, fostering broad-based support.
    • Develop and Implement a Public Engagement Strategy: Create a comprehensive action plan for public involvement and feedback during the plan’s development and approval process. Utilize various outreach methods, including surveys, educational briefings, press releases, website updates, public hearings, and other communication channels, to encourage widespread participation. Document all engagement efforts and outcomes.
    • Establish a Planning Team and Steering Committee: Form a dedicated Planning Team and Steering Committee that meet FEMA’s minimum participation requirements. Ensure the team and committee is structured to guide the planning process effectively and align with federal guidelines.
    • Document the Planning Process: Provide detailed documentation of the planning process, highlighting how the planning team reviewed, analyzed, and updated each section of the plan. Clearly outline any revisions made as part of the update process.
    • Assess and Outline Plan Maintenance: Evaluate how the plan has been maintained and implemented over the past five (5) years. Define a structured approach for ongoing plan maintenance and implementation for the next five (5) years to ensure its continued effectiveness and compliance.
    • Develop a Schedule: Develop a schedule for the work, ensuring adequate time for all required activities.

  Data Collection and Review

  This task involves a comprehensive review of existing plans, emergency documents, studies, and the best available data from local, regional, state, and federal sources. The Planning Team will collaborate with the Consultant to compile relevant information on hazards, risks, and vulnerabilities. The County, cities, and special districts will leverage existing data sources, including flood mapping, earthquake epicenter and ground acceleration mapping, and fire hazard risk mapping. The primary goal is to identify the most reliable data for each hazard and address any existing data gaps.

  • Evaluate Existing Capabilities: Identify, review, and incorporate relevant plans, studies, reports, and technical resources into the planning process. This may include local comprehensive plans, ordinances, capital improvement plans, warning systems, public education initiatives, building codes, zoning ordinances, and floodplain management plans.
  • Leverage GIS for Hazard Identification: Utilize existing GIS data to map hazards, update information as needed, and correct any discrepancies to ensure accuracy.
  • Integrate historic preservation planning considerations into the plan (FEMA Guidance 386-6) Compile all data to date on adapting Nantucket's historic and cultural resources since 2019; create a dedicated historic and cultural resources preservation task force committee. This also includes reviewing the Resilient Nantucket: Flooding Adaptation & Building Elevation Design Guidelines (2021), developed in accordance with the National Park Service’s (NPS) Standards on Flood Adaptation for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings (2019).

  Draft Plan

  Building on the previous tasks, the Consultant will prepare the Plan update in compliance with State and Federal requirements, ensuring that each necessary component for every jurisdiction is included. The Plan will outline a maintenance procedure for ongoing monitoring, evaluation, and updates. An Administrative Draft will be created for stakeholder review and approval before being released to the public for further feedback. 

  Public Education and Participation 

  After the initial hazard identification and profiling are completed and a draft is prepared, public workshops will be held to review and refine the information as needed. These workshops are intended to help the Town build consensus around preferred hazard mitigation strategies, ultimately reducing potential impacts on people and property. All meetings will be publicly announced and open to the community to encourage broad participation and gather valuable input.

  Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress

  Town staff will lead the adoption, implementation, and evaluation of the Plan, with support from the Consultant. Town Staff and applicable boards will review the Plan, consider public feedback, make revisions if necessary, and direct the Consultant to submit the Plan to MEMA and FEMA for review. Once FEMA grants "Approval Pending Adoption" (APA) status, the final Plan will be presented for adoption at a public meeting.

  Town staff will assist with the submission process and any required Plan adjustments. The Consultant will ensure the Plan meets FEMA’s approval standards. Key tasks include:

  • • Establishing a method and schedule to monitor the Plan’s progress, including responsible departments.
    • Detailing the evaluation process: who, when, and how the Plan will be evaluated.
    • Explaining how the updated Plan integrates with local planning processes and incorporates previous plan elements.
    • Developing a strategy for ongoing public participation.
    • Submitting the final draft and completed FEMA Plan Review Tool to Cal OES before the grant period ends.
    • Providing adoption resolutions to the state for FEMA approval.
    • Maintaining project management until FEMA approval is granted.
    • Addressing any changes required by FEMA to achieve approval after final payment.
    • Assisting with progress reports to MEMA.
    • Providing an updated list of Local Capabilities and Mitigation Actions for the State Hazard Mitigation Plan database.
    • Remaining available for technical assistance on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan.

   

• Sample Documents and Links —

  The Town has previously retained and may currently retain consultants to develop and implement planning initiatives, including but not limited to a Strategic Plan, Coastal Resilience Plan, Master Plan, and Strategic Retreat and Relocation Plan. Proposers may access related background information and documentation at the links set forth below. Such materials are provided for informational purposes only, and the Town assumes no responsibility for their accuracy or completeness.

  • The 2019 Nantucket Hazard Mitigation Plan - https://nantucket-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/50577/Town-of-Nantucket-Natural-Hazard-Mitigation-Plan---Adopted-March-8-2019
  • Select Board Strategic Plan - https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/1577/Strategic-Plan
  • Nantucket Coastal Resilience Plan - https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/40278/Nantucket-Coastal-Resilience-Plan-PDF
  • Master Plan (being updated) -https://www.nantucket-ma.gov/315/Planning-Board
  • Strategic Retreat and Relocation Plan (being developed) - https://engage.zencity.io/nantucket-ma/en-US/projects/strategic-retreat-relocation-program

   

• End Date —

  The entire project should be completed by October 15, 2027.

   

Submission Requirements

• TAX COMPLIANCE AND NON-COLLUSION FORM (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.  FAILURE TO SIGN AND UPLOAD BOTH FORMS WILL DISQUALIFY THE SUBMISSION PER MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS.

• REFERENCES (required) —

  Bidders must provide a minimum of three (3) customers for whom it provided similar services in the past three (3) years. Reference information must include Name, Contact Person, Phone Number, Email Address and Date(s) of Service. 

• EXPERIENCE (required) —

  Does company have a minimum of five (5) years of experience in other Massachusetts Municipalities in providing the services required in the scope of services?

• AUTHORIZATION (required) —

  I certify that I have read, understood and agree to the terms in the solicitation, and that I am authorized to submit this response on behalf of my company.

• INSURANCE REQUIREMENT (required) —

  Workers' Compensation, covering the obligations of the CONTRACTOR in accordance with applicable Workers' Compensation or Benefits laws.

  Commercial General Liability Insurance on an occurrence basis with a combined single limit of not less than $2 million. Coverage is to include premises and operations, coverage for liability of subcontractors. The policy shall contain an endorsement stating that the aggregate limits will apply separately to the work being performed under this Agreement.

  Automobile Liability Insurance of not less than $1 million combined single limit covering owned, hired and non-hired vehicle use.

  Errors and Omissions Insurance of not less than $1 million per claim.

• Attach current insurance certificate (required)
• Signature Page from the Town's Contract (required) —

  Signature page from the Town's contract, signed by an authorized individual as a good faith statement that the Contractor is willing to enter into the Town's standard contract form.  Please see Sample Agreement in ATTACHMENT A.

• W9 Form Request —

  Please upload a completed W-9 Form if you have not worked with the Town of Nantucket in the past. The W-9 will be used to set up the Contractor as a Vendor for the Town of Nantucket. 

• Short Description of Scope (required) —

  Enter short description of the project scope

• Contract Start Date (required) —

  What is the contract start date?

• Contract End Date (required) —

  What is the contract end date?

• What is the contract term in years (required) —

  Enter "number text" (number)

• Is prevailing wage required for this project? (required)