SLED Opportunity · CALIFORNIA · COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

    On-Call Professional Consulting Services for Parks Projects: Geotechnical Engineering Services

    Issued by County of San Mateo
    countyRFPCounty of San MateoSol. 242796
    Closed
    STATUS
    Closed
    due Mar 24, 2026
    PUBLISHED
    Mar 9, 2026
    Posting date
    JURISDICTION
    County of
    county
    NAICS CODE
    541330
    AI-classified industry

    AI Summary

    The County of San Mateo seeks on-call professional consulting services for geotechnical engineering to support parks projects. The San Mateo County Parks Department manages extensive parklands and recreational facilities serving millions of visitors annually.

    Opportunity details

    Solicitation No.
    242796
    Type / RFx
    RFP
    Status
    open
    Level
    county
    Published Date
    March 9, 2026
    Due Date
    March 24, 2026
    NAICS Code
    541330AI guide
    Agency
    County of San Mateo

    Description

    The County of San Mateo (“County”) covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula. The region covers 744 mi2 and is home to approximately 750,000 residents. The County is made up of 20 incorporated cities. The County provides for the health and welfare of all people within its borders and serves as the local government for the unincorporated areas. Innovation thrives here in industries including bioscience, computer software, green technology, hospitality, financial management, health care, education, and transportation. The County prides itself on how that prosperity fosters its commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety, welfare, and natural resources of the community.

    The San Mateo County Parks Department (“Department”) serves nearly three million visitors every year. Visitors have many options when visiting the County’s unique park system. With 24 parks and recreation areas, over 16,000 acres of park land, and 190 miles of trail, the Department provides healthy outdoor activities, educational opportunities, and lasting memories.

    Due to the diversity of the park system, visitors can enjoy an array of recreational opportunities, including walking; running; hiking; biking; picnicking; horseback riding; sailing; kite surfing; fishing; camping; gardening; tidepooling; volunteering; learning; sports courts; and playing on playgrounds.

    Background

    The Parks Department oversees the planning, development, operation, and maintenance of a diverse range of parks, trails, and recreational facilities throughout the County. The Department delivers projects involving new construction, renovation, and replacement of park facilities, which often require coordination with multiple stakeholders, compliance with environmental and building regulations, and careful management of budgets and schedules. The Department is seeking on-call geotechnical engineering services, including but not limited to site investigations, slope stability evaluations, foundation design, construction monitoring, and preparation of geotechnical reports and related documentation to support safe, resilient, and code-compliant park facilities.

    Project Details

    • Reference ID: 2026-RFP-00392
    • Department: Parks Department
    • Department Head: Emma Gonzalez (Director)

    Important Dates

    • Questions Due: 2026-03-17T00:00:00.000Z

    Addenda

    • Addendum #1 (released 2026-03-18T20:09:34.189Z) —

      Additional week of response time added.

      Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.

    • Addendum #2 (released 2026-03-19T19:57:23.512Z) —

      Addition of line-item pricing section.

      Please use the See What Changed link to view all the changes made by this addendum.

    Evaluation Criteria

    • Firm Qualifications (40 pts)
    • Team Qualifications (25 pts)
    • Price Proposal (25 pts)
    • Preferential Points (10 pts)

      Where price is not the sole evaluation factor for a solicitation (e.g., in the case of a "best-value" solicitation), five percent (5%) of the total evaluation points awardable will be added to the proposal score for each Local Business or Local Non-Profit score for evaluation purposes. In the event of a tie between a Local Business or Local Non-Profit and another bidder, the Local Business or Non-Profit shall be awarded the Contract, assuming agreement on other contract terms.

      An additional three percent (3%) preference shall be given to a Local Business or Local Non-profit (for a total of eight percent (8%) of total points awardable) if the proposer is a Small Business or Small Non-Profit, or an additional 5 percent preference (for a total of ten percent (10%) of total points awardable) if the proposer is a Micro Business or Micro Non-Profit.

    Submission Requirements

    • Minimum Qualifications
    • Has Proposer has been providing similar services for a minimum of four (4) years within the last seven (7) years? (required)
    • Account manager has a minimum of two (2) years of experience within the last five (5) years in providing account services? (required)
    • Vendor is not excluded, suspended, or debarred from the System for Award Management (SAM). (required)

      SAM.gov

    • What is the registered Business Name and Unique Entity ID (UEI) No.? (If applicable)
      • UEI number can be obtained by registering your business through SAM.GOV
      • Should you be in the process of obtaining your UEI number, please enter the digits ‘123’ temporarily for your response below in order to proceed with proposal. This temporary number should be replaced with the correct registration number for submission of the proposal.
    • Performance Measures (required)

      Performance shall be evaluated by successful completion of each on-call project in full compliance with the approved scope of work, meeting all quality standards, delivering on schedule, and staying within the approved budget, while maintaining effective communication with County staff throughout the project lifecycle.

      The County may require periodic reporting from the Contractor to ensure proper contract oversight, tracking of project requirements, and verification of deliverables. The Contractor shall cooperate with the County in providing reports, documentation, or other information as requested to support timely review, approval, and recordkeeping by designated County staff.

       

    • Procurement Preference for Local Businesses and Local Non-Profits
    • Is the Proposer a "Local Business"?

      As Defined by Chapter 2.89.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, a “Local Business” means any for-profit business which has its principal place of business, or is headquartered, in San Mateo County. If this designation applies to the proposer, a self-attestation form must be completed and provided with this response. 

      Please download the below documents, complete, and upload. If this designation is not applicable, please leave blank. 

    • Is the Proposer a Non-Profit? (required)

      A Non-Profit is defined as a tax-exempt public charity organization (within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) that is formed for purposes other than making a profit, is exempt from paying federal income taxes on the income generated for their exempt purposes. 

    • Is the Proposer a "Local Non-Profit"

      As Defined by Chapter 2.89.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code, a “Local Non-Profit" means a tax-exempt public charity organization (within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code) that is formed for purposes other than making a profit, is exempt from paying federal income taxes on the income generated for their exempt purposes, and has its principal place of business, or is headquartered, in San Mateo County. If this designation applies to the proposer, a self-attestation form must be completed and provided with this response. 

      Please download the below documents, complete, and upload. If this designation is not applicable, please leave blank.

    • Is the Proposer a Local "Small" or "Micro" Business?

      As Defined by Chapter 2.89.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code:

      “Small Business” means any business which holds a Small Business Certification awarded by the California Office of Small Business and Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise Services (OSDS).

      “Micro Business” means any Small Business certified by the OSDS which is automatically designated by the OSDS as a Micro Business due to gross annual receipts falling below the OSDS-designated dollar amount.

      If the above designations apply, please provide the OSDS provided Certification ID. 

      If this designation is not applicable, please leave blank. 

    • Is the Proposer a Local "Small" or "Micro" Non-Profit?

      As Defined by Chapter 2.89.020 of the San Mateo County Ordinance Code:

      “Small Non-Profit" means a Local Non-Profit with an annual revenue of $1,000,000 to $2,500,000 according to its most recently filed IRS Form 990.

      “Micro Non-Profit" means a Local Non-Profit with an annual revenue of less than $1,000,000, according to its most recently filed IRS Form 990.

      If the above designations apply, please provide your latest filed IRS form 990. A filing from the last two calendar years is acceptable. 

      If this designation is not applicable, please leave blank. 

    • Technical Proposal
    • Introduction and Executive Summary (required)

      Submit a letter of introduction and executive summary of the proposal.  The letter must contain:

      • Name, title and contact information (email, phone, and address) for representative of proposer that is responsible for communication related to this RFP.
      • Name, title, contact information, and signature of person authorized to obligate firm to perform the commitment contained in the proposal.

      Submission of the letter will constitute a representation by proposer that it is willing and able to perform the commitments contained in the proposal and has not violated the terms of this RFP.

    • Statement of Minimum Qualifications (required)

      Describe how the proposer meets the minimum qualifications as set forth in Minimum Qualifications of this RFP.

      Submission of the Minimum Qualifications checklist is not a substitute for providing a detailed written response.

    • Firm Qualifications (required)

      Attach information regarding background and qualifications, including the following:

      • A brief description of the proposer.
      • A description of not more than three (3) projects similar in size and scope conducted by the proposer, including the client, reference and telephone numbers, primary staff members involved, budget, schedule, and project summary.  Descriptions should be limited to one (1) page for each project.
      • If subcontractors are anticipated, identify them (if known) and provide information on how they will be used.
    • Team Qualifications (required)

      Provide a chart identifying:

          • Project team and reporting structure
          • Lead project manager
          • Role each person will play in the project

      Provide a brief description of the experience and qualifications of the project team members, including short resumes if desired.

      Written assurance that the key individuals listed and identified will be performing the work and will not be substituted or reassigned without the County’s prior approval

    • References (required)

      Provide three references, including the name, address, and telephone number of recent clients (preferably other public agencies)

    • Price Proposal / Example Project (required)

      The Fee Proposal required as part of the bid submission for this solicitation shall include an example project scope and fee proposal for the below example project.

       

      Example Project: New Park Building - Geotechnical Investigation, Menlo Park, CA

       

      Explore the subsurface conditions, evaluate the samples collected through geotechnical testing, and provide the results in a geotechnical investigation report.

       

      Field Exploration:

      • Prior to initiating field explorations, mark the work area with white paint and contact Underground Service Alert (USA) for utility clearance. A local drilling permit with the San Mateo County will be required prior to mobilization.
      • Following the utility clearance, explore the subsurface conditions in the area via geotechnical soil borings to depths of approximately 20 feet bgs. (6) geotechnical boring locations. The geotechnical soil borings will be advanced with a truck-mounted drilling rig to depths of approximately 20 feet bgs. Relatively undisturbed samples will be collected in stainless steel or brass liners that are advanced within a split barrel sampler having a nominal outer diameter of 3 inches. Samples will be driven with a 140-pound automatic hammer falling 30 inches. Bulk samples for index testing and classification will be taken from the surface for analysis and testing as outlined in Task 2. The borings will be advanced with rotary wash drilling methods. During exploration, a representative will oversee the drilling and collect samples.  A continuous log will be maintained. The bulk samples collected shall be sealed to prevent moisture loss and transported to the laboratory for testing and analysis. After completion, the borings shall be backfilled with neat cement grout in accordance with the local drilling permit. Drill cuttings may be disposed of onsite.

       

      Laboratory Testing:

      • Perform soils laboratory testing to evaluate the geotechnical characteristics of the samples obtained.
      • Index testing consisting of moisture content, dry density, particle size analysis, and Atterberg Limits shall be performed to determine the index quality parameters of the in-situ soils. An unconfined compressive strength test shall be tested for strength parameters on cohesive soils.

       

      Report Preparation:

      The results of the field exploration, laboratory tests and engineering analysis shall be presented in a final report prepared under the direction of a California Registered Geotechnical Engineer, and shall include the following:

      • A description of the project
      • A discussion of the local and regional geologic conditions
      • A discussion of local geohazards within the site boundaries
      • Summary of the soil and groundwater conditions
      • Review of available documentation
      • Conclusions and Recommendations related to the geotechnical aspects of design and construction for:
        • Site preparation, moisture conditioning and compaction of earth fills
        • Trench backfill including bedding and temporary excavations
        • Foundation design for new structures including allowable capacity, lateral resistance, and settlement
      • Graphics including a site plan, boring location map, and boring logs, etc.
      • Appendices containing results of our field exploration and laboratory testing.
    • Agreement term (years) (required)

      Update below if needed.

    • Is there an extension to this agreement? (required)

      Is there an extension to this agreement?

    • Extension (required)

      Modify the extension information below, if needed

    • Will there be a Pre-Proposal Meeting and/or a Site Visit? (required)
    • Include the information that will be covered in the site visit. (required)
    • Require vendors to provide References? (required)
    • References (required)

      How many references are required by the vendor? (Number)

    • Use Electronic Line Item Pricing? (required)
    • Allow vendors to submit Confidential Information? (required)

      In rare circumstances where there is an expectation that proposers will need to submit trade secrets or other confidential information in order to respond to an RFP. 

    • Sample Agreement (required)

    Questions & Answers

    Q (Comments & Contract Exceptions): Would the County be open to revising the indemnification language to narrow its scope? As currently written, phrases such as “of every nature, kind and description” function as an unlimited obligation. Would the County consider clarifying that "company's name" indemnification and liability are proportionate to "company's name" percentage of fault, or alternatively capped at an amount not to exceed the value of the contract, consistent with industry standards for professional services? We currently maintain a Certificate of Insurance that meets the County’s stated insurance requirements. However, our insurance carrier is unable to provide endorsements that include “agents.” Would the County be amenable to removing the reference to “agents” from the required endorsements so that coverage can be provided in compliance with standard insurance market limitations?

    A: Modifications to the standard contract language will be considered, but are subject to approval by the County Attorney and Risk Management.


    Q (Example Project Fee Proposal): For the example project fee proposal, should proposers assume traffic control, permit fees, utility clearance fees, inspection during construction, and any special access/site constraints are included unless specifically excluded?

    A: For the example project fee proposal, proposers should assume that reasonable site coordination costs (including traffic control, permits, utility clearance, and special access/site constraints) are the responsibility of the Contractor. Proposers should clearly document any assumptions in their fee proposal.


    Q (Peer Review): Please clarify the anticipated scope of peer review services (Section 2.1), including whether this work is expected to consist primarily of desktop review and written comments, or whether independent analyses, calculations, field verification, or signed/sealed review memoranda may also be required.

    A: The scope of peer review services under this agreement will be determined on a Task Order basis. In general, peer review may consist of desktop review and written comments; however, the County may request additional services such as independent analyses, calculations, field verification, or review memoranda depending on the specific project requirements. Contractors should have the capability to provide all customary peer review services performed by licensed geotechnical engineers, as needed.


    Q (Number of firms): How many firms will be selected?

    A: It is anticipated that a single bid will be selected.


    Key dates

    1. March 9, 2026Published
    2. March 24, 2026Responses Due

    AI classification tags

    Frequently asked questions

    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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