On-Call Professional Consulting Services for Parks Projects: Vegetation Management (Invasive Species, Habitat Restoration, and Fire Fuel Reduction)

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 vegetation management and habitat restoration services to support invasive species control, native habitat enhancement, and fire fuel reduction efforts, including coordination with staff and volunteers and compliance with applicable pest management and regulatory requirements.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 2026-RFP-00397
• Department: Parks Department
• Department Head: Emma Gonzalez (Director)

Important Dates

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

Addenda

• Addendum #1 (released 2026-03-18T22:35:46.612Z) —

  Additional week added to submission deadline.

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

• Addendum #2 (released 2026-03-19T19:58:43.491Z) —

  Addition of line-item pricing section.

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

• Addendum #3 (released 2026-03-20T00:36:13.730Z) —

  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:

  5. 2. • 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) —

  Contractor would be responsible for the treatment of native scrub in grassland and prairie habitats that are undergoing succession, gorse control, and treatment of a variety of other non-native invasive plants at San Bruno Mountain State and County Park. There are several approved treatment options for meeting the project objectives including handwork, mechanical work, and application of selective herbicides. The project would also include the following:

   

  • Treatment by prescribed methods in three treatment periods: August-November, December- March, and April-June, depending on the appropriate treatment window for target species.
  • Disposal of native brush will be piled within dense areas of brush adjacent to control areas.
  • Disposal of other weed species will be made in specified locations and have herbicide applied as needed to minimize spread.
  • Pre-work surveys of all potential treatment areas prior to the first treatment activity of each year to identify specific locations, density of infestations, identify sensitive sites and species, and to refine treatment approach with Department staff in order to plan timing, methods and protective measures during treatment activities that year.
  • Posting and removing Herbicide Notification Signs during herbicide treatment when treatments occur along trails and fire trails.
  • Mapping and reporting utilizing a geographic information system (GIS) application.
  • Utilize the provided guidance from the San Mateo County Parks Department to determine the most appropriate approach within each treatment polygon.
• 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