City of Michigan City

Request for Proposals/Qualifications

For

 Environmental Consultant Services for Environmental Site Assessment and Related Activities Funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency

Community-Wide Brownfield Assessment Grant

November 10th, 2025

 

Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has awarded City of Michigan City, Indiana (the “City”) a U.S. EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant in the sum $500,000 over a four- year term to support redevelopment of brownfields impacted by petroleum and hazardous substances. The City is requesting proposals from qualified environmental engineering/consulting firms to assist the City with management of the grant and implementation of the grant-funded environmental assessments. The resulting contract will be for four years. Michigan City 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 Michigan City within this four- year period provided a market survey conducted by the City indicates that the prices the Consultant proposes are reasonable.

Michigan City reserves the right to waive any information or minor defects in the RFPQ or the RFPQ responses / procedure, reject any and all responses, or accept any submittal that is most responsive and responsible as exclusively determined by the City. Any response may be withdrawn by the respondent prior to the scheduled time for the opening of the response or authorized postponement thereof.

Should there be reasons why the contract cannot be awarded within the specified period, the time may be extended by mutual agreement between the City and the respondent.

Proof of acceptable insurance in accordance with the requirements outlined in this RFPQ shall accompany the response. No bid bond, payment bond or performance bond is required for this contract. Submission of a signed submittal by the respondent constitutes acknowledgement of and acceptance of all documents, terms, and conditions of this RFPQ and the EPA Cooperative Agreement (CA).

Project Overview

Budget:

The City has been awarded $500,000  in grant funding from the U.S. EPA for assessment of sites affected by petroleum and/or hazardous materials within Michigan City. Budgeted funds allocated as “contractual” will be the responsibility of the respondent.

 

The City will use grant funds to complete the following tasks:

Task 1 – Program Management, Training Support, & Brownfield Inventory/Prioritization The City and Consultant will need to call, meet, and correspond with US EPA staff to manage the grant’s cooperative agreement. Additionally, the Consultant will be responsible for providing Grant reporting documentation services on behalf of the City. Funds allocated for this task will also be used to update the City’s Brownfield Inventory.

Task 2 – Environmental Investigation

The Consultant will be expected to complete Eligibility Determination Requests for each site. Eligibility determinations for hazardous substances sites will be made through the EPA Project Officer, and eligibility determinations for petroleum sites will be made through the Indiana Brownfield Program (IBP). Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) will be performed by the Consultant under this task. The City will identify locations for Phase I ESA activities on key sites throughout the City. All Phase I ESAs must be conducted by the Consultant in accordance with the ASTM standard for Phase I ESAs (E1527-21) and the All-Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) rule.

The Consultant will prepare and submit a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) according to the model provided by the EPA and will update the QAPP annually. The Consultant will complete work plans, field activities, and reports, which will be reviewed and approved by regulatory authorities, as appropriate. These activities may include geophysical surveys to locate buried tanks, initial Phase II ESAs, and delineation of soil and ground water contamination.

Task 3 – Clean-up & Re-Use Planning

The Consultant will complete clean-up and re-use planning documents, such as: Remedial Action Plans, Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives, site closure letter requests (Site Status Letters, No Further Action Letters, etc.), Comfort Letters, and clean-up funding development. Cleanup planning will include an evaluation of potential remedial techniques, determination of appropriate cleanup goals, identification of probable costs, and planning and application for additional funding. RAPs will include a feasibility analysis that includes alternatives designed to meet the project’s objectives.

Task 3 funds will also be used to identify funding sources necessary to remediate contaminated brownfields and return them to productive reuse.

Task 4 – Community Outreach & Involvement

The Consultant will be expected to provide technical expertise and education in community involvement activities, including working with the City to develop outreach materials used to educate stakeholders on the benefits of the grant. The Consultant will also be expected to attend community engagement events and coordinate/conduct community outreach programs and meetings.

 

Submission Requirements

Qualified firms with a strong background in environmental assessments and brownfield redevelopment activities should submit their proposal containing the information outlined below. Proposals are limited in length (20 pages maximum) and shall be enclosed in one or more sealed envelopes, labeled “Environmental Services for Michigan City, EPA Assessment Grant”.   All hard copy proposals shall be addressed and delivered to:

 

Attn:  Liliana Franco

Economic Development Corporation – Michigan City

2 Cadence Park Plaza, Michigan City, IN 46360

Proposals are due at the above office on or before December 1st, 2025 at 12:00pm (Noon). Late responses to this RFPQ will not be accepted.

 

Alternatively, proposals may be submitted by email containing “Environmental Services for City of Michigan City EPA Assessment Grant” in the subject line. Emailed proposals shall be sent to: lfranco@edcmc.com and cc: kcedwards@edcmc.com

 

Notes:

Michigan City  will not be held responsible for mishandled, late, or lost qualification packages. Email and Facsimile qualifications will NOT be considered unless otherwise authorized.

Questions related to this RFPQ should be directed to Liliana Franco at lfranco@edcmc.com. All questions posed by consultants will be compiled and responses will be sent back to all parties that have posed questions. Questions must be submitted on or before November 26th, 2025. Questions received after this date will not be answered. Those that have not posed questions but wish to receive the question- and- answer information should contact the City via email.

 

Respondent shall certify that to the best of his/her knowledge, all information provided in the response is accurate and complete. Any misrepresentation by a Respondent may result in disqualification.

Submission Content

  1. Firm name, address and phone number, and a brief description of the firm and its areas of business.
  1. Name, job title, email, and phone number of primary contact Also include proposed staff for the work, including designation of Project Manager. Attach resumes of key staff. Limit to no more than five (5) staff.
  1. Description of the proposed project, including detailed Scope of Work and description of how the allotted Grant funds will be fully utilized.
  1. Experience and demonstrated success working with Michigan City and/or other communities (up to five (5)) to obtain external funding sources for brownfield investigation / remediation, such as EPA brownfields grants.
  1. Experience and demonstrated success working with Michigan City and/or other communities (up to five (5)) to manage EPA brownfields grants.
  2. Experience and demonstrated success in working with Michigan City and/or other communities (up to five (5)) on long term brownfield redevelopment, including planning, investigations, and remediation.
  3. The names and contact information for at least three (3) but not more than five (5) local governmental units, particularly in Indiana, for whom your firm has provided similar services within the past five years.
  4. Current fee schedule for your firm.
  5. Proof of current insurance meeting insurance requirements outlined below.

 

Evaluation Process

Responses will be evaluated based upon the documented ability of the Respondent to satisfy the requirements of this RFPQ. Both the Threshold and Selection criteria are detailed below. Each person in the Review Committee will complete the scoring independently. Ratings will be assigned by reviewers and multiplied by the weight to determine the score. All the scores will be combined for each Respondent to determine a total score. Michigan City will abide by the rules and laws set in 2 CFR 200 in procuring a contractor for this project.

  1. Quality of Written Proposal – 35%
  2. Reasonableness of cost/price – 25%
  3. Familiarity with Michigan City and its needs. – 25%
  4. Respondent’s References – 10%
  5. Site Assessment Project Expertise and Experience – 5%

Insurance Requirements

 

Consultant shall maintain and provide current proof of the following insurance:

  1. Worker’s Compensation and Disability: Statutory requirements
  2. Employer’s Liability – $500,000 each accident
  3. Commercial General Liability – General Aggregate – $1,000,000
  4. Comprehensive Automobile – $1,000,000
  5. Excess/Umbrella Liability – $1,000,000
  6. Errors and Omissions Professional Liability – $1,000,000
  7. Consultant’s Pollution Liability insurance – $2,000,000

 

Terms and Conditions

The City shall not discriminate with respect to the hire, tenure, terms, conditions or privileges of employment or any other matter directly or indirectly related to employment, because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, national origin or ancestry.

The City reserves the right to select or not select, in its sole discretion, based on its assessment of each firm’s strengths and qualifications and the objective of best meeting the needs of the EPA Grant project and the City’s redevelopment goals.

The resulting contract will be for four years. Michigan City may amend or extend this contract beyond the initial four years to accommodate the terms and conditions of the EPA Grant or future EPA Grants awarded provided a market survey conducted by Michigan City indicates that the prices the contractor proposes are reasonable.

By submitting a response to the RFPQ, each Respondent waives all rights to protest or seek remedies whatsoever regarding any aspect of this RFPQ, the selection of a Respondent or Respondents with whom to negotiate, the rejection of any or all offers to negotiate, or a decision to terminate negotiations.

The Respondent shall keep the City free and harmless from the payment of any and all damages, costs, expenses, royalties, patent fees, attorney’s fees, or any sum of money whatsoever, by reason of any actions, claims, demands or proceedings, arising out of any infringement or alleged infringement, or use of any patented device, article, system or arrangement that may be used by the Consultant in the execution of his work. The Respondent will be required to indemnify and hold harmless the City from all claims or actions of any kind or description brought against the City for or on account of any injuries or damages received or sustained by any persons or any neglect in guarding the same or in any improper materials used, or by or on account of any act of commission or omission of the Consultant or his agents or employees.

The City will not assume any responsibility or liability for any expenses incurred by a Respondent, or prospective Respondent, in connection with the preparation or delivery of a response, requested interview, or any action related to the process of completing and submitting a response to this RFPQ.