Writing a Request for Proposals for Environmental Site Assessment or Cleanup
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Communities that receive a brownfields grant typically need to hire a consultant to do an environmental site assessment (ESA) and, if needed, clean up the property. The purpose of this guide is to help those who need to solicit proposals for environmental site assessments or cleanup of brownfields. This document is a general guide only and is intended to help those soliciting proposals to clearly state their requests and requirements, including elements required for recipients of EPA Brownfields Cleanup Grants. It does not include any procedural information that may be required by the specific city or entity requesting proposals, nor does it contain any legal information. For these types of questions, consult an attorney or appropriate person within your organization.
Soliciting proposals for an environmental site assessment or cleanup involves producing a Request for Proposal (RFP). This document spells out the goals of the redevelopment project and associated environmental site assessment or cleanup and should include the following:
- A description of the site, including maps and diagrams
- A discussion of the scope of the project and expected deliverables
- A statement about any preferences or requirements regarding assessment approaches, data quality, and reporting requirements
- Time constraints for completing the work
- Directions for access to relevant records (such as previous environmental work) and to the site for interested bidders
- Directions for submitting proposals
- Criteria that will be used for review and selection of proposals
The RFP should be specific to your brownfield project and describe as clearly as possible goals for the project and work to be done. Typically, the RFP is divided into sections, each addressing specific project requirements. The following examples of such sections may be useful as you prepare an RFP for the environmental site assessment or cleanup of your site.