RFQ - Yakama Nation Fisheries, On-Call Technical Support Services

OVERVIEW

The Yakama Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe pursuant to the Treaty of Walla Walla, June 9, 1855 (12 Stat. 951). As set forth in the Treaty of 1855, other federal statutes, and court decisions, the Yakama Nation holds reserved rights and responsibilities as a co-manager of fisheries in the Columbia River Basin. The Yakama Nation uses its authorities under the Comprehensive Environmental Recovery and Compensation Liability Act (CERCLA) to participate in the cleanup and restoration of hazardous waste sites in the Columbia River Basin. Yakama Nation’s work and actions are focused on a clean and productive Columbia River that sustains the cultural practices of Yakama members and improves life for our neighbors and future generations.

 

Yakama Nation Fisheries (YNF) is tasked with the oversight of priority hazardous waste sites and contamination issues affecting Columbia River Basin resources. YNF’s involvement at these sites includes technical, legal and policy activities related to response and natural resource damage actions. Due to the complexity and volume of work associated with this involvement, contract technical support services are required.

 

The Yakama Nation requests from all applying engineering and technical consulting firms their general qualifications to accomplish the work elements outlined in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ), including general technical assistance to support YNF’s work on cleaning up and restoring hazardous waste sites in the Columbia River Basin. The Yakama Nation will review the response to this RFQ to establish one or more technical support contracts. This RFQ will be considered viable for contracting purposes extending over 36 months.

 

SCOPE OF WORK

General Requirements:

The contractor shall be available to provide on-call technical support services for the length of the contract.

Work schedules, budgets, and deadlines for deliverables will be agreed upon. Payment will be made on a cost reimbursement basis. Travel will be required for support at technical meetings, coordination meetings, and site visits throughout the Pacific Northwest. Meetings with Yakama Nation Tribal Council and YNF Management Team will also be required.

 

Work Elements:

Technical support shall be provided in the following areas, as requested, including, but not limited to:

 

●Ascertain the stage of cleanup for individual sites. Determine if available data will provide the necessary information to establish a remedial action that is protective of Yakama Nation resources. Identify key issues or data gaps to be resolved. Track project timeline and identify key issues or activities for YNF management/staff engagement.

●Ascertain the stage of a natural resource injury assessment for individual sites. Determine if available data will provide the necessary information to establish a settlement that appropriately compensates for natural resource damages. Identify key issues or data gaps to be resolved. Track project timeline and identify key issues or activities for YNF management/staff engagement.

●Review and comment on all phases of a hazardous waste site response and natural resource damage actions. The following activities (and their associated documents) would require tracking, review, comment, and identification of potential issues: site investigations, remedial investigations, feasibility studies, risk assessments, remedial designs, closeout reports, monitoring plans, restoration planning, natural resource injury assessment, natural resource damages, and other associated activities/documents.

●Plan and develop injury assessments for individual sites in terms of lost uses and lost resource services and quantify damages in terms of restoration and resource services and/or monetary equivalents.

●If deemed necessary, plan, develop, and execute environmental sampling to address outstanding questions about contamination at a specific site or reach of a water body.

●Attend and provide technical support at technical meetings/conference calls, coordination meetings, and site visits.

●Support strategic planning efforts to obtain a clean and productive Columbia River.

●Assist with conducting public outreach to educate members of Yakama Nation and the public on program activities.