The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (Metro) seeks a highly qualified consulting firm or team to develop the Davidson County Ecological Conservation Strategy. This strategy will address the pressures of suburbanization and urbanization on sensitive natural systems and landmarks. Objectives include: understanding current ecological conditions, projecting future conservation priorities, creating a comprehensive conservation strategy with an implementation toolkit, and recommending steps to enhance environmental equity and resiliency. The Ecological Conservation Strategy aims to preserve Davidson County's unique ecological heritage and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Background and Purpose

Davidson County is located on the northwestern edge of the Middle Tennessee's Central Basin, an elliptical-shaped, geologic depression, comprised of clay soils with a limestone substrate. The Cumberland River — a major waterway and tributary of the Ohio River — meanders through the county from east to west. The historic, urban core of Nashville perches on the southwest bank of the river, on a bluff looking to the northeast.

The county is the center of one of the fastest-growing metro regions of the country displaying a surprisingly diverse land mosaic from Southeast to Northwest. This is a result of the topographic transition from the low-lying basin through the urban center and into the forested hills of the Highland Rim ecoregion.

In recent years, unsustainable suburbanization and urbanization have placed increasing pressure on peri-urban and rural lands, sensitive natural systems, and natural landmarks. As a result, residents and visitors lament a loss of local character and authenticity.

Concurrently, as development sprawls into increasingly fragile and critical ecosystems, it hinders the capacity of natural systems such as forests and wetlands to function as blue-green infrastructure and native habitats. 

This RFQ anticipates four objectives for the Davidson County Ecological Conservation Strategy (ECS):

1. Understand the current environmental and ecological conditions of Davidson County.
2. Project future conservation priorities given population growth, development, climate change projections, equity considerations, and other factors.
3. Create an ecological conservation strategy with an implementation toolkit inclusive of priorities, phasing, policy and programmatic recommendations, pilot projects, and funding opportunities.
4. Recommend future steps to improve countywide environmental equity and natural system resiliency and enhance the sense of place.

Anticipated Tasks

Task 1: Project Management

Task 2: Research & Analysis

1. Evaluate and Understand Davidson County's Ecosystems, Natural Features, Communities, and Green Infrastructure
   • Identify present-day conditions and trends.
   • Review conservation planning strategies, best practices, and precedents.
   • Engage with communities to understand diverse narratives regarding development pressures, land conservation objectives, and environmental equity.
   • Engage with advocacy groups and stakeholders to utilize research and expertise in pertinent subject matter.

2. Project Conservation, Environmental Resiliency, and Equity Needs for the County
   • Engage with communities to develop conservation goals and objectives.
   • Synthesize conservation and environmental priorities that consider population growth projections, equity, infrastructure needs, and climate change.

Task 3: Design Development and Testing

1. Develop a Conservation Toolkit
   • Evaluation of tools and best practices of land conservation, including land acquisition, tax abatements, conservation easements, policy and zoning changes, design guidelines, etc. including federal, state, and local tools and opportunities.
   • Methodology and consideration for prioritization of tools and practices

2. Design Implementation Framework with Phasing Strategy
   • Recommend 3-5 pilot projects that can serve as catalysts for future work.
   • Define and prioritize a suite of policy and programmatic recommendations including (but not limited to) land acquisition, policy, and zoning changes, design guidelines, etc.
   • Evaluate funding opportunities.
   • Create a phasing strategy.

Task 4: Highland Rim Forest Case Study Investigation

1. Highland Rim Forest Case Study Investigation
   • Outline regional conservation approaches, given that only a portion of the Highland Rim Forest sits within Davidson County.
   • Utilize the countywide work (Tasks 1 and 2) to design a conservation strategy specific to the Highland Rim Forest. This should be a more detailed, in-depth, and site-specific analysis than Tasks 1 and 2.
   • Identify 3-5 pilot projects and a suite of policy or programmatic priorities to serve as catalysts for conservation specifically of the Highland Rim Forest in Davidson County.
     1. Define implementation considerations and next steps—e.g. if land acquisition is recommended for conserving the Highland Rim, how should that work?

Task 5: Products and Deliverables

1. Executive Summary (8-12 pages)
   • Create a graphically compelling summary report (and/or interactive website), intended for a lay audience.
2. Technical Report (30+ pages)
   • Create a technical report, intended for utilization by Metro staff and technical consultants.

Task 6: Engagement, Collaboration, and Communication

1. Communications and Public Relations Strategy
   • Create and implement intentional, collaborative engagement with community members, metro departments, technical advisors, and specific stakeholder groups, such as the development community or advocacy groups.
2. Stakeholder Engagement and Feedback
   • Design a dynamic and inclusive community outreach program, grounded in equity.
   • Document, track, and incorporate stakeholder feedback.

A pre-offer meeting will be held for this solicitation at 11/25/2024, 9:00am Central. You must register in advance to provide the following information: your name, email address, phone number, and the name of the company you are representing by clicking on the following link: https://nashville.webex.com/weblink/register/r2312d81dc2df1e4bfa4f47cbdaeb83cb

Event Password: METRO

The contact information provided will generate on the Pre-Offer Attendee List if you attend the meeting. You will receive a confirmation email invitation after you register with the information needed to participate in the Pre-Offer via Webex that will be added to your calendar. You may participate by click the Webex Link provided in the email confirmation from a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

If you have any issues with registering please contact the Buyer, Scott Ferguson, scott.ferguson@nashville.gov, and 615-862-6670.

Metro urges all prospective offerors to attend planned pre-offer meetings.

Inquiries:

All inquiries must be submitted by 12/04/2024 at 2:00pm Central Time using the online discussions feature of the iSupplier system. Questions will be answered formally via Amendment to the solicitation soon after the deadline for submitting questions. Offerors must clearly understand that the only official answer or position of Metro will be the one stated in writing by Division of Procurement staff.

You may contact Scott Ferguson, 615-862-6670, and scott.ferguson@nashville.gov with questions regarding iSupplier or you may email iSupplier@nashville.gov. All offerors are encouraged to sign in to the iSupplier system as soon as possible to view the solicitation and ensure all login information is correct.

Finally, please have your offer loaded in the iSupplier system well in advance of the deadline for submission of offers to avoid any last minute functionality issues. While Metro makes every attempt to assist suppliers with entering their offers, there is not sufficient time to trouble shoot functionality issues within one hour of the deadline for submission of offers.

This RFP is qualifications based, cost will be discussed post award selection and intent to award notification, awardee will then be required to complete and submit cost spreadsheet, post intent to award. The objective of this solicitation is to enter into an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. Metro does not guarantee minimum or maximum purchase amounts for the requested goods and/or services. Purchases shall be made on an as-needed basis by Metro via Purchase Order. No  purchase is guaranteed, and no work shall be performed until receipt of Metro-issued Purchase Order.