GMA-13 Joint Planning Committee

Request for Proposals

Professional Services related to Development andAdoption of Desired Future Conditions for Aquifers
within Groundwater Management Area 13

GMA 13 – 2018 RFP

Purpose of this Request for Proposal
The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit detailed proposals from qualified
parties (Respondent) regarding their recommended approach to and qualifications for supporting
the GMA-13 Joint Planning Committee (Committee) in its efforts to conduct all necessary andappropriate activities to develop and adopt desired future conditions (DFCs) for the aquifers
within Groundwater Management Area 13.
The proposals considered responsive by the Committee will be used to (1) develop requiredbudgets, (2) solicit funding from member districts, (3) develop a project plan for the completion ofa finalized scope of work, and (4) identify a preferred respondent for the purposes of negotiating
agreement terms between the Committee and preferred respondent.
GMA-13 Joint Planning Committee Background
The Committee is comprised of any district subject to the Texas Water Code Chapter 36 locatedcompletely or partially with the geographic boundaries of Groundwater Management Area 13 as
defined by the Texas Water Development Board including Evergreen Underground Water
Conservation District, Gonzales County Underground Water Conservation District, Guadalupe
County Groundwater Conservation District, Medina County Groundwater Conservation District,
Uvalde County Underground Water Conservation District, Wintergarden Groundwater Conservation
District, Plum Creek Conservation District, and McMullen County Groundwater Conservation District.
Scope of Work
The selected respondent will be required to complete the following tasks:
Task 1. Attend Committee meetings as requireda. Present a written report to the Committee describing the status of work tasks.
b. Identify any obstacles or issues adversely affecting the completion of work tasks
according to schedule.
c. Provide technical support and guidance to the Committee to determine a spatial andtemporal distribution of pumping to be used to model groundwater availability.
Task 2. Model groundwater availability associated with proposed DFCs
a. Obtain the appropriate files and information from the Texas Water Development Board tomodel groundwater availability within Groundwater Management Area 13 that would result
from the adoption and implementation of proposed DFCs developed by the Committee.
Distinguish between renewable (limited by fluxes or recharge rates) and non-renewable orfossil groundwater resources (limited by groundwater storage).
b. Input all necessary parameters to model groundwater availability of proposed DFCs. For
this proposal assume a total of three (3) model runs.

c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding groundwater availability related to proposed DFCs at a Committee meeting.
Task 3. Document aquifer uses and conditions within Groundwater Management Area 13(36.108(d)(1))
a. Gather necessary information from member districts and other sources to describe aquifer
uses and conditions.
b. Identify aquifer conditions or uses that substantially differ by geographic area.
c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding aquifer use and conditions at a Committee meeting.
Task 4. Document water supply needs and water management strategies in the state water plan
(36.108(d)(2))
a. Gather necessary information associated with Groundwater Management Area 13 todescribe water supply needs and water management strategies in the state water plan.
b. Identify the water supply needs and water management strategies directly related togroundwater resources in Groundwater Management Area 13.
c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding water supply needs and water management strategies at a Committee
meeting.
Task 5. Document hydrological conditions within Groundwater Management Area 13(36.108(d)(3))
a. Gather necessary information to describe hydrological conditions within Groundwater
Management Area 13 including total estimated recoverable storage as provided by theexecutive administrator, the average annual recharge, inflows, and discharge.
b. Identify hydrological conditions that differ substantially by geographic area.
c.

Determine and describe hydrological conditions for each county, or portions of counties,
within Groundwater Management Area 13.

d. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report regarding
the hydrological conditions within Groundwater Management Area 13 at a Committee
meeting.
Task 6. Document environmental impacts of proposed DFCs (36.108(d)(4))
a. Gather necessary information to describe environmental impacts including impacts on
spring flow and interactions between groundwater and surface water that would becaused by the adoption and implementation of proposed DFCs.

b. Identify the environmental impacts within Groundwater Management Area 13 caused by
the adoption and implementation of proposed DFCs. Including, but not limited to reversalof regional vertical flow gradients, cross-formational flow losses, and storage depletion.
c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding the environmental impacts within Groundwater Management Area 13 at aCommittee meeting.
Task 7. Document impacts on subsidence of proposed DFCs (36.108(d)(5))
a. Gather necessary information to describe impacts on subsidence that would be causedby the adoption and implementation of proposed DFCs.
b. Identify the impacts on subsidence within Groundwater Management Area 13 caused by
the adoption and implementation of proposed DFCs.
c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report regarding
impacts on subsidence within Groundwater Management Area 15 at a Committee meeting.
Task 8. Document socioeconomic impacts reasonably expected to occur with the adoption andimplementation of proposed DFCs (36.108(d)(6))
a. Gather necessary information to describe socioeconomic impacts reasonably expected tooccur by the adoption and implementation of proposed DFCs.
b. Identify the socioeconomic impacts reasonably expected to occur within Groundwater
Management Area 13 by the adoption and implementation of proposed DFCs.
c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding socioeconomic impacts reasonably expected to occur with the adoption andimplementation of proposed DFCs within Groundwater Management Area 13 at aCommittee meeting.
Task 9. Document impacts on the interests and rights in private property by the adoption andimplementation of proposed DFCs (36.108(d)(7))
a. Gather necessary information to describe impacts on the interests and rights in private
property, including ownership and the rights of management area landowners and theirlessees and assigns in groundwater as recognized under Section 36.102, by the adoption
and implementation of proposed DFCs.
b. Identify the impacts on the interests and rights in private property by the adoption andimplementation of proposed DFCs.
c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding impacts on the interests and rights in private property by the adoption andimplementation of proposed DFCs within Groundwater Management Area 13 at aCommittee meeting.
Task 10. Document the feasibility of achieving proposed DFCs (36.108(d)(8))
a. Gather necessary information to describe the feasibility of achieving proposed DFCs.
b. Identify the feasibility of achieving proposed DFCs.
c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding the feasibility of achieving proposed DFCs within Groundwater Management
Area 13 at a Committee meeting.
Task 11. Document other information relevant to proposed DFCs (36.108(d)(9))
a. Gather other necessary information relevant to proposed DFCs.
b. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding other information relevant to proposed DFCs within Groundwater Management
Area 13 at a Committee meeting.
Task 12. Document relevant comments and proposed revisions received by member districts
during the public comment period and public hearings (36.108(d-2))
a. Gather district summary reports from each member district in the Committee.
b. Organize and develop a report of relevant comments, proposed revisions, and the basis forthe proposed revisions contained within the member district summary reports.
c. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written
report regarding all relevant comments Groundwater Management Area 13 at aCommittee meeting.
Task 13. Development of the DFC explanatory report (36.108(d-3))
a. Gather information necessary to adequately describe and document:i.

each DFC,ii.

the policy and technical justifications for each DFC,iii.

the consideration of factors listed in 36.108(d) by the Committee,iv.

the discussion of how the adopted DFC impacts the factors listed in 36.108(d),v.

other DFCs considered and the reason those DFCs were not adopted, andvi.

the reasons why recommendations made by advisory committees and relevantpublic comments received by member districts were or were not incorporated inthe DFCs.
b. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written DFC
explanatory report to Groundwater Management Area 13 at a Committee meeting.
Task 14. Technical support to Committee after the adoption of DFC
a. Provide technical assistance and support to the Committee in the event the adopted DFC ispetitioned.
b. Attend meetings and hearings associated with the preparation for and response topetitions of the adopted DFC.

Task 15. Document fresh and brackish groundwater volumes based on proposed DFCs
a. Obtain existing files/data from the TWDB Brackish Resources Aquifer Characterization
System (BRACS) for Groundwater Management Area 13 and identify fresh and brackish
water zones and groundwater volumes from each zone that would result from the adoption
and implementation of proposed DFCs developed by the Committee.
b. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding f re s h a n d b ra c k i s h wa t e r re s o u rc e s related to proposed DFCs at aCommittee meeting.

Task 16. Conduct model runs to identify the implications of long time scales of pumpage impacts andrecovery on aquifer management for the GMA 13 area using the proposed DFCsa. Use the TWDB groundwater availability model to conduct the following model runs:
i. Time it takes the Carrizo and Wilcox Aquifers to reach a new equilibrium under theproposed DFCs.
ii. Time it takes Carrizo and Wilcox Aquifers to recover after pumpage is reduced orceases.
b. After soliciting input from the Committee on a draft report, present a written report
regarding th e p u m p a g e s o u rc e s u s e d a n d p ro j e c te d i m p a c t s t o t h e a q u i f e rs y s te m related to the proposed DFCs at a Committee meeting.

Task 17. Conduct a model run to extract data from the TWDB groundwater availability model for eachDistrict by cell (1 mile by 1 mile) for layers 3,4,5,6,7,& 8 that includes: CELL ID, Row, Column, Drawdown(selected years), Pumping (selected years), water level, Top elevation of aquifer, Bottom Elevation ofAquifer, Hydraulic Conductivity, Specific Yield, and Storativity

a. Submit the information in an excel format report. After soliciting input from theCommittee on a draft report, present a written report at a Committee meeting.
Required Information for Proposal to be Considered Responsive
Proposals shall be concise and complete and limited to a total of ten pages. The following will be
required for the evaluation process. The Committee will require one (1) proposal in digital format
and three (3) separate hard copies of the proposal from all interested firms.
A detailed description of the approaches, methods, and activities the Respondent will employ tocomplete the scope of work. Each task of the scope of work shall be addressed by the respondentand shall include, at a minimum, an estimation of the cost, duration, timing, deliverables, andresponsibilities and requirements of other parties.
Names and qualifications of Respondent’s team projected to be involved in the services provided
to the Committee including appropriate state registrations or licenses.
A list of relevant project and client references, including contact information for verification ofreferences.
Each Respondent must enclose a listing of accounts containing a minimum of one customer towhom the Respondent is currently or has previously supplied the same or similar services.
A portfolio of past work related and relevant to the scope of work described within this RFP.
A written description of the opportunities and constraints involved with the delivery of theanticipated services. In particular, the Committee is interested in the Respondent’s views andprofessional judgment regarding the scope of work described and any need to expand or reduce
the scope of work to successfully and efficiently accomplish the requirements associated withadopted DFCs as established by Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code.
To be considered responsive, submissions must be received by the advertised date and timewith all of the required elements present and provided in the number and form requested.
Selection of Preferred Respondent
Submittals will be reviewed by the Committee and/or a Committee subcommittee for thepurpose of identifying and recommending those individual(s) offering, in total, the highest
combination of proposed services, qualifications and experience for the scope of work
described. The Committee and/or Committee subcommittee, for the purposes of identifying andselecting a Preferred Respondent, may interview the individuals or firms that submitted
responsive proposals or request a presentation at a GMA 13 meeting. The Committee reservesthe right to select a Preferred Respondent for each of the Tasks identified in the Scope of Work.
The submittals will be evaluated on various criteria including but not limited to the following:a. the quality and value of services offered and described for each task described in the scopeof work,b. experience and success with similar or related projects,c. feedback from references,d. ability, capacity, skill, and organization of the Respondent to complete the project withinbudget and required timeline,
e. quality of past projects, proposal and presentation materials, andf.

the character, integrity, reputation, judgment, experience, location and efficiency of theRespondent.
g.

estimated costs

RFP Process and Timeline
The timeline presented below is based on future events and is subject to change. All individuals
who provide a submittal considered to be responsive will be notified via email or phone of any
timeline changes.
The Committee or its subcommittee may have the need to schedule a meeting with theRespondent during this time period to clarify or better understand the information provided in thesubmittal as part of the evaluation process. Respondents should anticipate the possibility ofhaving to and will be expected to schedule, upon request from the Committee, a meeting during
this time period. The anticipated timeline for selecting a Preferred Respondent:
Posting of RFP: November 20, 2018
Submittal Deadline: January 4, 2019 at 5:00 PM
Submittal Evaluation: January 4, 2019 to February 1, 2019
Selection of Preferred Respondent: February 1, 2019
Potential respondents should read and follow the instructions and requirements provided below.
Failure to follow the instructions or satisfy the requirements may result in a rejection ofRespondent’s submittal as not responsive.
All proposals shall be clearly marked and shall be delivered no later than J a n u a r y 4 , 2019, at
5:00 PM to GMA-13 Joint Planning Committee Treasurer, c/o Russell Labus, 110 W y o m i n g
B o u l e v a r d , Pleasanton, TX 78064. Late submittals will not be accepted.
Submittals should reference the due date and RFP title on the face of the submitted envelope orpackage.
The Committee Administrator will accept proposals before the submittal deadline at the time andplace set in the advertisement and in these specifications. Respondent bears the risk of delays indelivery. Late submittals will not be accepted and will be returned unopened.

Respondents shall not provide a submittal as an agent for another person or company unless theRespondent specifies in the submittal that they are submitting as an agent.
Respondents are limited to those persons or firms qualified and engaged in a full-time businessand can assume liabilities for any performance or warranty service required.
No employee of member districts of the GMA 13 shall have a financial interest, direct or indirect,in any contract with the Committee, or be financially interested, directly or indirectly, in the sale to
the District of any services.
In the event clarification or additional information is needed, contact: Russell Labus, 110
Wyoming
Boulevard,
Pleasanton,
TX
78064,(830) 569-4186,
russell.labus@evergreenuwcd.org

These specifications and future specifications may be downloaded from the Evergreen
Underground Water Conservation District’s website at no charge (www.evergreenuwcd.org). The
Committee does not participate in any electronic submittal services provided via the internet.
Award
Based on the evaluation of criteria contained in this RFP, the Committee may select a Preferred
Respondent with whom to negotiate a final agreement. The Committee may separate its desired
services and select a different Preferred Respondent for such services.
All respondents will be evaluated, among other considerations, on their past performance andprior dealings with the member districts of the Committee.
The Committee will not accept an agreement which contains any provision causing thecontracting district to indemnify the Respondent for any reason.