To: Board of Supervisors
From: Planning and Building Department
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
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Approve and Authorize the Director of Planning and Building to Award a Contract to Rincon Consultants in the Amount of $362,881 to Provide Planning and Technical Support Services Needed by the County to Assist with the Development of a Humboldt Natural and Working Lands Carbon Stock and Management Study
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RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive and accept the responses from contractors and consultants (Attachments 1A - 1G) who submitted proposals to RFP No. PLN2026-01 (Attachment 2) to perform technical and planning services; and
2. Authorize the Director of Planning and Building to execute a professional service agreement with the recommended consultant selected to provide planning and technical services needed by the County to assist with the development of a Humboldt Natural and Working Lands Carbon Stock and Management Study upon review and approval of County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office, (Draft included in Attachment 3); and
3. Authorize the Director of Planning and Building to sign any modifications, amendments and/or documents relating to the professional services agreement as may be required upon review and approval of County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office.
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STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Sustainable Natural Resources & Infrastructure Stewardship
Strategic Plan Category: 5001 - Enhance climate adaptation landscapes and communities
DISCUSSION:
This item implements the Regional Climate Action Plan by using funding from a Department of Conservation grant to hire a consultant to determine the carbon sequestration trends in the county and determine how this may be enhanced in the future to contribute to the state goal of carbon neutrality. This action would authorize the Director of Planning and Building (Director) to execute a contract for technical and planning services for a Humboldt Natural and Working Lands Carbon Stock and Management Study (Project), after review and approval by County Counsel, Risk Management and the County Administrative Office. This item would also authorize the Director of Planning and Building to sign any future modifications, amendments and/or documents relating to the professional services agreement as may be required, after review and approval by the same county agencies mentioned above.
On June 24, 2025, the Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 25-118 (Attachment 4) which authorized the Director to submit a grant application to the California Department of Conservation (DOC) and execute the standard agreement for participation in the Sustainable Agricultural Lands Conservation (SALC) Program. On July 3, 2025, an application was submitted to the DOC for grant funding in the amount of $500,000 for the Project with a 10% match in staff time of $50,000. The project will consist of a Carbon Stock Inventory and a Carbon Sequestration Feasibility Study which aims to provide a better understanding of the existing and future carbon sequestration capacity in Humboldt countywide and would implement Measure CS-1 from the Humboldt Regional Climate Action Plan (RCAP).
On Oct. 10, 2025, the DOC awarded the county grant funding in the amount of $500,000, and on Feb. 12, 2026, the DOC fully executed the Grant Agreement Number 3025-903 (Attachment 5, reference Laserfiche ID CM-2362) which approved the county’s work plan and budget. On April 15, 2026, the Planning and Building Department issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) Number PLN2026-01 (Attachment 2) to obtain a qualified professional to provide the specified planning and technical support services (Services) needed to assist the county with the project. Seven companies responded to the RFP demonstrating their ability to provide trained and experienced personnel and staff to perform the services set forth in the RFP, which included, without limitation, the professional services required to develop a Carbon Stock Inventory and a Carbon Sequestration Feasibility Study that would provide usable information and data to incorporate into the 2030 update of the RCAP.
After evaluating the responses, the Department determined the following seven (7) companies were responsive.
1. AECOM
2. AmSpec, LLC
3. Ascent Environmental, Inc.
4. Cal Poly Humboldt Schatz Energy Research Center
5. ICF Incorporated, LLC
6. Perennial Climate Inc.
7. Rincon Consultants
A thorough, fair review and scoring of the proposals was conducted by Department staff and Rincon Consultants have been selected to perform the services due to their thoroughness of response, expertise in their field and successful work with other jurisdictions. The budget allocated in the proposal for professional services is $362,881. The draft professional services agreement has been reviewed and approved by County Counsel and Risk Management. Therefore, the Department seeks your Board approval to enter into a Professional Service Agreement with Rincon Consultants in the amount of $362,881 to provide the services needed by the Department.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Funding for the SALC Grant Program is provided by the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), an account established to receive Cap-and-Trade auction proceeds. The SALC Program is part of the California Climate Investments, a statewide initiative funded through GGRF that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work, reducing GHG emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment - particularly in Disadvantaged Communities. The Cap-and-Trade program also creates a financial incentive for industries to invest in clean technologies and develop innovative ways to reduce pollution.
Revenue line for funding receipt is to be 1100282.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Of the total $500,000 SALC grant awarded to the Department, $362,881 will go towards consulting services and $100,000 will go towards staff time for the Project. A 10% match of $50,000 in staff time will come from the General Fund. The remaining $37,119 will be held as a contingency for staff time and/or additional consultant costs.
STAFFING IMPACT:
Activities associated with selecting a consultant and executing a professional services agreement will be conducted by existing staff members in the Department and no new staff members are needed to support these activities. Staff time spent on drafting and publishing the RFP, reviewing proposals to select a consultant, drafting the Board Report and attending the hearing to authorize the Director to execute a professional services agreement, and drafting and executing a professional services agreement will be mainly funded by the SALC grant with 10% of staff time provided by the General Fund for the required 10% match.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board may choose not to authorize the Director to execute a contract for technical and planning services for the Project with Rincon Consultants or to authorize the Director to sign any future modifications, amendments and/or documents relating to the professional services agreement as may be required. However, this alternative is not recommended as these services are needed to complete the Project and work plan identified in the DOC executed Grant Agreement Number 3025-903. Furthermore, the Project will implement Measure CS-1 identified in the RCAP.
ATTACHMENTS:
1A. AECOM Proposal
1B. AmSpec, LLC Proposal
1C. Ascent Environmental, Inc. Proposal
1D. Cal Poly Humboldt Schatz Energy Research Center Proposal
1E. ICF Incorporated, LLC Proposal
1F. Perennial Climate Inc. Proposal
1G. Rincon Consultants Proposal
2. RFP No. PLN2026-01
3. Rincon Draft Professional Services Agreement
A. Scope of Services
B. Schedule of Rates
C. Sample Invoice Form
D. Certificate of Insurance
4. BOS Resolution 25-118
5. Grant Agreement 3025-903
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: April 21, 2026
File No.: 26-295
Meeting of: June 24, 2025
File No.: 25-745