REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS For Climate-Resilient Agriculture Initiative. Professional Consulting Services

Transcription

1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS For Climate-Resilient Agriculture Initiative Professional Consulting Services Scenic Hudson is seeking proposals from experts in climate resilient agricultural practices to advise us on creating an incentive-based project designed to encourage the adoption of climate-resilient and carbonneutral conservation practices by farmers in the Hudson Valley. Scenic Hudson preserves land and farms and creates parks that connect people with the inspirational power of the Hudson River, while fighting threats to the river and natural resources that are the foundation of the valley s prosperity. For more information: PROJECT BACKGROUND Scenic Hudson has made great strides in incorporating adaptation to climate change into our program and conservation priorities. But adaptation is only one side of the coin in addressing climate change. Mitigation is a time-sensitive and critical element that conservation groups can, and must, address. Scenic Hudson has identified several actions it can take that will help the Hudson Valley region to mitigate the worst effects of climate change. In so doing, we hope to spark change through the creation of replicable models. We propose to do this through, among other actions, the promotion of climateresilient agriculture, a component of which is carbon-neutral agriculture (also known as carbon farming ). We propose to build on our 20-year track record of conserving farmland with willing farmers through this initiative. We recently surpassed the milestone of 113 conserved farms and over 16,000 acres. In addition to continuing this vital work, we believe that new tools are needed to move beyond conservation of farmland, to ensuring farm viability in a new era of climate change. Globally, agriculture contributes 14% of the greenhouse gases that warm the planet. Scenic Hudson proposes to develop a means for encouraging Hudson Valley farmers to adopt land management practices that mitigate climate change impacts from farming, and enhance farm resilience to current and projected climate challenges. Climate change is already contributing to agricultural production risks in various ways. More heavy rainfalls, increased incidence of drought, increasing temperatures particularly in winter and at night in summer - and more variable spring and fall temperatures are all examples of the increased weather variability and extremes associated with our changing climate. These changing weather patterns create additional challenges for farmers by promoting soil erosion, higher pest and disease populations, the introduction of novel pests and spread of invasive species, the loss of pollinators and increasingly stressful production conditions for crops, livestock, and farm labor. Page 1

2 Request for Proposals Recent research exploring current adaptive actions being taken by farmers in New York and elsewhere in the U.S. suggests that some existing agricultural conservation practices have the potential to deliver multiple climate resilience benefits in addition to meeting conservation goals. These include: carbon farming, i.e., soil management measures that promote the accumulation of organic matter for soil health, and to limit the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere (such as no-till and conservation tillage, crop rotation, and the use of cover crops); provision of habitat for pollinators and other beneficial organisms, the planting of drought-resistant crops, and livestock stress reduction measures, among others. Voluntary agricultural conservation programs can complement existing conservation easements by encouraging climate resilience as an explicit goal of land management and to offer conservation organizations a more effective tool to encourage such innovation. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) are currently studying potential incentives for farmers to adopt climate-resilient practices in response to tax incentive legislation proposed by NYS Assemblywoman Didi Barrett. Among other work products described below, through the proposed consultancy, Scenic Hudson is committed to helping inform this study and the potential incentive program that could result. PROJECT ELEMENTS 1. An assessment of existing public agriculture programs, and how they encourage/could encourage carbon neutrality and climate resilience. 2. Identifying suitable incentives to promote climate resilient agriculture in the Hudson Valley, through research, conversations with stakeholders, and outreach and engagement. 3. Training of Scenic Hudson staff to ensure that they are conversant in the elements of climateresilient agriculture, and are able to work with farmers to promote it. 4. Assistance in development of a brochure promoting climate-resilient agriculture that can be distributed to Hudson Valley farmers. 5. Presentations to the Scenic Hudson board of directors, Hudson Valley land trusts, and potentially at state and national conferences. 6. A report that defines the elements of climate resilience, shares the results of the assessment, identifies incentives, summarizes the outreach and engagement work, states lessons learned, and recommends next steps. The recommendations should include a suite of potential pilot projects that Scenic Hudson could undertake to incentivize climate-resilient agriculture in the Hudson Valley, and cost estimates for their implementation. SCOPE OF WORK 1. Assessment of existing state agriculture programs, including in New York and other states like California (and potentially innovative local programs such as via Soil and Water Conservation Districts), and how they encourage/could encourage carbon neutrality and climate resilience in the Hudson Valley region. a. Working with Scenic Hudson s Advocacy team, review existing programs and discuss their effectiveness at promoting climate resilience with state officials. Deliverable: Write up an assessment of the programs and recommendations Page 2

3 Request for Proposal for modifications or new initiatives, to be included in the report identified in #6 below. 2. Identify suitable incentives to promote climate-resilient agriculture in the Hudson Valley, including through the potential NYS DEC and DAM initiative. a. Examine the feasibility of different ideas and farmer receptivity to them. b. Working with Scenic Hudson s Advocacy, Land Conservation, and Science teams, conduct outreach and engagement with the Hudson Valley s farming community, through a meeting/call with key agricultural thought leaders, two farmer meetings and a public presentation in the Albany area. Deliverables: i) A list of specific climate-resilient measures that could feasibly be implemented on Hudson Valley farms, with proposed incentives/reimbursements/risk management actions identified, to be included in the report identified in #7 below. ii) A meeting, conference call, or Skype session with several key Hudson Valley agricultural thought leaders, to explore preliminary ideas in preparation for regional farmer meetings; iii) Two regional farmer meetings regarding climate-resilient agriculture (two Hudson Valley locations TBD). The goal would be to attract farmers from several different counties to each meeting, one in the northern part of the Hudson Valley, the other in the southern. iv) A presentation in the Albany area for the general public and state officials. 3. Training of Scenic Hudson staff. Deliverable: Devise and deliver a one-day training of Scenic Hudson staff (Poughkeepsie, NY) to enable them to work with farmers to promote climate-resilient agriculture. This would include land project managers focused on the acquisition of conservation easements, as well as our easement stewardship and science staff. 4. Provision of professional expertise for the development by Scenic Hudson staff of a brochure promoting climate-resilient agriculture that can be distributed to Hudson Valley farmers. The brochure should include a glossary of terms, and focus on tools and techniques to foster on-farm carbon neutrality and climate resilience, and the science behind them. Deliverable: Initial draft of brochure text, and up to three reviews of revisions and actual brochure drafts prepared by Scenic Hudson staff. 5. Presentations Deliverables: a. Board of directors of The Scenic Hudson Land Trust (March 2018, New York City) b. Hudson Valley land trust convening (spring 2018, Poughkeepsie or nearby location) c. Tentative: If selected, to a statewide symposium of land trusts (April 2018 or 2019, Albany) d. Tentative: If selected, to the Land Trust Alliance s National Rally (fall 2018, Pittsburgh, PA) Page 3

4 Request for Proposals 6. A final report that includes the following elements: a. Definitions of the elements of climate resilience b. The results of the assessment c. Identification of appropriate incentives for Hudson Valley farmers d. Summary of the outreach and engagement work e. Summary of lessons learned through the consultancy f. Recommendations on next steps, including a suite of potential pilot projects that Scenic Hudson could undertake to incentivize climate-resilient agriculture in the Hudson Valley, and cost estimates for their implementation. These could include, for example, payments for specific carbon-neutral practices, covering the cost of cover crop seed, enabling the sharing or rental of equipment. PROJECT SCHEDULE (approx. deadlines): RFP available... October 12, 2017 Proposals due... 5:00 pm October 24, 2017 Consultant selected... November 1, 2017 Contract with consultant signed.november 8, 2017 Assessment of public programs... December 15, 2017 Farmer and public outreach/engagement... March 1, 2018 Local and board presentations... April 1, 2018 Statewide presentation (if selected)...april 30, 2018 Final Report.. June 1, 2018 National presentation (if selected)...fall 2018 PROPOSALS Proposals must include: A written description of your understanding of this project and your approach. Project team, past experience and resumes of key personnel. Confirmation of Scenic Hudson s schedule or proposed alternative. List of subconsultants, if any, and their qualifications. Two completed project descriptions of similar scope and budget. Please include client contact as a reference for each. Not to exceed fee broken down per tasks listed above. Hourly rates for additional work. All proposals must be submitted to Seth McKee, Land Conservation Director, Scenic Hudson, Inc., One Civic Center Plaza; Suite 200, Poughkeepsie, NY by 3:00pm on Monday, October 16, SELECTION CRITERIA The contract will be awarded to the responsible consultant(s) whose proposal is price competitive, can perform all tasks by the project deadline or acceptable proposed alternative, and is determined to be the most qualified to work with Scenic Hudson on this project. Past experience and professional expertise will be used to evaluate the proposals and select the preferred consultants. Scenic Hudson Page 4

5 Request for Proposal reserves the right to award the contract in its best interests; to reject any or all proposals; to waive any informalities in bidding when such wavier is in the best interest of the Scenic Hudson; and to hold all proposals, which shall remain in force and effect, for a period of not less than 60 days after opening date. Scenic Hudson is a not-for-profit organization and we would give preference to responses that include pro bono and/or reduced fees to help us complete this important project. Please indicate as specifically as possible what portion, if any, of your proposal and its value would be provided on a pro bono basis. If selected, the consultant must produce a W9 and provide certificates of insurance as stipulated in the draft contract below. Insurance certificates shall be on file at Scenic Hudson offices prior to commencement of work. If you have any questions, please submit them via to Seth McKee at smckee@scenichudson.org. Attachments: DRAFT Professional Services Contract Page 5