Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Services

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (“Department” or “DEC”) seeks proposals from qualified organizations to provide support services under the CSC Program in New York State. This statewide effort is divided into three territories, and DEC anticipates each territory will be supported by one Contractor. The selected Contractors will engage and support municipal action through outreach, planning, education, and capacity building to local governments and their communities on climate change mitigation and adaptation within assigned territories.

Contractors selected through this request for proposals (RFP) will act as Climate Smart Communities Coordinators to provide support services. Support services should include, as appropriate and as described in the scope of work, assistance and support to local governments for climate change mitigation and adaptation activities. The Contractor will also provide administrative services to support the DEC Program Manager in managing the CSC certification program, creating forms and templates, and developing and delivering webinars or other outreach events.

Climate Smart Communities Coordinators are to provide support to local governments in a way that generates excitement about building a better future at the local level, respects the unique nature of place, supports continuous learning, connects community members to available resources, and fosters strong, mutually beneficial relationships with local, regional, state, and national partners. In this way, local governments in New York State and their community members will be inspired to help mitigate and adapt to climate change and improve the quality of life in their communities on an ongoing basis.

Coordinators will facilitate municipal adoption of the New York State CSC Pledge and implementation of CSC certification actions, which can be found at https://climatesmart.ny.gov/. They will also educate local governments and communities about available state and federal programs to support efforts to address climate change. These actions will help New York State meet the required 40-percent reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2030 and 85-percent reduction in statewide GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2050 (pursuant to the Climate Act) and increase community resilience to unavoidable current and future climate change impacts.

Support services should include, as appropriate, assistance and support for climate change mitigation (greenhouse gas emissions reductions); climate change adaptation and resilience; resilience to climate-influenced natural disasters; biodiversity and ecosystem services; community mobilization and engagement; youth engagement; governance; local finance; economic resilience; supply-chain, critical infrastructure and energy resilience; food and water security; and public health and equity concerns. Contractors will also provide administrative services to support the DEC Program Manager in providing CSC portal support and managing CSC certification documentation submissions; creating forms and templates; and developing and delivering webinars.

Pursuant to the State Finance Law Sections 139-j and 139-k, this Request for Proposals includes and imposes certain restrictions on communications between a Governmental Entity and an Offerer during the procurement process. Further information about these requirements, including a copy of the new lobbying law, can be found at: https://ogs.ny.gov/acpl/

Bidders shall adhere to the NYS DEPARTMENT OF ENVRIONMENTAL CONSERVATION GUIDELINES REGARDING PERMISSIBLE CONTACTS DURING A PROCUREMENT AND THE PROHIBITION OF INAPPROPRIATE LOBBYING INFLUENCE.     

All correspondence and/or questions relating to this Request for Proposals should be directed to the Department’s designated contact person lists in the Request for Proposals.