PLANNING AND BUILDING DEPARTMENT - A. PRADO
1. Approve Amendment #3 with ICF Environmental Inc., for an additional amount of $1,067,840.00 for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,386,894.00 to continue work on behalf of the County on the preparation of the San Benito County Habitat Conservation Plan for unincorporated San Benito County; and
2. Authorize the Chair, County Administrative Officer, or designee to sign the contract.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 790
CONSENT AGENDA
San Benito County has been working with ICF Environmental Inc., (formerly ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc.) to prepare the San Benito County Habitat Conservation Plan (SBCCP), a countywide conservation planning effort intended to support habitat conservation, species protection, and streamlined environmental permitting while balancing future growth and development needs. The SBCCP will serve as the foundation for a Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan (HCP/NCCP) and associated environmental review, permitting, and implementation processes.
On January 25, 2022, the County entered into an agreement with ICF Environmental Inc. to provide professional environmental consulting services for preparation of the San Benito County Habitat Conservation Plan. The contract included project management, stakeholder outreach, biological resource analysis, GIS data development, conservation planning, environmental review support, development of draft HCP/NCCP documents, stakeholder coordination, and related technical planning services necessary to support development of the SBCCP.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) subsequently awarded Grant Number Q2440401 – Non-Traditional Section 6 (FY 2024) San Benito County Conservation Plan. This grant provides funding for continued development of the SBCCP and implementation of activities necessary to advance the County's Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan effort.
RFQ and Consultant Selection History
In 2021, San Benito County issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) and initiated a consultant selection process to secure professional services necessary to develop the San Benito County Habitat Conservation Plan. The County sought a consultant team with expertise in habitat conservation planning, biological resources, stakeholder engagement, environmental compliance, economics, GIS analysis, and implementation planning.
ICF Environmental Inc. submitted a proposal to provide comprehensive conservation planning services and assembled a multidisciplinary team that included specialists in ecological consulting, economics, GIS analysis, climate change vulnerability assessment, and funding strategy development.
Based on its qualifications, experience preparing Habitat Conservation Plans and Natural Community Conservation Plans throughout California, technical expertise, and ability to provide the multidisciplinary services required for development of the SBCCP, ICF Environmental Inc. was selected by the County to prepare the San Benito County Habitat Conservation Plan. The Board of Supervisors subsequently approved the professional services agreement on January 25, 2022.
Grant History
The SBCCP previously received funding through the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Non-Traditional Section 6 Grant Program under Grant No. F21AP04151/G2198087. The grant supported development of the San Benito County Conservation Plan and related Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan planning efforts.
As part of the grant requirements, the County committed to providing a non-Federal match. From February 2022 through November 2025, San Benito County provided matching contributions through County staff time and consultant services performed by ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc. County staff contributed $66,092.92 in staff time, and ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc. contributed $247,261.92 in consultant services, for a total documented match contribution of $313,354.84.
The original grant award totaled $1,319,054.00, consisting of a Federal share of $976,100.00 and a State share of $342,954.00, representing the required 26 percent non-Federal match. Actual grant expenditures totaled $891,481.44. Based on those expenditures, the required match amount was approximately $313,223.21. The County's documented match contribution of $313,354.84 exceeded the required match amount.
The non-Federal match funding source was San Benito County Ordinance No. 541, which was adopted to provide financial support for development and implementation of a countywide Habitat Conservation Plan. The non-Federal match was not derived from federally required mitigation activities. These matching contributions directly supported achievement of the grant objectives and advancement of the SBCCP.
Building upon the work completed under Grant No. F21AP04151/G2198087, the County was awarded CDFW Grant Number Q2440401 – Non-Traditional Section 6 (FY 2024) to continue development of the San Benito County Conservation Plan and advance the County toward completion of the Habitat Conservation Plan/Natural Community Conservation Plan process.
Proposed Amendment No. 3
Amendment No. 3 (RMA-2026-000-23) is requested to incorporate funding associated with CDFW Grant Number Q2440401 – Non-Traditional Section 6 (FY 2024) San Benito County Conservation Plan and authorize IICF Environmental Inc. to complete the grant-funded scope of work.
The amendment will increase the contract amount by $1,067,840.00, representing the federal grant funding and matching funds associated with implementation of FY 2024 Section 6 Grant Agreement Q2440401. The grant-funded scope of work includes project management and administration, data management, public advisory committee support, stakeholder outreach, tribal coordination, public workshops, public presentations and website updates, development of administrative draft SBCCP chapters, coordination meetings, conservation planning activities, environmental review strategy development, technical analyses, reporting, and completion of all required grant deliverables.
The amendment will further extend the contract term through December 31, 2028, consistent with the anticipated timeline necessary to complete the grant-funded work and any approved grant extensions.
To ensure continuity of work and reimbursement eligibility for grant-funded activities.
An updated schedule of labor rates from ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc. has been incorporated into the amendment.
Approval of Amendment No. 3 will allow the County and ICF Environmental Inc. to continue implementation of the San Benito County Habitat Conservation Plan and complete the tasks required under FY 2024 Section 6 Grant Agreement Q2440401.
Fiscal Impact
The proposed third amendment will increase the contract amount by $1,067,840.00 to implement FY 2024 Section 6 Grant Agreement Q2440401.
Original Contract and Amendment No. 1: $1,319,054.00
Amendment No. 2: No change to contract amount.
Proposed Amendment No. 3: $1,067,840.00
Total Contract Amount: $2,386,894.00
Funding for the amendment is provided through CDFW Grant Number Q2440401 and the associated required matching funds. The amendment extends the contract term through December 31, 2028, to allow completion of all grant-funded activities, deliverables, reporting requirements, and project closeout obligations.
The third amendment will increase the contract amount by $1,067,840.00 to provide Phase 2 funding for implementation of CDFW Grant Number Q2440401 – Non-Traditional Section 6 (FY 2024) San Benito County Conservation Plan. Following approval of Amendment No. 3, the total contract amount with ICF Environmental Inc. will not exceed $2,386,894.00. Funded by Federal grant and Habitat Impact Fees. SBC Budget Line Number 101.70.1265.1000.619.222
The CDFW Section Section 6 Grant Program funding is $790,200. This whole grant amount remains available.
San Benito County to provide matching contributions through County staff time and consultant services performed by ICF Jones & Stokes, Inc. is $277,640 representing a 26% match.
The non-Federal match funding source consists of subvented funds generated pursuant to San Benito County Ordinance No. 541, which was adopted to provide financial support for the development and implementation of a countywide Habitat Conservation Plan. Fees are collected for development occurring within the Habitat Conservation Plan Study Area and deposited into Fund 283. These funds are restricted for use in the development of a Habitat Conservation Plan and are not used for other County purposes. The current balance of Fund 283 is $1,542,674.94. The matching funds will directly support the objectives of CDFW Grant Number Q2440401 and continued advancement of the San Benito County Conservation Plan.
Total award amount is $1,067,840
1. Approve Amendment #3 with ICF Environmental Inc., for an additional amount of $1,067,840.00 for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,386,894.00 to continue work on behalf of the County on the preparation of the San Benito County Habitat Conservation Plan for unincorporated San Benito County; and
2. Authorize the Chair, County Administrative Officer, or designee to sign the contract.