Santa Clara Valley Water DistrictIssuing agency·San Jose, CA·via the Santa Clara Valley Water District PlanetBids portalValley Water requires experienced, and qualified firms to provide professional services to characterize existing habitat conditions using field data collection and topographic surveys as the basis for ecohydraulic habitat modeling and bioenergetics modeling for salmonids in the Stevens Creek watershed.
Goal 1: Accurately Quantify Spatiotemporal Habitat Capacity for CCC Steelhead
· Objective 1.1: Move beyond static acreage by outputting models that translate depth and velocity directly into Viable Salmonid Population (VSP) parameters (abundance, productivity, spatial structure, and diversity) to evaluate carrying capacity against recovery targets for Stevens Creek steelhead.
· Objective 1.2: Stratify carrying capacity models by distinct juvenile size classes (Fry, Parr, Smolt) to ensure flow management prioritizes the entire life cycle of steelhead.
Goal 2: Integrate Thermodynamic Realities into Flow Management
· Objective 2.1: Ensure biological effectiveness by coupling hydraulic outputs with recognized thermal thresholds, cross-referencing mapped habitat against the limits for steelhead metabolism, incubation, and smoltification.
Goal 3: Support Life-History Diversity and Resilience
· Objective 3.1: Design the habitat simulation to measure floodplain and channel capacity for diverse rearing strategies, validating habitat for extended-residence phenotypes versus rapid outmigrants.
· Objective 3.2: Establish quantitative flow-habitat relationships that test the efficacy of managed pulse flows, and validating triggers to stimulate safe outmigration across the salmonid assemblage.
Details
Minimum Qualifications:
· The Proposer [or Proposer’s employees] shall have 10 years of experience in ecohydraulic and bioenergetics modeling for fishery habitat.
· The Proposer [or Proposer’s employees] shall have the following certifications, licenses or affiliations: drone operator license.
· The Proposer shall possess knowledge of regulations and codes regarding riparian and aquatic ecology and shall be familiar with local conditions relating to riparian and aquatic ecology in Santa Clara County. All applicable regulations for drone operation.
· Demonstrated experience developing an eco-hydraulic model.
· Demonstrated experience working with salmonid populations in similar sized watersheds and hydrologic conditions.
Notes
Additional RFP Timeline information:
Submittals for RFP Questions due by 3:00 PM on November 6, 2026
Valley Water Response to Questions will be posted on November 19, 2026
Oral Interviews Tentatively Scheduled for workdays between of January 6, 2027 through January 14, 2027.
Procurement Portal Support:
Issues regarding the SCVWD Procurement Portal, account registration, and/or electronic submittal, should be directed to PlanetBids, in a timely manner that does not impact your proposal submittal. Contact the PlanetBids Vendor Line Support at:
SCVWD Procurement Portal: https://vendors.planetbids.com/portal/48397/portal-home
Phone: (818) 992-1771
Business Hours: 5:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. / M – F (PST)
Additional Details
Department: Consultant Contracts Services Unit #820
Pre-Bid Meeting: November 3, 2026 at 9:00 AM
Q&A Deadline: November 6, 2026 at 3:00 PM
Required Submittals: Response File, RFP Document Submittal Checklist (A&E)(required), Cost Proposal (required), Resumes (required), Preliminary Project Schedule (required), Client References - 1 of 3 (Must upload in MSWord, 1 File Per Reference)(required), Client References - 2 of 3 (Must upload in MSWord, 1 File Per Reference)(required), Client References - 3 of 3 (Must upload in MSWord, 1 File Per Reference)(required), Key Personnel & Subconsultant (Must upload in MSWord, Do not include any add'l info)(required), Non-Collusion Declaration (required), Exceptions List (required), Conflict of Interest Disclosure (required), W-9 Certification (required), Small Business Outreach Program Affidavit (required)
The work includes field data collection and topographic surveys to support ecohydraulic habitat modeling and bioenergetics modeling for salmonids in the Stevens Creek watershed. Specific goals include: accurately quantifying spatiotemporal habitat capacity for CCC steelhead by outputting models that translate depth and velocity into Viable Salmonid Population parameters and stratifying carrying capacity by juvenile size classes; integrating thermodynamic realities into flow management by coupling hydraulic outputs with thermal thresholds; and supporting life-history diversity and resilience by designing habitat simulation to measure floodplain and channel capacity for diverse rearing strategies and establishing quantitative flow-habitat relationships to test managed pulse flows.
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Source: Santa Clara Valley Water District (bid 147342), retrieved via the Santa Clara Valley Water District PlanetBids portal. View the official posting, and always confirm requirements and deadlines with the issuing agency.
