SSN-RC-2021-026 - Keep Rockland Beautiful Inc, to Provide Waterways, & Great American Cleanup

The County of Rockland Department of Environmental Resources is considering the issuance of a Sole Source award to Keep Rockland Beautiful, Inc. for the provision of Fall Waterways and Great American Cleanup Campaign and Environmental Education Programs for Rockland County Youth.

This award may be made on a sole source basis in accordance with the Rockland County Procurement Policy.

TERM: JANUARY 1, 2021- DECEMBER 31, 2021

The contract fills a need for:

Bi-annual cleanup and education campaigns, the Fall Waterways Cleanup and Great American Cleanup, employ hands-on civic engagement to provide invaluable experiential environmental education to thousands of volunteers of all ages throughout Rockland.  These campaigns not only remove tons of harmful litter and pollutants from the County’s streets, parks and waterways, they are an excellent vehicle for teaching about litter prevention, waste reduction, recycling, and natural resource protection. 

Target Population:
 

• The Fall Waterways and Great American Cleanup Campaigns serve the 326,000+ residents of Rockland County.  In 2021, over 2,767 volunteers will remove litter and debris from every town and nearly every village and hamlet in the County.  KRB continues to oversee these growing campaigns and engage more volunteers in the less well represented and largely disadvantaged communities in the western and northern areas of the County.

• The cleanup campaigns engage volunteers of all ages in every town, and nearly every village and hamlet in Rockland. Participants range from families with young children, scout and school groups to adult and senior volunteers from businesses and civic organizations. Provide data collection and analysis of demographics in order to better engage volunteers and address the needs of all members of our community. 

• Engage cleanup volunteers of all ages in a satisfying civic engagement experience that effectively removes 30+ tons of litter and debris, while building community and fostering environmental awareness and proactive stewardship of the environment. Volunteers will learn how litter and pollutants affect natural habitats, watersheds, public health and our communities, along with simple ways they can reduce waste, prevent litter and protect natural resources.
• Raise environmental awareness in the community while creating cleaner, healthier parks, roadways, and waterways to be enjoyed by all residents, businesses, and visitors to Rockland by matching or exceeding the number of volunteers who participated in the 2019 GAC and Fall Waterways Cleanups (2,767); and by matching or exceeding the number of trash bags collected (3,315).
• Matching or exceeding the number of volunteers participating in the spring and fall cleanups in Ramapo and North Rockland (1,126).
• Reduce the amount of waste being transported to landfills and increase the amount of recyclable products available for resale at Rockland Green (Rockland County Solid Waste Management Authority) by matching or exceeding the number of bags of recyclables collected and delivered to the Materials Recovery Facility in 2019 (1,312). This translates to more revenue to the county, less virgin resources and energy used in manufacturing, and fewer pollutants in the environment.

• Over 1,500 students and 150 teachers and parent volunteers from throughout Rockland County will experience Earth BEAT in 2020-2021 academic year. At least, one third of these participants will reside in underserved communities of the county.  If the program must be delivered completely virtually, these figures may be reduced to 1,000 and 50 respectively.
• Students participating in Earth BEAT will be better prepared and inspired to help reduce waste, conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions driving climate change, save water and protect our watersheds, preserve local habitats and native species in our community, and make healthy, sustainable food choices.
• Teachers participating in Earth BEAT will benefit from student participation in activities that compliment and enrich their curriculum and inspire interactive learning, locally-based projects.
• Over 200 high school students from throughout Rockland will participate in RPLUS in the 2020-2021 academic year. Each of the participating schools will have three workings and their own culminating symposium with 2 – 3 professionals volunteering as mentors. At least, one third of the student participants will reside in underserved communities of the county.
• Students participating in RPLUS will understand and be able to apply key concepts and elements of sustainable land use planning and development learned in classroom workshops. This includes examples of green infrastructure, smart building design, transit-focused development, and actions to mitigate and develop resiliency to climate change.
• Professionals participating in the symposium as mentors will provide useful, real-world feedback and suggestions to students and gain fresh insights from participating youth
• Participation in RPLUS will heighten student’s awareness of local planning issues and their interest in engagement in community and in consideration of planning related careers.

• Experienced in providing the same or equivalent services

• Be a 501 (c)3
• Be governed by a Board of Directors
• Be up-to-date with all IRS filings
• Be up-to-date with all NYS filings
• Have a 2020 budget with Board approval
• Be fiscally sound
• Have a Non-discrimination Policy
• Have a Conflict of Interest Policy
• Submit quarterly and year end reports, including attendance lists for each group activity
• Demonstrated sufficient successful experience providing the above services.
• Be available for on-site visits, announced and unannounced