As-Needed SLR & GWI
Consulting Services

• Port of Oakland (Awarding Body): The Port is a public entity established and existing under the Charter of the City of Oakland. It operates as the principal awarding body for this multi-year climate adaptation project. The Port's primary objectives under this agreement are to ensure the structural and operational resilience of its maritime and aviation assets against climate-driven hazards. The agreement is overseen by the Port’s Executive Director or their designee. The Port acts as the lead agency responsible for the programmatic implementation of Sea Level Rise (SLR) and Groundwater Inundation (GWI) strategies across its jurisdiction, which includes the Oakland International Airport and the maritime port facilities.
• Silvestrum Climate Associates, LLC (Consultant): Silvestrum Climate Associates, based in Mill Valley, California, is the selected professional consultant for this as-needed contract. They were chosen through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process where the Port determined they were the most qualified firm to provide the specialized environmental and engineering services required. Their role is defined by providing high-level technical expertise in coastal modeling, risk assessment, and adaptation planning. As the primary contractor, they manage a team of sub-consultants and are responsible for delivering accurate climate data and implementation roadmaps to the Port.
• Financial and Administrative Governance: The agreement establishes a strict fiscal ceiling of $1,500,000.00. Compensation is provided on a "Time and Materials" basis, meaning the Consultant is reimbursed for actual hours worked and direct costs, subject to the not-to-exceed limit. This financial structure ensures the Port maintains control over project expenditures while allowing the flexibility needed for "as-needed" technical tasks that may arise over the three-year contract term (with potential for two one-year extensions).

The scope is divided into seven critical task areas designed to build a comprehensive climate resilience framework for the Port's infrastructure.

• Task 1: Coastal and Groundwater Flood Modeling and Mapping: The Consultant must perform detailed modeling to identify flood hazards. This includes using the latest scientific projections for SLR and GWI. The mapping must account for various temporal horizons and extreme weather events, ensuring the Port has a granular understanding of how rising tides and groundwater levels will interact with existing sub-surface infrastructure. This task involves the synthesis of regional data from sources like BCDC and ART to create Port-specific hazard maps.
• Task 2: Criticality and Vulnerability Assessment: This phase involves evaluating the Port’s assets (piers, runways, utilities, and buildings) to determine their sensitivity to climate hazards. The Consultant identifies "tipping points" where assets might fail or lose operational capacity. Vulnerability is assessed not just in physical terms, but also in terms of economic impact, social equity, and environmental consequences. The goal is to prioritize assets for immediate adaptation interventions.
• Task 3: Strategy Development and Adaptation Planning: Building on the vulnerability data, the Consultant develops site-specific and programmatic adaptation strategies. These range from "hard" engineering solutions (e.g., levees or raised structures) to "soft" solutions (e.g., nature-based infrastructure or policy changes). The Consultant must provide cost-benefit analyses for each proposed strategy to assist the Port in decision-making.
• Task 4: Planning, Environmental, and Regulatory Support: Adaptation projects must comply with complex regulatory landscapes. The Consultant provides support for CEQA and NEPA documentation, as well as assistance with BCDC and other coastal regulatory permits. This task ensures that any proposed physical modifications to the Port's landscape are legally viable and environmentally sound.
• Task 5: Stakeholder and Community Engagement: Recognizing the Port's role in the local community, the scope includes robust engagement tasks. The Consultant facilitates workshops, public meetings, and stakeholder interviews to ensure that adaptation plans consider the needs of tenants, community groups, and regional partners. This includes addressing environmental justice and social equity in the planning process.
• Task 6: Funding and Grant Strategy: To implement the multi-million dollar adaptation strategies, the Consultant identifies external funding sources. This involves tracking state and federal grant opportunities, preparing grant applications, and developing long-term funding roadmaps. The Consultant acts as a strategic advisor to maximize the Port's ability to secure non-local funds for climate resilience.
• Task 7: Project Management and Ad-Hoc Support: This final task covers the administrative and technical management of the contract. It includes monthly progress reports, budget tracking, and the ability for the Port to request specialized technical support on an emergency or as-needed basis as new climate data or regulatory requirements emerge.