ORGANIZATION/ENTITY: Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works
SOLICITATION TITLE: Regional Biosolids Facility Owner’s Agent Professional Services
SUMMARY:
The County of Anne Arundel is soliciting the services of an Owner Agent (OA) to manage the planning, design, and construction of a demonstration biosolids facility and a regional biosolids facility utilizing an alternative delivery method for construction.
SDGs 13, 14, 15 AND TARGETS:
Goal 13. CLIMATE ACTION: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- 13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries
- 13.2 Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
- 13.3 Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
- 13.A Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible
- 13.B Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities
Goal 14. LIFE BELOW WATER: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
- 14.1 By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
- 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
- 14.3 Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
- 14.4 By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics
- 14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
- 14.6 By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation
- 14.7 By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
- 14.A Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries
- 14.B Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
- 14.C Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Goal 15. LIFE ON LAND: Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
- 15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
- 15.2 By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
- 15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
- 15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
- 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
- 15.6 Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed
- 15.7 Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products
- 15.8 By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
- 15.9 By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
- 15.A Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
- 15.B Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation
- 15.C Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities
HOW DOES THE PROCUREMENT SOLICITATION/REQUIREMENTS ALIGN OR CONTRIBUTE TO SDG 13, 14 AND 15?
The solicitation supports the county's initiative to create a sustainable biosolids management system through the construction of a demonstration facility and a regional facility, utilizing an Owner's Agent (OA) to manage the project's complexities and ensure its success. The Scope of services to be performed by the OA as outlined in the solicitation contributes to SDGs 13, 14, and 15 in the following ways:
SDG 13 (Climate Action):
The OA is tasked with managing the planning, design, and construction of facilities that will utilize pyrolysis/gasification technology, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional waste management methods.
The OA will help in identifying and analyzing possible grant funding and financing opportunities for sustainable projects, which can support climate action initiatives.
The OA's role in public outreach and education can raise awareness about sustainable waste management practices and their impact on climate change.
SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
The OA will ensure that the final use of the biosolids product is environmentally beneficial and sustainable, which includes preventing pollution that could harm marine and freshwater ecosystems.
The OA's involvement in the design and construction of emergency storage for the biosolids product helps to prevent uncontrolled releases that could negatively impact water bodies.
SDG 15 (Life on Land):
The OA's work in refining performance criteria and creating bridging documents for the demonstration facility ensures that the project will meet or exceed future regulatory requirements, promoting sustainable land management.
The OA's responsibility for coordinating public outreach includes educating the community about the environmental benefits of the biosolids management project, which can lead to more sustainable land use practices.
The OA's role in evaluating current legislation that can impact the regional biosolids facility ensures compliance with laws that protect terrestrial ecosystems.
In summary, the solicitation is designed to ensure that the biosolids management requirements aligns with SDGs 13, 14, and 15 by promoting sustainable waste management, protecting water and land ecosystems, and supporting climate action through the use of innovative and environmentally friendly technologies.
IS THE SOLICITATION IN ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER SDGs?
The OA requirements outlined in the scope of services contribute to several other SDGs beyond SDG 13, 14, and 15. Here's how:
SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
The OA's responsibility for coordinating public outreach and education can raise awareness about the importance of clean water and sanitation in the context of biosolids management.
SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
The OA's requirement to identify and analyze possible grant funding and financing opportunities for sustainable projects aligns with the goal of promoting affordable and clean energy.
SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure):
The OA's role in managing the planning, design, and construction of innovative biosolids facilities contributes to the advancement of industry, innovation, and infrastructure.
SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities):
The scope's emphasis on sustainable biosolids management contributes to the goal of making cities and communities more sustainable and resilient.
SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
The OA's involvement in refining performance criteria and creating bridging documents for the demonstration facility supports the goal of responsible consumption and production by promoting sustainable waste management practices.
In summary, the requirements for the Owner's Agent outlined in the scope of services contribute to a range of SDGs by promoting sustainable waste management, clean energy production, and the development of innovative and sustainable infrastructure, as well as raising awareness about clean water and sanitation.
VISUAL REPRESENTATION:
Figure 1: Logical Flow/Concept
