Specifications include, but are not limited to: Task 1. RBC Facilitation Services The Contractor shall facilitate and guide up to 24 RBC meetings in an efficient, effective, and equitable manner. Encourage full participation of all RBC members while remaining neutral throughout the process (the Contractor will not interject his/her own water resource-related interests into the discussions). Focus on the process to ensure meetings are administered fairly and provide for equitable participation by all RBC members. Help the RBC stay on task. Explain and enforce RBC Bylaws. Help the RBC design focused, substantive agendas that allow for efficient and productive meetings and that help the RBC stay on track with the final agendas. Summarize discussions at key moments to identify key points of interest, synthesize ideas, and move the RBC forward (either toward further clarification of issues or toward decision making). Summarize the discussions of, and decisions made by, the IRC after each IRC meeting (see Task 3). Collaborate and coordinate with the Planning Team during the river basin planning process which will include up to 24 two-hour Planning Team meetings, typically via a virtual meeting format, that will normally be held between regularly scheduled RBC meetings. Keep confidential information disclosed to them by RBC members or others in confidence. The Contractor shall lead the RBC in reaching consensus through interest-based negotiations as described in the River Basin Council Bylaws. Maintain a list of significant topics on which the RBC has reached consensus or have failed to reach consensus. Protect RBC members and their ideas from attack and ensure that provocative issues are not avoided but are discussed in a candid and respectful manner. Help RBC members to be heard and to express their interests and concerns, and help members concisely describe their interests and concerns. Help RBC members find innovative and workable solutions. Work both at and between meetings with RBC members to assist in the free exchange of ideas between the members and resolve any impasses that may arise. Help the RBC to develop multiple options, depending on the issue. Separate the process of making specific agreements from the process of inventing and exploring various possible options that might lead to agreement. Help the members address disagreements and seek their resolution. Intervene when emotions are high, both to acknowledge the strong emotions and to ensure that the parties feel protected from personal attacks. Help RBC members identify missing information and develop effective means to gather and use that information in the decision-making process. Help the members base their decisions on the best available scientific, technical, legal, or other objective criteria available. The Contractor shall regularly assess the success of the RBC and planning process and seek improvements as needed. Lead the RBC in the adoption of process and progress metrics outlined in Section 6.4 of the Planning Framework and ensure the adequacy of such metrics. Lead the RBC in evaluating process and progress metrics as described in Section 6.4 of the Planning Framework to identify successes and areas in need of improvement. Provide annual summary reports documenting process and progress metrics developed by the RBC and the evaluation of such metrics during the development of the River Basin Plan. Periodically survey RBC members to assess fairness, meaningfulness, and efficiency of the process. Help the RBC continuously improve through feedback, reflection, discussion, and adjustment. Achieve and maintain the confidence of and credibility with the RBC. Improve the Contractor’s own effectiveness through feedback, reflection, discussion, and adjustment. Deliverables for Task 1 Facilitator services for Santee RBC meetings required to complete a River Basin Plan in each basin, up to 24 meetings per basin, at locations within the planning basin. Participation in all Planning Team virtual meetings, up to 24, that are required to plan and coordinate implementation of the RBC meetings and development of the River Basin Plan. Summary report documenting a list of significant topics on which the RBC has reached consensus or have failed to reach consensus. Two annual summary reports documenting process and progress metrics developed by the RBC and the evaluation of such metrics during the development of the River Basin Plan. Task 2. Oversee and contribute to the preparation of draft and final River Basin Plan Serve as the primary editor of the River Basin Plan and oversee the development of draft and final River Basin Plan. Collaborate and coordinate with the Planning Team, as needed, during the development of a River Basin Plan, which will include up to 24, (2) two-hour Planning Team meetings, typically via a virtual meeting format, between regularly scheduled RBC meetings (these are the same meetings referenced in Task 1A-vii above and are not in addition to those meetings). Serve as lead author of Chapters 1-4 and 7-10 of the River Basin Plan in collaboration with the RBC and Planning Team and work in collaboration with SCDNR and the Surface Water and Groundwater Technical Support Contractors on the development of Chapters 5-6 of the River Basin Plan. In collaboration with the RBC Chair, submit progress reports (four total) after each phase of River Basin Plan development as described in Section 6.1 of the Planning Framework. Ensure the River Basin Plan represents the decisions and recommendations made by the RBC. In collaboration with the Planning Team, ensure the River Basin Plan is completed in accordance with the Planning Framework. Participate in up to two public meetings to assist in the presentation of the River Basin Plan to basin stakeholders and the public. Deliverables for Task 2 Four progress reports (submitted after each of the four phases of River Basin Plan development). Draft(s) of completed Santee River Basin Plan. Final Santee River Basin Plan in pdf format, that meets the guidelines described in the Planning Framework (SCDNR will be responsible for publishing the River Basin Plans on its website and for producing a limited number of printed copies). Participation in two public meetings to assist in presentations of the River Basin Plans. Task 3. Interbasin River Council (IRC) Facilitation Services The Contractor shall facilitate and guide up to four IRC meetings in an efficient, effective, and equitable manner. Encourage full participation of all IRC members while remaining neutral throughout the process (the Contractor will not interject his/her own water resource-related interests into the discussions). Focus on the process to ensure meetings are administered fairly and provide for equitable participation by all IRC members. Help the IRC stay on task. Help the IRC design focused, substantive agendas that allow for efficient and productive meetings and that help the IRC stay on track with the final agendas. Summarize discussions at key moments to identify key points of interest, synthesize ideas, and move the IRC forward (either toward further clarification of issues or toward decision making). Keep confidential information disclosed to them by IRC members or others in confidence. The Contractor shall lead the IRC in reaching consensus through interest-based negotiations as described in the River Basin Council Bylaws. Maintain a list of significant topics on which the IRC has reached consensus or have failed to reach consensus. Protect IRC members and their ideas from attack and ensure that provocative issues are not avoided but are discussed in a candid and respectful manner. Help IRC members to be heard and to express their interests and concerns, and help members concisely describe their interests and concerns. Help IRC members find innovative and workable solutions. Work both at and between meetings with IRC members to assist in the free exchange of ideas between the members and resolve any impasses that may arise. Help the IRC to develop multiple options, depending on the issue. Separate the process of making specific agreements from the process of inventing and exploring various possible options that might lead to agreement. Help the members address disagreements and seek their resolution. Intervene when emotions are high, both to acknowledge the strong emotions and to ensure that the parties feel protected from personal attacks. Help IRC members identify missing information and develop effective means to gather and use that information in the decision-making process. Help the members base their decisions on the best available scientific, technical, legal, or other objective criteria available. Deliverables for Task 3 Facilitator services for all four IRC meetings at locations within the Santee, Saluda, Broad, or Catawba basins. Summary report documenting a list of significant topics on which the IRC has reached consensus or have failed to reach consensus. SAP
