INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL, REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATION, OR REQUEST FOR LETTER OF INTEREST

Architectural and Engineering Consultant Services

Vendor is instructed to read and follow the instructions carefully, as any misinterpretation or failure to comply with instructions may lead to Vendor’s submittal being rejected or may affect Vendor’s evaluation.

Vendor MUST submit its solicitation response electronically and MUST confirm its submittal in the electronic bidding system for the response to be deemed valid by the County. Refer to Submittal Instructions.

A. Responsiveness Criteria:

A responsive Vendor means a vendor who submits a response to a solicitation that the Director of Purchasing determines meets all solicitation requirements.

Information and applicable forms, are requested to be submitted by the solicitation’s closing date and time, as instructed. Failure to timely submit may result in the Vendor being deemed nonresponsive per instructions.

The County reserves the right to waive minor technicalities or irregularities as is in the best interest of the County in accordance with Section 21.37(b) of the Broward County Procurement Code.

1. Bond Requirement

Not applicable to this solicitation.

2. Criminal History Screening Practices Requirement Broward County’s Criminal History Screening Practices Ordinance applies to this solicitation. Vendor must follow the instructions and submit the completed Criminal History Screening Practices Certification with its submittal. If not provided with the submittal, the Vendor must submit within three business days after the County's written request. Failure to submit within the stated timeframe may determine the Vendor to be nonresponsive to the Criminal History Screening Practices requirement.

3. Domestic Partnership Act Requirement Applicable to this solicitation as a tiebreaker criteria only. To be eligible for the Domestic Partnership tiebreaker, the Vendor must currently offer the Domestic Partnership benefit and the completed form must be returned at the time of solicitation submittal. Vendors who fail to comply with this submittal deadline will not be eligible for the Domestic Partnership tiebreaker.

4. Funding Requirements (ex. Grant, State, or Federal)

5. Living Wage Requirements

6. Lobbyist Registration Requirement Broward County’s Lobbyist Registration Act applies to this solicitation. Vendor must follow the https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/administrative_code?nodeId=CH21OPPOPRCOFIADSEDE_PTVPRCOSO_21.37ACREWATEIR https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH26PE_ARTVIIICRHICHEMAPVE_S26-125CRHISCPR https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH1AD_ARTXIIILOAC_S1-262LORESTFE instructions and submit the completed Lobbyist Registration Requirement Certification with its submittal. If not provided with the submittal, the Vendor must submit within three business days after the County's written request. Failure to submit within the stated timeframe may determine the Vendor to be nonresponsive to the Lobbyist Registration requirement.

7. Pricing Requirements and Submittal Not applicable to this solicitation, as this solicitation is covered by the Consultants’ Competitive Negotiations Act (CCNA), Section 287.055, Florida Statutes. In a CCNA solicitation, price will not be considered in the evaluation and ranking of the qualified firm.

8. Additional Responsiveness Requirement

B. Responsibility Criteria:

A responsible vendor means a vendor who is determined to have the capability in all respects to fully perform fully the requirements of a solicitation, as well as the integrity and reliability that will ensure good faith performance.

The Director of Purchasing or the Evaluation Committee (as applicable) may request additional information from any Vendor on matters that may affect a Vendor’s responsibility. A Vendor may submit additional information regarding its responsibility, but such information will not be considered if it contradicts or materially alters the information provided in the original solicitation response.

A Vendor’s failure to provide information requested in the manner required may result in a recommendation by the Director of Purchasing to, and/or a determination by an Evaluation Committee that the Vendor is nonresponsible.

1. Affiliated Entities of the Principal(s)

a. Vendor is required to disclose the names of “affiliated entities” of the Vendor’s principal(s) over the last five (5) years (from the solicitation’s closing deadline) that have acted as a Prime Vendor with the County. Vendor must follow the instructions and submit the completed Affiliated Entities of the Principal(s) Certification with its submittal. If not provided with the submittal, the Vendor must submit within three business days after the County's written request.

b. The County will review all affiliated entities of the Vendor’s principal(s) for contract performance evaluations and the compliance history with the County’s Small Business Program, including County Business Enterprise (CBE), and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), goal attainment requirements in its review and determination of responsibility. “Affiliated entities” of the principal(s) are those entities related to the Vendor by the sharing of stock or other means of control, including but not limited to a subsidiary, parent, or sibling entity.

2. Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) Vendor Security Questionnaire (VSQ)

3. Financial Information/Financial Ability

a. The County may consider the Vendor’s Dun & Bradstreet reporting information in its review and determination of financial responsibility.

b. The County may request additional information from any vendor on matters that may affect a

Vendor's responsibility (Section 21.40(b)(4)), such as financial statements or guaranties, including but not limited to most current and/or previous reporting periods balance sheets, income statements and annual reports, federal corporate tax returns, and SEC filings.

4. Foreign Country of Concern Requirements

5. Insurance Requirements The Minimum Insurance Requirement Form reflects the insurance requirements deemed necessary for this project. Vendor is required to either submit insurance certificates indicating that the Vendor currently carries the level insurance coverages OR submit a letter from the insurance carrier indicating the Vendor can obtain the required insurance coverages if awarded this contract. If not provided with the submittal, the Vendor must submit within three business days after the County's written request.

6. License, Prequalification, or Certification Requirements

a. License Requirement:

Vendor should submit proof of licensing with its submittal. If not provided with submittal, the Vendor must submit such proof within three business days after County’s request. The Vendor may be deemed nonresponsive for failure to possess license at time of submittal.

To be considered a responsible and responsive Vendor for the scope of work set forth in this solicitation, Vendor must possess one of the following licenses (including any specified State registration, if applicable) at the time of submittal. Any certificate of competency that meets or exceeds the licensing requirements specified herein, as determined in the sole and absolute discretion of the County, will be considered responsible and responsive to the solicitation’s licensing requirements.

STATE OF FLORIDA: Registered Architect (Prime)

Joint Venture Requirements (If applicable):

A Joint Venture should submit satisfactory proof with its submittal that the Joint Venture, or at least one of the Joint Venture partners, possess one of the above licenses (including any specified State registration, if applicable) at the time of submittal. If not submitted with its response, the Joint Venture must submit such proof within three business days of County’s written request. A Joint Venture may be deemed nonresponsive for failure to possess license at time of submittal.

If a Joint Venture is recommended for contract award, it must either 1) submit satisfactory proof that the Joint Venture holds the specified license (if applicable) or that a licensed contractor has qualified the Joint Venture, or 2) provide satisfactory proof it applied for the specified license (if applicable) or the licensee has applied to qualify the Joint Venture, within three business days of County’s written request. The license or qualification, as applicable, in the name of the Joint Venture, must be effective prior to contract execution.

Additional Requirements (for construction services only):

A Joint Venture proposer should submit satisfactory proof with its submittal that the Joint Venture complies with all applicable legal requirements, including but not limited to, Section 489.119, Florida Statutes and Rule 61G4-15.0022, Florida Administrative Code. If not submitted with its response, the Joint Venture must submit such proof within three business days of County’s written request.

b. FDOT Prequalification:

c. Certification Requirement:

7. Litigation History Vendor must follow the instructions and submit the completed Litigation History with its submittal. If not provided with the submittal, the Vendor must submit within three business days after the County's written request.

8. Office of Economic and Small Business Development Program Requirements This solicitation has the following Broward County Business Enterprise Goal: 25 % CBE. Refer to the Office of Economic and Small Business Development Requirements: CBE Goal and submit all required forms and information as instructed.

9. Workforce Investment Program Requirements

10. Payment Card Processing Questionnaire

11. Additional Responsibility Requirement

C. Additional Information and Certifications The following forms and supporting information (if applicable) should be completed and provided with the solicitation response. If not provided with the submittal, the Vendor must submit within three business days after the County's written request. Failure to timely submit requested information and/or to certify to requirement may affect the Vendor’s evaluation.

1. Vendor Questionnaire and Standard Certifications Refer to the Vendor Questionnaire and Standard Certifications and submit as instructed.

a. Drug-Free Workplace Certification

b. Non-Collusion Certification

c. Public Entities Crimes Certification

d. Scrutinized Companies List Certification

2. Procurement Preference for SBE and CBE (Section 1-81.10, Broward County Business Opportunity Act)

D. Standard Agreement Language Requirements

1. The solicitation’s contract terms and conditions are:

AE Consultant Services BCF 202CS Mod 2026.07.30 revised.

Link to Project Specific Agreement: BCF 202

2. Vendor is required to review the terms and conditions and submit the Agreement Exceptions. The completed form should be provided with the solicitation response. If not provided with solicitation response, it shall be deemed an affirmation by the Vendor that it accepts all the referenced contract terms and conditions and any additional terms listed above.

3. If exceptions are taken, the Vendor must specifically identify each term and condition to which it is taking an exception. Any exception not specifically listed is deemed waived. Simply identifying a section or article number is not sufficient to state an exception. The Vendor must provide either a redlined version of the specific change(s) or specific proposed alternative language. Additionally, a brief justification specifically addressing each provision to which an exception is taken must be provided.

4. The acceptance of or any exceptions taken to the terms and conditions of the County’s agreement language is considered a part of the Vendor’s response and will be considered by the Evaluation Committee. Submission of exceptions by the Vendor does not constitute acceptance of those exceptions by the County. Furthermore, taking exceptions to the County’s terms and conditions may be viewed unfavorably by the Evaluation Committee and ultimately may impact the overall evaluation of a Vendor’s submittal.

E. Procurement Authority

Pursuant to Section 21.33 of the Procurement Code, RFPs, RLIs, and RFQs with an anticipated total value of more than $500,000 require Board approval.

Continuing Contract: Professional services needed for projects in which the estimated construction cost of each individual project under the contract does not exceed statutory limits, in accordance with Section 287.055, Florida Statutes, the Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA).

https://www.broward.org/purchasing/documents/PNC2132144P1%20Architectural%20and%20Engineering%20Consultant%20Services.pdf

F. Project Funding Source

This project is funded in whole or in part by:

County Funds

G. Cone of Silence

1. The County’s Cone of Silence Ordinance, Section 1-266, of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, prohibits all communications, oral or written, relating to a competitive solicitation among vendors/vendor representatives, County Staff, and Commissioner Offices while the Cone is in effect.

2. Only communications with Purchasing Division employees, the solicitation’s designated Project Manager(s) or designee(s), the Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) Small Business Development Specialist Supervisor (954) 357-6400, and others as specifically identified in the Cone of Silence Ordinance are permitted. Additionally, communication is permitted at pre-bid conferences and negotiation meetings, as applicable.

3. The Cone of Silence begins upon the advertisement of an ITB, RFP, RFQ, or RLI. The Cone of Silence terminates when the solicitation is awarded, all responses are rejected, or the Board takes other action which ends the solicitation, as more fully stated in the Cone of Silence.

4. Any violations of the Code of Silence Ordinance by any vendor or vendor representative may be reported to the County’s Professional Standards. If the County’s Professional Standards determines that a violation has occurred, a fine shall be imposed as provided in the Broward County Code of Ordinances. At the sole discretion of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners, a violation may void an award of the applicable competitive solicitation.

5. Review the Cone of Silence Ordinance, Section 1-266 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances, for more detailed information.

H. Vendor Questions

The County provides a specified time for Vendors to ask questions and seek clarification regarding the solicitation requirements. All questions or clarification inquiries must be submitted through BPRO by the Question due date. The County will respond to questions in BPRO (Messages section).

I. Addenda

The County reserves the right to amend this solicitation prior to the deadline for Vendor responses by issuing written addenda to the solicitation. If, upon review, a Vendor finds a nonclerical error in an addendum, that Vendor must contact the Purchasing Division immediately, prior to the deadline for submission of responses, to allow the County to review the alleged error and to issue any clarification, if the County determines that a clarification is necessary. Vendors are responsible for obtaining and reviewing each addendum prior to the deadline for submission of responses to the solicitation. The terms of all addenda are incorporated into the solicitation.

https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH1AD_ARTXIIILOAC_S1-266COSI https://www.broward.org/EconDev/Pages/default.aspx https://www.broward.org/EconDev/Pages/default.aspx https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH1AD_ARTXIIILOAC_S1-266COSI

J. Committee Appointment and Project Manager

1. Committee Members Information:

An Evaluation Committee is responsible for recommending the most qualified Vendor(s). The solicitation’s appointed committee members are listed on the Purchasing Division’s website under Committee Appointment. Committee Members are covered by the Cone of Silence.

2. Project Manager Information:

Project Manager: Todd H. Manning, Capital Program Administrator

K. Evaluation Criteria

1. The Evaluation Committee will evaluate Vendors as per the Evaluation Criteria. The County reserves the right to obtain additional information from a Vendor.

2. Unless the Evaluation Criteria is identified as a solicitation Responsiveness or Responsibility Requirement

(i.e., pricing, certifications, etc.), a Vendor’s failure to respond to Evaluation Criteria will not be considered a matter of responsiveness or responsibility. Vendors that fail to submit information and/or documentation required by an evaluation criterion by solicitation’s closing date and time may receive no points (if applicable) for the corresponding Evaluation Criteria. The County is not required to request, consider, or analyze the Vendor’s Evaluation Criteria responses received after the solicitation’s closing date.

3. The County reserves the right to obtain clarifying information from a Vendor in writing for the Evaluation

Committee.

4. For Request for Proposals - the following shall apply:

a. The Evaluation Committee may shortlist the most qualified firms prior to the Final Evaluation, in accordance with the Procurement Code.

b. The Evaluation Criteria identifies points available; a total of 100 points is available.

c. If the solicitation includes a request for a pricing submittal, the formula for awarding points will be identified in the Evaluation Criteria.

d. After completion of scoring, the County may negotiate pricing as in its best interest.

5. For Requests for Letters of Interest or Request for Qualifications - the following shall apply:

a. The Evaluation Committee will create a shortlist of the most qualified firms.

b. The Evaluation Committee will either:

i. Rank shortlisted firms; or

ii. If the solicitation is part of a two-step procurement, shortlisted firms will be requested to submit a response to the Step Two procurement.

L. Review and Evaluation of Responses

The process for this procurement may proceed in the following manner:

https://www.broward.org/Purchasing/Pages/CommitteeAppointment.aspx https://www.broward.org/Purchasing/Pages/CommitteeAppointment.aspx

1. Agency staff prepares a report, including a matrix of responses submitted by the Vendors. This may include a technical review, if applicable.

2. A solicitation may only be awarded to a Vendor determined responsive and responsible to the solicitation’s requirements. The Director of Purchasing shall determine whether submissions are responsive. The Director of Purchasing’s responsiveness determination is not binding on the Evaluation Committee; the Evaluation Committee may accept or reject the Director of Purchasing’s responsiveness determination but must specifically state the basis for any rejection.

3. When making determinations of responsibility, the Director of Purchasing or the Evaluation Committee (as applicable) may request additional information from any Vendor on matters that may affect a Vendor’s responsibility. The failure of a Vendor to provide information requested by the County may result in a determination of nonresponsibility. In addition, a Vendor may submit information regarding its responsibility; however, information shall not be considered if it contradicts or materially alters the information provided by the Vendor in its original response to the solicitation.

4. The Evaluation Committee, with assistance of the Purchasing Division and based on information provided by the applicable County Agencies and the Office of the County Attorney, shall determine whether Vendors who have submitted responsive submissions are responsible. The solicitation’s awarding authority shall have the ultimate authority to determine whether Vendors who have submitted responsive submissions are responsible.

M. Local Preference Broward County’s local preference provisions shall apply except where otherwise prohibited by federal or state law or other funding source restrictions.

Refer to Section 1-75 of the Broward County Local Preference Ordinance and the Location Certification Form for further information.

For RFPs: upon the completion of final rankings (technical and price combined, if applicable) by the Evaluation Committee, if a nonlocal Vendor is the highest ranked Vendor and one or more Local Businesses (as defined by Section 1-74 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances) are within five percent (5%) of the total points obtained by the nonlocal Vendor, the highest ranked Local Business shall be deemed to be the highest ranked Vendor overall, and the County shall proceed to negotiations with that Vendor. If impasse is reached, the County shall next proceed to negotiations with the next highest ranked Local Business that was within five percent (5%) of the total points obtained by the nonlocal Vendor, if any.

The Location Certification Form will be used for local preference and location tiebreaker criteria.

N. Demonstrations

O. Presentations https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH1AD_ARTIVFIAF_DIV5BIPRLOVE_S1-75LOPRPR https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH1AD_ARTIVFIAF_DIV5BIPRLOVE_S1-74DE

1. Vendors that are determined to be both responsive and responsible to the solicitation’s requirements and shortlisted (if applicable) may make a presentation to the Evaluation Committee on the Vendor’s submittal. The committee may provide a list of presentation topics. Each Vendor will have equal time to present; question-and-answer time may vary by Vendor.

2. In accordance with Section 286.0113, Florida Statutes, and the direction of the Broward County Board of Commissioners, presentations during Evaluation Committee meetings are closed. Only the Evaluation Committee members, County staff (and County’s representative, if applicable), and the Vendor and their team scheduled for that presentation will be present in the meeting during the presentation and subsequent question and answer period. Subconsultants/subcontractors may only participate during one presentation/question and answer session, if partnering with multiple Prime Vendors.

P. Evaluation Committee Meetings, Committee Questions, Request for Clarifications, Additional Information

1. Evaluation Committee Meetings dates, times and locations are posted on Broward County’s Sunshine Meetings website.

2. At any committee meeting, the Evaluation Committee members may ask questions, request clarification, or require additional information of any Vendor’s submittal or proposal. It is highly recommended Vendors attend to answer any committee questions (if requested), including a Vendor representative that has the authority to bind the Vendor. Vendor’s answers may impact evaluation (and scoring, if applicable).

Q. Confidential Material; Public Records and Exemptions

1. Broward County is a public agency subject to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Upon receipt, all submittals become “public records” and are subject to public disclosure consistent with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Submittals may be posted on the County’s public website or provided by the County in a public records request response, except to the extent records are identified by the Vendor as confidential and/or exempt pursuant to the public records law and in accordance with the procedures in this section.

2. Any material(s) that the Vendor asserts are confidential and/or exempt from public disclosure under Florida Statutes must be conspicuously labeled at the time of submittal as “Confidential” and marked with the specific Florida statute and subsection permitting that exemption under Florida public records law.

3. To submit material as confidential and/or exempt, the Vendor must submit to “Broward County Purchasing Division, 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 212, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301,” in a sealed envelope labeled with the solicitation number and title, name and contact information for the Vendor, itemization of the contents, identification of the Florida statute(s) and subsection(s) permitting the applicable exemption(s), and the solicitation’s closing date and time, the following:

a. Three (3) hard copies of the materials, unredacted, with each page containing material that is confidential and/or exempt conspicuously labeled “Confidential”; and https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2020/0286.0113 http://www.broward.org/Commission/Pages/SunshineMeetings.aspx http://www.broward.org/Commission/Pages/SunshineMeetings.aspx

b. One (1) copy of the same materials, titled “Redacted Copy,” redacted to remove/redact only those portions of the materials that are confidential and/or exempt under Florida law.

4. If the Vendor does not submit the materials in strict accordance with this section, then the Vendor may be deemed to have waived any claim that the materials are confidential and/or exempt and the County is deemed authorized to post the entire submittal on the County’s public website and/or produce the entire submittal in response to a public records request for the materials.

5. By submitting materials marked as confidential and/or exempt, Vendor agrees to indemnify County and its employees and agents from any and all claims, fines, penalties, damages, judgments, and liabilities of any kind, including attorneys’ fees and costs, relating to the County’s nondisclosure of those materials in response to a public records request by a third party. The Vendor shall be responsible for defending its determination that the redacted portions are not subject to disclosure under applicable law.

6. Submitting material as confidential and/or exempt may impact discussion and consideration of the Vendor’s submittal by the Evaluation Committee because the Evaluation Committee may be unable to fully discuss the confidential and/or exempt material at the public evaluation meeting.

R. Copyrighted Materials Submittal of copyrighted material will constitute a license and permission for the County to use, reproduce, distribute, and publish (including both hard copy and electronic copies) as reasonably necessary for the evaluation of the solicitation response by County staff and agents, as well as to make the materials available for inspection or production pursuant to Public Records Law, Chapter 119, Florida Statutes.

S. Public Art and Design Program

T. Tiebreaker Criteria In accordance with Section 21.42(d) of the Broward County Procurement Code, the tiebreaker criteria shall be applied based upon the information provided in the Vendor's solicitation response at time of submittal.

Complete and accurate information must be contained in the Vendor’s initial submittal to ensure credit is received for any tiebreaker criterion. Except to the extent precluded by applicable funding or legal requirements, tiebreaker criteria are as follows:

1. Location Certification;

2. Domestic Partnership Act Certification;

3. Drug-Free Workplace Certification;

4. Volume of Previous Payments Attestation;

5. If the foregoing does not resolve the tie, the Evaluation Committee shall reconsider the responses and re-rank the tied vendors;

6. If the foregoing does not resolve the tie, the Vendor receiving the most first place votes from the

Evaluation Committee's reranking.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2021/Chapter119/All https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/administrative_code?nodeId=CH21OPPOPRCOFIADSEDE_PTVPRCOSO_21.42PRRFRLRF

U. Posting of Solicitation Results and Recommendations

The Broward County Purchasing Division's website is the location for the County's posting of all solicitations and recommendation for award and recommendation of rankings. It is the obligation of each Vendor to monitor the website in order to obtain complete and timely information.

V. Vendor Protest

Part X of the Broward County Procurement Code sets forth procedural requirements that apply if a Vendor intends to protest a solicitation or proposed award of a contract and states in part the following:

1. Any written protest concerning the specifications or requirements of a solicitation (or of any addenda thereto) must be received by the Director of Purchasing within five (5) business days after the applicable solicitation (or addenda) is posted on the Purchasing Division’s website.

2. Any written protest concerning a proposed award or ranking must be received by the Director of Purchasing within five (5) business days after the proposed award or ranking is posted on the Purchasing Division’s website.

3. Failure to file a written protest so that it is received by the Director of Purchasing within the timeframes set forth in Part X of the Broward County Procurement Code shall constitute a waiver of the right to protest. A protest submitted to anyone other than the Director of Purchasing shall not be a valid protest.

4. Except as to any protest of the specifications or requirements of a solicitation, as a condition of initiating any protest, the protestor must, concurrently with filing the protest, pay a filing fee for the purpose of defraying the costs in administering the protest in accordance with the scheduled provided below. The filing fee shall be refunded if the protestor prevails in the protest. Failure to timely pay the required filing fee shall render the protest invalid.

Estimated Contract Amount Filing Fee Mandatory Bid Amount up to $250,000 $500 $250,000 - $500,00 $1,000 $500,001 - $5 million $3,000 Over $5 million $5,000

The estimated contract amount shall be the total bid (proposal) amount offered by the protesting Vendor in its response to the solicitation, inclusive of any contract renewals or extensions. If no amount was submitted by the protestor, the estimated contract amount shall be the County’s estimated procurement contract price. The County will accept a filing fee in the form of a money order, certified check, or cashier’s check, payable to “Broward County,” or other manner of payment approved by the Director of Purchasing.

W. Right To Appeal

The protestor may appeal the Director of Purchasing’s denial of the protest with respect to the proposed https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/administrative_code?nodeId=CH21OPPOPRCOFIADSEDE_PTXPTIRECO award of a solicitation in accordance with Part XII of the Broward County Procurement Code. Decisions by the Director of Purchasing with respect to the specifications or requirements of a solicitation may only be appealed to the County Administrator or their designee, who shall determine the method, timing, and process of the appeal and whose decision shall be final.

1. The appeal must be received by the Director of Purchasing within ten (10) days after the date of the determination being appealed.

2. The appeal must be accompanied by an appeal bond by a Vendor having standing to protest and must comply with all other requirements of Part XII of the Broward County Procurement Code. The appeal bond is based on the estimated contract amount, per Section 21.84 of the Procurement Code.

3. Except as otherwise provided by law, the filing of an appeal is an administrative remedy that must be exhausted prior to the filing of any civil action against the County concerning any subject matter that, had an appeal been filed, could have been addressed as part of the appeal.

X. Rejection of Responses

The Director of Purchasing may reject all responses to a solicitation, even when only one response is received, if the Director of Purchasing determines that doing so would be in the best interest of the County; provided, however, that only the Board may reject all responses to a solicitation where the issuance of the solicitation was approved by the Board.

Y. Negotiations

Once a ranking is deemed final, the County shall commence contract negotiations with the top-ranked Vendor (or, if provided in the solicitation, with multiple top-ranked Vendors simultaneously). If the negotiation does not result in mutually satisfactory contract terms within a reasonable time, as determined by the Director of Purchasing, then the Director of Purchasing may terminate negotiations with the applicable Vendor and commence (or continue, if the solicitation provided for negotiation with multiple top-ranked Vendors) negotiations with the next-ranked Vendor(s) or issue a new solicitation, as the Director of Purchasing determines to be in the best interest of the County.

Z. Submittal Instructions

1. Vendor MUST submit its solicitation response electronically through BPRO and receive a Submission Receipt. It is solely the Vendor’s responsibility to ensure its response is submitted and received through BPRO by the closing date and time. The County will not consider solicitation responses received by other means. Vendors are encouraged to submit in advance of the closing date and time. Refer to the Purchasing Division website or contact support@gobonfire.com for submittal instructions. In the event that the Vendor is having difficulty submitting a document, immediately notify the Purchasing Agent and then contact support@gobonfire.com for technical assistance.

2. Vendor must view and download each of the documents in the electronic bidding system.

https://library.municode.com/fl/broward_county/codes/administrative_code?nodeId=CH21OPPOPRCOFIADSEDE_PTXIIAP https://www.broward.org/purchasing/Pages/Default.aspx https://www.broward.org/purchasing/Pages/Default.aspx mailto:support@gobonfire.com mailto:support@gobonfire.com

3. After all documents are viewed and downloaded from the electronic bidding system, the Vendor must upload additional information requested by the solicitation (i.e. Evaluation Criteria, certifications, etc.) in the Provide Submission Information section in the electronic bidding system, Evaluation Criteria responses should be non-locked file format.

4. If a Vendor is declaring any material confidential and exempt from Public Records, refer to Confidential Material; Public Records and Exemptions section for submittal instructions.

5. After all files are uploaded, Vendor must submit and finalize submission for offer to be received electronically through the electronic bidding system.

6. If a solicitation includes a Bond Requirement (Responsiveness Criteria), the Vendor must submit in a sealed envelope, labeled with the solicitation number, title, by the solicitation’s closing date and time, to:

Broward County Purchasing Division 115 South Andrews Avenue, Room 212 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301

A copy of the bond should also be uploaded into the electronic bidding system; this does not replace the requirement to submit an original bond by the solicitation’s closing date and time.

7. Broward County does not require any personal information (as defined under Section 501.171, Florida

Statutes), such as social security numbers, driver license numbers, passport, military ID, bank account or credit card numbers, or any personal pin numbers, in order to submit a response for ANY Broward County solicitation. DO NOT INCLUDE any personal information data in any document submitted to the County.

If any personal information data is part of a submittal, this information must be redacted prior to submission to the County.

Form Date 11/14/25 https://www.flsenate.gov/laws/statutes/2014/501.171