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COLLIER COUNTY

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

INVITATION FOR QUALIFICATIONS (IFQ)

FOR

AERIAL PAINTING SERVICES

SOLICITATION NO.: 26-8689

HANNAH JONES, PROCUREMENT STRATEGIST II

PROCUREMENT SERVICES DIVISION

3295 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST, BLDG C-2

NAPLES, FLORIDA 34112

TELEPHONE: (239) 252-1306

Hannah.Jones@collier.gov (Email) mailto:Hannah.Jones@collier.gov

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INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

INVITATION FOR

QUALIFICATION (IFQ)

NUMBER:

26-8689

PROJECT TITLE: AERIAL PAINTING SERVICES

PRE-PROPOSAL

CONFERENCE:

AUGUST 13, 2026, AT 10:00 AM (EST)

LOCATION: PROCUREMENT SERVICES DIVISION, CONFERENCE ROOM A,

3295 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST, BLDG C-2, NAPLES, FLORIDA

34112

IFQ OPENING

DAY/DATE/TIME:

SEPTEMBER 3, 2026, AT 3:00 PM (EST)

PLACE OF IFQ OPENING: PROCUREMENT SERVICES DIVISION

3295 TAMIAMI TRAIL EAST, BLDG C-2

NAPLES, FL 34112

All proposals shall be submitted online via the Collier County Procurement Services Division Online Bidding System: https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/collier-county-fl.

As requested by the Public Utilities Department (hereinafter, the “Division or Department”), the Collier County Board of County Commissioners Procurement Services Division (hereinafter, “County”) has issued this Invitation for Qualifications (hereinafter, “IFQ”) with the intent of obtaining proposals from interested and qualified Proposers in accordance with the terms, conditions and specifications stated herein, in the Solicitation and/or attachments. The Proposers, at a minimum, must achieve the requirements of the Specifications, Scope of Services or Scope of Work stated herein. All references to “Proposer” are also referred to as “Consultant,” “Firm,” “Offeror,” “Contractor,” and “Vendor.”

The awarded contractors will be responsible for providing complete painting services for Aerial Crossings located throughout Collier County. The services include providing protective paint and coatings services, and related materials to County departments/divisions on an as-needed basis and to support the proper assessment, access, preparation, and painting of County-owned above-ground potable water, wastewater, and irrigation quality (IQ) aerial pipes and appurtenances.

The results of this solicitation may be used by other County departments once awarded according to the Board of County Commissioners Procurement Ordinance.

Historically, County departments have spent approximately six hundred seventy-five thousand three hundred eighty ($675,380); however, this may not be indicative of future buying patterns.

The Public Utilities Department is responsible for maintaining the County’s water, wastewater, and Irrigation Quality (IQ) aerial crossings. These aerials span canals and rivers throughout Collier County, and many are difficult to access, often requiring watercraft and specialized lifting equipment. Contractors will provide material, labor, equipment, tools, and services necessary for the projects. Contractors may not hire subcontractors to perform this work. The County currently has approximately seventy-six (76) water, forty-five (45) wastewater, and twelve (12) IQ aerial crossings and the system is expanding. The Division seeks to award contracts to qualified Contractors to access, prepare, and paint these aerials on an as-needed basis.

SOLICITATION PUBLIC NOTICE

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/collier-county-fl

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DETAILED SCOPE OF WORK

Collier County reserves the right to select one, or more than one Proposers for award as deemed the best value to the County; however, it is the intent to:

• Award Pool of Contractors.

The results of this solicitation may be used by other County departments/divisions once awarded.

The agreement term is intended to be for three (3) years with two (2) one (1) year renewal options. Prices shall remain firm for the initial term of the awarded Agreement. See Section 7.7, Price Modification, below.

The scope of work for this solicitation is to provide protective paint and coatings services, and related materials to County departments/divisions on an as-needed basis and to support the proper assessment, access, preparation, and painting of County-owned above-ground potable water, wastewater, and irrigation quality (IQ) aerial pipes and appurtenances.

1. Assess Aerial

1.1. Contractor must inspect each aerial crossing (pipes and appurtenances) to evaluate existing coatings, corrosion, general condition, and any safety or access constraints.

1.2. Contractor must confirm with the County’s Project Manager the service type of each pipe (wastewater, potable water, IQ, raw water) to ensure proper color-coding consistent with County standards.

1.3. Contractor must determine the safest and most efficient means of accessing the aerial (e.g., from land, watercraft, scaffolding, or lifts) in accordance with applicable OSHA, State of Florida, and county safety requirements.

2. Access Aerial

2.1. Contractor must clear vegetation and minor obstructions, where authorized by the County, to allow safe access without disturbing protected species or environmentally sensitive areas.

2.2. Contractor must provide, construct, maintain, and remove any temporary access (such as platforms, ladders, scaffolding, staging, or containment) necessary to safely reach all work areas, including canal crossings and other elevated locations.

2.3. Contractor shall not block roads and pedestrian walk paths unless necessary for the performance of the work and only with prior approval of the County. Where a traffic control plan is required, the Contractor shall obtain all required permits/permissions and shall provide all necessary signs, devices, and flaggers in accordance with the approved MOT plan and the Collier County Right-of-Way Handbook.

2.4. For each project, the Contractor must submit a site-specific Safety and Health Plan to the County’s Project Manager five (5) business days before the Contractor begins to work on a project. This plan must include detailed protocols for fall protection, scaffolding/boom lift certifications, and watercraft safety.

2.5. Contractors must provide an Environmental Protection Plan (EPP) to the County’s Project Manager five (5) business days before the Contractor is to begin work. The EPP must include containment integrity testing, spill response plans, and turbidity monitoring for work near water. If applicable, a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) must be maintained.

2.6. For aerial crossings spanning navigable rivers or canals, the Contractor must comply with all U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) navigation requirements to ensure no obstruction to watercraft.

2.7. Contractor must comply with Society for Protective Coatings Quality Procedures 2 (SSPC QP 2) is mandatory for any project involving the removal of hazardous coatings.

2.8. For large or critical projects, the County may require third-party coatings inspection by an SSPC-certified inspector at key hold points, including surface preparation, primer application, and topcoat application. The Contractor shall bear sole responsibility for all costs, fees, and expenses associated with third party testing and/or inspections, including paying the third-party inspector, and further including the cost of any subsequent re-testing required due to non-compliant work. No additional compensation will be provided by the County.

AWARD AND TERM OF AGREEMENT

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3. Prepare Aerial Surface

3.1. In addition to manufacturer specifications, the Contractor must ensure that all surface preparation must comply with SSPC/NACE industrial standards. This includes SSPC-SP 10 (Near-White Blast Cleaning) for full repaints, SSPC-SP 6 (Commercial Blast Cleaning), or SSPC-SP 2/3 (Hand/Power Tool Cleaning) for spot repairs as dictated by the specific project condition. All work must also follow SSPC-PA 1 (Shop, Field, and Maintenance Painting of Steel).

3.2. Contractor must remove all dirt, rust, scale, splinters, loose particles, disintegrated paint, grease, oil, and other deleterious materials from surfaces designated for coating using approved methods as it relates to Section 3.1 (e.g., pressure washing, hand/power tool cleaning, or blasting where allowed).

3.3. Contractor must employ containment and protection methods, including but not limited to tarps, screens, collection mats, and runoff controls, to ensure that no debris, wash water, or contaminants enter underlying canals, stormwater systems, or surrounding areas.

3.4. Contractor must collect, contain, and properly dispose of all waste materials generated during preparation in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations, maintaining continuous environmental protection for adjacent structures, waterways, vegetation, and ground surfaces.

4. Paint Aerial Surface

4.1. Coating Materials

The Contractor shall use a compatible, high-performance industrial coating system suitable for wastewater and utility environments, consisting of:

• Primer: Rust-inhibitive epoxy or zinc-rich primer

• Intermediate Coat (if required): Epoxy build coat

• Finish Coat: Chemical-resistant epoxy or polyurethane topcoat

• Finish Coat shall be aliphatic polyurethane (UV resistant) topcoat meeting SSPC-Paint 36 exterior performance requirements.

All products shall be from the same manufacturer and designed to function as a complete system. The

County prefers systems equal or superior to the following examples:

• Sherwin-Williams Macropoxy 646 primer applied at 4–6 mils DFT

• Sherwin-Williams Acrolon Ultra topcoat applied at 2–3 mils DFT

Approved coating manufacturers include, but are not limited to: Tnemec, PPG, Sherwin-Williams, AkzoNobel, or County-approved equivalents.

Color system requirements must/shall include:

• Wastewater: Sherwin-Williams SW4085 Safety Green or equivalent color

• Potable Water: Blue equivalent to C900 “Blue Brute” pipe color

• IQ: Pantone 522c or equivalent

• Raw Water (IQ): White

4.2. Color Confirmation

The Contractor shall confirm all colors and coating systems with the County’s Project Manager prior to application.

4.3. Surface Preparation

Pipes and appurtenances shall be cleaned of debris, rust, chalk, biological growth, loose paint, and other contaminants prior to the Contractor applying any coating. Surface preparation must meet industry standards and manufacture requirements.

4.4. Lead and Hazardous Coating Testing

• Contractor shall test older aerial pipes for lead-based paint or other hazardous coatings prior to mobilization.

• If hazardous coatings are identified, all work involving disturbance, removal, or containment shall be performed in accordance with:

• OSHA 29 CFR 1926.62 (Lead in Construction) requirements for exposure control, worker protection, and safe work practices.

• EPA 40 CFR 745 Subpart E requirements for lead-safe containment, waste handling, and cleanup verification.

• The Contractor shall bear the cost associated with the remediation and disposal of any hazardous material.

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• Compliance with these standards is required and shall be incorporated into the Contractor’s work methods, safety measures, and handling of all hazardous materials.

4.5. Containment Over Waterways

When abrasive blasting or high-pressure cleaning is performed over canals, rivers, or waterways, the Contractor must use full containment systems meeting EPA and SSPC guidelines. Methods that could release debris, paint, or contaminants into the water are prohibited unless specifically approved.

4.6. Workmanship

All painting shall be performed by skilled and experienced industrial/utility painters. Surfaces must be clean, dry, and properly prepared. Finished coatings shall be uniform and free of runs, drips, sags, ridges, laps, or other visible defects, and shall meet applicable County utility standards.

4.7. Application of Coating System

The Contractor shall apply primer, intermediate coats, and finish coats in accordance with manufacturer requirements for mixing, thinning (if permitted by the manufacturer), number of coats, dry-film thickness, and curing times.

4.8. Painting of Appurtenances

All exposed piping and accessories (including fan guards, air-release valves, straps, supports, brackets, and similar appurtenances) shall be coated with the approved system and color.

4.9. Dry Film Thickness (DFT) Requirements

Coatings shall meet the manufacturer’s required dry-film thickness for each coat and for the complete system. Typical systems require a total DFT of approximately 12–20+ mils. The Contractor shall measure and document both wet-film thickness (WFT) during application and dry-film thickness (DFT) after curing, using industry-accepted gauges. Thickness measurements shall be recorded for each coat, at representative locations, and submitted as part of the project documentation.

5. Protection, Cleanup and Safety

5.1. Contractor must protect all nearby property, vehicles, equipment, waterways, fittings, and accessories from overspray, spatter, and damage; mask areas not to receive paint.

5.2. Contractor must maintain the project area free from accumulation of debris and rubbish; remove scaffolding, coverings, paint materials, and equipment upon completion of work at each site.

5.3. Contractor must promptly clean any paint brushed, splattered, spilled, or sprayed on surfaces not specified to be painted and restore them to their original condition to the County’s satisfaction.

5.4. Contractor must provide all labor, equipment, and means necessary to safely access and complete work on canal crossings and elevated locations in compliance with applicable safety regulations.

5.5. The Contractor must comply with Federal and State right-to-know laws if hazardous materials are used.

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) will be made available and provided to the County’s Project Manager or designee upon request. The Contractor is required to immediately report to the County’s Project Manager or designee any spillage or dumping of hazardous material on Collier County property. The Contractor shall bear all costs associated with the cleanup of any such incidents.

6. Quoting Procedures

6.1. Quotes will be requested from all Contractors for each project. The work for each project will be awarded to the lowest quote received, except as noted below.

6.2. A Request for Quote, with the applicable supporting documentation, including but not limited to, summary of work, project plans, technical specifications, and liquidated damages will be provided to all awarded Contractors, along with a quote schedule for providing an all-inclusive lump sum quote. Project completion time may be specified in the Request for Quotation.

6.3. The County’s Project Manager will set the required response time for each project, but the Contractors will be given a minimum of seven (7) business days to provide a quote. Other projects may require a longer quoting period to allow for proper coordination. This period may also include a pre-bid meeting.

6.4. Contractors shall provide a lump sum quote based on the schedule provided. Mobilization shall reflect a reasonable, project-specific cost. The County reserves the right to request justification for any mobilization amount deemed excessive or unbalanced.

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6.5. The following is an example of a quote schedule that may be required:

Item Number Description Unit Amount Item Cost

1 Mobilization/Demobilization & Clean up Lump Sum 1 $0.00 2 Access (Temporary Platforms, Scaffolding or Watercraft) Lump Sum 1 $0.00

3 Painting/Coating Application Lump Sum 1 $0.00 4 Containment & Environmental Control Lump Sum 1 $0.00 5 Traffic Control/MOT Lump Sum 1 $0.00 6 Disposal of Hazardous Waste Lump Sum 1 $0.00 7 Inspection and Testing Lump Sum 1 $0.00

Lump Sum Total $0.00

6.6. All awarded Contractors are expected to submit quotes for each Request for Quotation that will be issued under the resultant contract, for the duration of the contract. Repeatedly failing to submit a quote, when requested, may result in the removal of the awardee from the contract pool. The County’s Project Manager will review all quotes received by the given due date and may negotiate with the Contractor who submits the lowest quote, if outside the budget.

6.7. No single project may exceed two hundred thousand ($200,000).

6.8. Contractor will commence work upon the County’s issuance of a Purchase Order and with approval from the County’s Project Manager. The Contractor will confirm all details with the County’s Project Manager prior to commencement of work. The Contractor agrees that any Purchase Order that extends beyond the expiration date of the resultant contract will survive and remain subject to the terms and conditions of the resultant contract until the completion or termination of work. The County reserves the right to waive any or all of these requirements and to separately solicit any job if in the best interest of the County.

6.9. Each project requires a pre-construction meeting and a submittal package containing the project schedule and safety plan, prior to the issuance of a Purchase Order (as referenced in Section 2.4 and Section 2.5), unless otherwise approved by the County’s Project Manager.

6.10. The County defines "outside the budget" as any quote exceeding the internal project estimate or allocated funds. The County reserves the right to reject all quotes and re-solicit the project if it is in the County's best interest.

7. General Information – Warranty and Quality Assurance

7.1. Warranty

• The standard warranty is one year.

• The Contractor is responsible for repairing any defects (e.g., adhesion loss, corrosion) at no cost to the County.

7.2. Quality Assurance

• Contractor shall provide all of the necessary labor, skilled personnel, tools, and equipment to perform high-quality workmanship and all of the services requested herein.

• All work shall comply with Collier County Vertical Standards as outlined in the Collier County Right-of-Way Construction Standards Handbook. Because painting existing pipes does not alter physical clearance, this requirement applies only to ensure no additional materials or methods used by the Contractor reduce existing vertical clearances.

• Apply all materials in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations and specifications.

• Provide finished surfaces that are free from sags, skips, drips, and other defects.

• Perform work under conditions best suited to produce acceptable work.

• Protect adjacent areas from damage from misplaced paint and preparatory work.

• If the Contractor applies the incorrect color, coating, or otherwise performs the work in error, the Contractor shall be fully responsible for correcting the error at no additional cost to the County. The County will not be financially responsible for any rework, materials, labor, or delays resulting from Contractor error.

• Contractor shall provide clear, date-stamped before-and-after photographs of all aerial pipe-painting work.

7.3. Performance Measures

• The Contractor will advise the County’s Project Manager or designee of any extenuating circumstances that will prohibit the Contractor from performing the requested service(s).

• The County’s Project Manager or designee shall be the final authority on any issues that may arise as to the quality and acceptability of any work performed under this contract.

https://www.collier.gov/files/assets/county/v/1/transportation/documents/land-survey-data/row-permitting-inspection-handbook.pdf https://www.collier.gov/files/assets/county/v/1/transportation/documents/land-survey-data/row-permitting-inspection-handbook.pdf

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7.4. Work Hours

• Normal business hours are Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM, excluding County observed Holidays. After-hours are considered before 7:00 AM and after 5:00 PM on weekdays and at any time on Saturday, Sunday, or County Observed Holidays.

• If a requested service is scheduled to start and end during normal business hours and Contractor extends work into the after-hours period due to no fault of Collier County, the hours worked outside of normal business hours shall be billed at the normal business hours rate. Approval must be obtained from the Collier County Project Manager.

7.5. Changes in the Work

The County shall have the right at any time during the progress of the work to increase or decrease the work.

Three (3) days after being notified of a change, Contractor shall provide the County’s Project Manager with a Time and Material Not-To-Exceed (T&M NTE) proposal for any changes in the work. All T&M NTE work for Changes in the Work will utilize a fee schedule for labor. Fee schedule rates, which are subject to additions or deletions, will be negotiated with the awarded Contractors and will be added to the contract for utilization. Use of rental equipment may be needed and will be identified and priced in the T&M NTE quote provided.

7.6. Billing and Invoicing

• The County’s Purchase Order number must appear on each invoice.

• Invoices shall contain details of the services performed and service dates.

• Contractor shall provide copies of receipts for materials costing $500.00 or more, and/or equipment rental receipt with the invoice.

• Mark-ups will not be allowed on ancillary charges, freight/shipping, sales tax, consumer fees or taxes, use and other similar taxes or fees associated with any work under the resultant contract.

• For all T&M NTE work, Contractor(s) shall be required to provide backup documentation of Contractor’s time and/or parts/materials/supplies/rental equipment by providing invoices and receipts at the time of invoice submission. Ancillary charges may be transferred to the County in the actual amount; however, mark-ups will not be allowed.

• On T&M NTE work for Changes in the Work, the labor rates provided by the Contractor are to be fully burdened to include overhead, insurance, profit and use of company owned small tools and equipment.

7.7 Price Modifications

• Price increase requests for the fee schedule rates for Changes in the Work may be submitted on an annual basis after the initial term of the contract. Retroactive price adjustments are not authorized. All requests must be submitted to the County Representative or designee. Any requested adjustment shall be fully documented and submitted to the County no less than ninety (120) days prior to the contract anniversary date. Any approved cost adjustments shall become effective as of the later of the anniversary date or upon Procurement Director/Board approval.

1.1. Contractor shall provide supporting documentation justifying price increases (examples: Contractor’s payroll records, leases, material agreements, distributor invoices, proof of fuel increases, etc.).

1.2. County Representative or designee shall analyze prices to determine if increases are fair and reasonable using the following methods: price competition (reviewing competitive bids or offers), market prices, historical prices, or independent estimates.

1.3. Contractor shall continue to fill all existing purchase orders received at the current agreement prices.

Any approved price increase will only impact Changes in the Work requested after the contract renewal.

1.4. The Procurement Director has the authority to approve price adjustments in accordance with the Procurement Ordinance, as amended. The bid tabulation shall be modified with the price increases and uploaded into the County’s Finance system.

1.5. Price increase requests are not guaranteed. If approved, the Procurement Director or designee will notify the Contractor in writing with the effective date of any approved price increases. The County may, after examination, refuse to accept the adjusted costs if they are not properly documented, are considered to be excessive, or if decreases are considered to be insufficient. In the event the County does not wish to accept the adjusted costs and the matter cannot be resolved to the satisfaction of the County, a contract termination will have to be processed.

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1.1 Proposers are encouraged to review the Invitation for Qualifications Instructions, which includes the evaluation process.

1.2 Contractors should not submit a proposal longer than one hundred twenty-five (125) pages.

1.3 For the development of a shortlist, the following Evaluation Criteria will be utilized by the County’s Selection Committee to score each proposal. Proposals must address all the following criteria:

No. Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points

1 Cover Letter/Management Summary 5 Points

2 Certified Woman and/or Minority Business Enterprise

5 Points

3 Experience and Capacity of the Firm 45 Points

4 Specialized Expertise of Team Members 35 Points

5 Local Vendor Preference 10 Points

TOTAL 100 Points

Detailed Criteria Descriptions are further described below. Proposals must be assembled, at minimum, in the order of the Evaluation Criteria listed or the proposal may be deemed non-responsive.

EVALUATION CRITERIA NO. 1: COVER LETTER/MANAGEMENT SUMMARY (5 Total Points Available) Provide a cover letter that includes:

• The Proposer’s philosophy in providing the services requested.

• Name(s), telephone number(s) and email(s) of the authorized contact person(s) concerning proposal.

Note: Submission of a proposal certifies that the Proposer will accept any awards as a result of this

IFQ.

EVALUATION CRITERIA NO. 2: CERTIFIED WOMAN AND/OR MINORITY BUSINESS

ENTERPRISE (5 Total Points Available) Submit certification with the Florida Department of Management Service, Office of Supplier Diversity as a Certified Woman and/or Minority Business Enterprise.

EVALUATION CRITERIA NO. 3: EXPERIENCE AND CAPACITY OF THE FIRM (45 Total Points Available) The criteria outlined below are required at the time of submittal or the proposal may not be considered. Include but not limited to:

• Firm’s qualifications, capacity, skills, and financial strength, and number of years of experience in providing the required services, including specific experience with aerial or elevated utility painting over water (e.g., bridges, pipelines).

• Provide information that documents your firm’s qualifications to produce the required deliverables, including abilities, capacity, skill, and financial strength, and the number of years of experience in providing the required services.

• Describe the various team members’ successful experience in working with one another on previous projects.

• Proposers must provide proof of minimum insurance, and the value of the last 5 projects performed

RESPONSE FORMAT AND EVALUATION GRADING CRITERIA FOR DEVELOPMENT OF

SHORTLIST

Page 9 of 9 Solicitation v2 under government/utility contracts. The insurance reequipments are as follows: General Liability ($1M+), Auto, Workers’ Comp, and Pollution/Environmental Impairment Liability.

• If you consider any portion of your documentation to be a trade secret, proprietary, or otherwise confidential, please clearly mark those documents as such in accordance with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes (Public Records Law).

• References: Submit three (3) through ten (10) references using the County’s Reference Form.

Include up to two additional pages per project to illustrate relevant experience. The references must be for projects within the last five (5) years whose projects are of a similar nature, size, scope and complexity of this solicitation.

o References must include photos or specific details regarding containment success and environmental compliance.

EVALUATION CRITERIA NO. 4: SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE OF TEAM MEMBERS (35 Total Points Available) The criteria outlined below are required at the time of submittal or the proposal may not be considered.

Include but not limited to:

• Description of the proposed contract team and the roles.

• Brief resumes of all proposed project team members who will be involved in the management of the total package of services, as well as the delivery of specific services.

• Provide a list of existing equipment owned by the contractor to deliver the services under this solicitation.

• Provide an example safety plan for a project that would take place under this solicitation.

• Provide an example plan on how paint debris and wash will be collected and disposed of to protect the surrounding environment.

• Provide industry-standard certifications for employees to show specialized expertise, for example but not limited to, OSHA and State of Florida sponsored safety training.

EVALUATION CRITERIA NO. 5: LOCAL VENDOR PREFERENCE (10 Total Points Available) Local business is defined as the Proposer having a current Business Tax Receipt issued by the Collier or Lee County Tax Collector prior to proposal submission to do business within Collier County, and that identifies the business with a permanent physical business address located within the limits of Collier or Lee County from which the Proposer’s staff operates and performs business in an area zoned for the conduct of such business.