26-R090083RB Request for Qualifications.pdf

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

No. 26-R090083RB

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING

SERVICES FOR LAKE MANATEE

WTP D BASIN ADDITION, NORTH

REGIONAL WATER RECLAMATION

FACILITY EXPANSION TO 12.5

MGD, PCCP PIPE REPLACEMENT

AND REHABILITATION, AND

PIPELINE RESILIENCY PROJECTS

APRIL 30, 2026

Manatee County BCC Procurement Division purchasing@mymanatee.org mailto:purchasing@mymanatee.org

ADVERTISEMENT

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 26-R090083RB

PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR LAKE MANATEE WTP D BASIN

ADDITION, NORTH REGIONAL WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY EXPANSION

TO 12.5 MGD, PCCP PIPE REPLACEMENT AND REHABILITATION, AND

PIPELINE RESILIENCY PROJECTS

Manatee County, a political subdivision of the State of Florida (hereinafter referred to as County) will receive qualification proposal responses (Proposals) from individuals, corporations, partnerships, and other legal entities authorized to do business in the State of Florida (Proposers), to provide professional engineering services as specified in this Request for Qualifications

(RFQ).

DATE, TIME AND PLACE DUE:

The Due Date and Time for submission of Proposals in response to this RFQ is June 3, 2026 by

1:00 PM ET. Proposals must be delivered to the following location either in-person or express mail (UPS / FedEx) to Manatee County East-Campus, 9000 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood

Ranch, Florida 34202 and time stamped by a Procurement representative by the Due Date and

Time. Proposals will be opened immediately following the Due Date and Time at the Manatee

County East-Campus, 9000 Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202.

SOLICITATION INFORMATION CONFERENCE:

There is no Solicitation Information Conference scheduled for this Request for Qualifications.

DEADLINE FOR QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATION REQUESTS:

The deadline to submit all questions, inquiries, or requests concerning interpretation, clarification or additional information pertaining to this RFQ to the Manatee County

Procurement Division is May 18, 2026 by 4:00 PM ET. Questions and inquiries should be submitted via email to the Designated Procurement Contact shown below.

Important: A prohibition of lobbying is in place. Review Section A.13 carefully to avoid violation and possible sanctions.

DESIGNATED PROCUREMENT CONTACT: Ryan Blackmer, Procurement Agent III

(941) 749-3074, Fax (941) 749-3034

Email: ryan.blackmer@mymanatee.org

Manatee County Financial Management Department

Procurement Division

AUTHORIZED FOR RELEASE:

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section

A Instructions to Proposers

B Evaluation of Responses

C Award of the Agreement

Section D, Forms (to be executed and return with the Proposal)

Form 1 Acknowledgement of Addenda

Form 2 Proposal Signature Form

Form 3 Public Contracting and Environmental Crimes Certification

Form 4 Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form

Form 5 Non-Collusion Affidavit

Form 6 Truth-in Negotiation Certificate

Form 7 Scrutinized Company Certification

Form 8 Insurance Statement

Form 9 Indemnity and Hold Harmless

Form 10 Anti-Human Trafficking Affidavit

Section E, Exhibits

Exhibit 1 Scope of Services

Exhibit 2 Proposal Response

Exhibit 3 Area Maps

Section F, Sample Agreement

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 3

SECTION A, INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS

In order to receive consideration, Proposers must meet the minimum qualification requirements, submit the required forms and information, and comply with the instructions as follows.

Proposals will be accepted from a single business entity, joint venture, partnership or corporation. The County intends to award an agreement(s) for the provision of professional engineering services as identified in this RFQ.

A.01 INFORMATION CONFERENCE AND SITE VISIT

There is no Solicitation Information Conference scheduled for this Request for

Qualifications.

A.02 DUE DATE AND TIME

The Due Date and Time for submission of Proposals in response to this RFQ is June 3, 2026 by 1:00 PM ET. Proposals must be delivered to the following location either in-person or express mail (UPS / FedEx) to Manatee County East-Campus, 9000 Town

Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202 prior to the Due Date and Time.

Proposal(s) received after the Due Date and Time will not be considered. It will be the sole responsibility of the Proposer to deliver its Proposal to the Manatee County

Procurement Division for receipt on or before the Due Date and Time. If a Proposal is sent by U.S. Mail, courier or other delivery services, the Proposer will be responsible for its timely delivery to the Procurement Division. Proposals delayed in delivery will not be considered, will not be opened at the public opening, and arrangements will be made for their return at the Proposer's request and expense.

A.03 PUBLIC OPENING OF RESPONSES

Sealed Proposals will be publicly opened at Manatee County East-Campus, 9000 Town

Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202, in the presence of County officials immediately upon expiration of the Due Date and Time. Proposers or their representatives may attend the Proposal opening.

Manatee County will make public at the opening the names of the business entities which submitted a Proposal and city and state in which they reside. No review or analysis of the Proposals will be conducted at the Proposal opening.

A.04 SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES

The contents of the Proposal sealed package must include:

• One (1) bound original clearly identifying Proposer and marked “ORIGINAL”.

• Three (3) bound copy(s) clearly identifying Proposer and marked "COPY" with all required information and identical to the original.

• One (1) electronic format copy(s) clearly identifying Proposer.

Electronic format copies should be submitted on separate Universal Serial Bus (USB) portable flash memory drives or compact disc (CD) in MicroSoft Office® or Adobe

Acrobat® portable document format (PDF) in one continuous file. Do not password

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 4 protect or otherwise encrypt electronic Proposal copies. Electronic copies must contain an identical Proposal to the original.

Upon submission, all Proposals become the property of Manatee County which has the right to use any or all ideas presented in any Proposal submitted in response to this

Request for Qualifications whether, or not, the Proposal is accepted.

Submit the Proposal package in a sealed container with the following information clearly marked on the outside of the package: RFQ No. 26-R090083RB, Professional

Engineering Services for Lake Manatee WTP D Basin Addition, North Regional Water

Reclamation Facility Expansion to 12.5 MGD, PCCP Pipe Replacement and

Rehabilitation, and Pipeline Resiliency Project, Proposer’s name, and Proposer’s address. Proposals must be received by the Manatee County Procurement Division prior to the Due Date and Time at the following address:

Manatee County East-Campus

Procurement Division

9000 Town Center Parkway

Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202

A.05 ORGANIZATION OF RESPONSES

Proposals must be organized and arranged with tabs in the same order as listed in the subsections within Exhibit 2, Proposal Response, identifying the response to each specific item.

Proposals must clearly indicate the legal name, address and telephone number of the

Proposer. Proposal Signature Form must be signed by an official or other individual authorized to make representations for the Proposer.

A.06 DISTRIBUTION OF SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS

All documents issued pursuant to this RFQ are distributed electronically and available for download at no charge at www.mymanatee.org > Business > Bids and Proposals.

Documents may be viewed and downloaded for printing using Adobe Reader® or

Microsoft software, as applicable.

At its sole discretion, the County may utilize a third-party provider to distribute

Proposals. For more information regarding this service visit the Procurement webpage of the County website. Utilization of this third-party service is not a requirement for doing business with Manatee County.

Additionally, the RFQ and all related documents are available for public inspection at the Manatee County East-Campus, 9000 Town Center Parkway, 2nd Floor, Lakewood

Ranch, Florida 34202. Call (941) 749-3014 to schedule an appointment. Documents are available between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday, with the exception of County holidays.

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 5 http://www.mymanatee.org/

As a courtesy, Manatee County notifies the Manatee County Chamber of Commerce and the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce of all active solicitations, who then distributes the information to its members.

A.07 ADDENDA

Any interpretations, corrections or changes to this RFQ will be made by addendum.

Addenda will be posted on the Procurement Division’s web page of the County website at http://www.mymanatee.org/> Business > Bids and Proposals. For those solicitations that are advertised on a third-party website, addenda will likewise be posted on the third-party website.

All addenda are a part of the RFQ and each Proposer will be bound by such addenda. It is the responsibility of each Proposer to obtain, read and comprehend all addenda issued.

Failure of any Proposer to acknowledge an issued addendum in its Proposal will not relieve the Proposer from any obligation contained therein.

A.08 RESPONSE EXPENSES

All costs incurred by Proposer in responding to this RFQ and to participate in any interviews/presentations/demonstrations, including travel, will be the sole responsibility of the Proposer.

A.09 QUESTION AND CLARIFICATION PERIOD

Each Proposer shall examine all RFQ documents and will judge all matters relating to the adequacy and accuracy of such documents. Any questions or requests concerning interpretation, clarification or additional information pertaining to this RFQ shall be made in writing via email to the Manatee County Procurement Division to the

Designated Procurement Contact or to purchasing@mymanatee.org. All questions received and responses given will be provided to potential Proposers via an addendum to this RFQ

Manatee County will not be responsible for oral interpretations given by other sources including County staff, representative, or others. The issuance of a written addendum by the Procurement Division is the only official method whereby interpretation, clarification or additional information will be given.

A.10 FALSE OR MISLEADING STATEMENTS

Proposals which contain false or misleading statements, or which provide references which do not support an attribute or condition claimed by the Proposer, may be rejected.

If, in the opinion of the County, such information was intended to mislead the County in its evaluation of the Proposal, and the attribute, condition or capability is a requirement of this RFQ. Such Proposer will be disqualified from consideration for this RFQ and may be disqualified from submitting a response on future solicitation opportunities with the County.

A.11 WITHDRAWAL OR REVISION OF RESPONSES

Proposers may withdraw Proposals under the following circumstances:

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 6

a. If Proposer discovers a mistake(s) prior to the Due Date and Time. Proposer may withdraw its Proposal by submitting a written notice to the Procurement Division.

The notice must be received in the Procurement Division prior to the Due Date and

Time for receiving Proposals. A copy of the request shall be retained, and the unopened Proposal returned to the Proposer; or

b. After the Proposals are opened but before a contract is signed, Proposer alleges a material mistake of fact if:

1. The mistake is clearly evident in the solicitation document; or

2. Proposer submits evidence which clearly and convincingly demonstrates that a mistake was made in the Proposal. Request to withdraw a Proposal must be in writing and approved by the Purchasing Official.

A.12 JOINT VENTURES

Proposers intending to submit a Proposal as a joint venture with another entity are required to have filed proper documents with the Florida Department of Business and

Professional Regulation and all other State or local licensing agencies as required by

Florida Statute Section 489.119, prior to the Due Date and Time.

A.13 LOBBYING

After the issuance of any solicitation, no prospective Proposer, or their agents, representatives or persons acting at the request of such Proposer, shall contact, communicate with or discuss any matter relating in any way to the solicitation with any

County officers, agents or employees, other than the Purchasing Official or designee, unless otherwise directed by the Purchasing Official or designee. This prohibition includes copying such persons on written communications (including email correspondence) but does not apply to presentations made to evaluation committees or at a County Commission meeting where the Commission is considering approval of a proposed contract/purchase order. This requirement ends upon final execution of the contract/purchase order or at the time the solicitation is cancelled. Violators of this prohibition will be subject to sanctions as provided in the Manatee County Code of

Ordinances Section 2-26-31 and 2-26-32. Sanctions may include (a) written warning; (b) termination of contracts; and (c) debarment or suspension.

A.14 EXAMINATION OF RESPONSES

The examination and evaluation of the Proposals submitted in response to this solicitation generally requires a period of not less than ninety (90) calendar days from the Due Date and Time.

A.15 ERRORS OR OMISSIONS

Once a Proposal is opened, the County will not accept any request by Proposer to correct errors or omissions in the Proposal other than as identified in paragraph A.11.

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 7

A.16 DETERMINATION OF RESPONSIBLENESS AND RESPONSIVENESS

The County will conduct a due diligence review of all Proposals received to determine if the Proposer is responsible and responsive.

To be responsive a Proposer must submit a Proposal that conforms in all material respects to the requirements of this RFQ and contains all the information, fully completed attachments and forms, and other documentation required. Proposals that are deemed non-responsive will not be considered or evaluated.

To be responsible, a Proposer must meet the minimum qualification requirements and have the capability to perform the Scope of Services contained in this RFQ. Proposals submitted by Proposers that are deemed non-responsible will not be considered or evaluated.

A.17 RESERVED RIGHTS

The County reserves the right to accept or reject any and all Proposals, to waive irregularities and technicalities, to request additional information and documentation, and to cancel this solicitation at any time prior to execution of the contract. In the event only one Proposal is received, the County reserves the right to negotiate with the

Proposer. The County reserves the right to award the contract to a responsive and responsible Proposer which in its sole determination is the best value and in the best interests of the County.

The County reserves the right to conduct an investigation as it deems necessary to determine the ability of any Proposer to perform the work or service requested. Upon request by the County, Proposer shall provide all such information to the County.

Additional information may include, but will not be limited to, current financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices and certified by an independent CPA or official of Proposer; verification of availability of equipment and personnel; and past performance records.

A.18 APPLICABLE LAWS

Proposer must be authorized to transact business in the State of Florida. All applicable laws and regulations of the State of Florida and ordinances and regulations of Manatee

County will apply to any resulting contract. This solicitation process will be conducted in accordance with Manatee County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 2-26.

A.19 TAXES

Manatee County is exempt from Federal Excise and State Sales Taxes. (F.E.T. Cert. No.

59-78-0089K; Florida Sales Tax Exempt Cert. No. 85-8012622206C-6). Therefore, the

Proposer is prohibited from delineating a separate line item in its Proposal for any sales or service taxes.

The Successful Proposer will be responsible for the payment of taxes of any kind, including but not limited to sales, consumer, use, and other similar taxes payable on account of the work performed and/or materials furnished under the award in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 8

A.20 SCRUTINIZED COMPANIES

Pursuant to Florida Statute Section 287.135, as of July 1, 2012, a company that, at the time of submitting a response for a new contract or renewal of an existing contract, is on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, created pursuant to Florida

Statute Section 215.473, is ineligible for, and may not submit a response for or enter into or renew a contract with an agency or local governmental entity for goods or services of

$1 million or more.

A.21 COLLUSION

Proposer certifies that its Proposal is made without prior understanding, agreement, or connection with any other corporation, firm or person submitting a Proposal for the same materials, services, supplies, or equipment and is in all respects fair and without collusion or fraud.

Any such violation may result in contract cancellation, return of materials or discontinuation of services and the possible removal of Proposer from participation in future County solicitations for a specified period.

The County reserves the right to disqualify a Proposer during any phase of the solicitation process and terminate for cause any resulting contract upon evidence of collusion with intent to defraud on the part of the Proposer.

A.22 CODE OF ETHICS

With respect to this Request for Qualifications, if any Proposer violates, directly or indirectly, the ethics provisions of the Manatee County Procurement Code and/or

Florida criminal or civil laws related to public procurement, including but not limited to

Florida Statutes Chapter 112, Part II, Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, such Proposer will be disqualified from eligibility to perform the work described in this

RFQ, and may also be disqualified from submitting any future bids or proposals to supply goods or services to Manatee County.

A.23 PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES

In accordance with Section 287.133, Florida Statutes, a person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a proposal on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a proposal on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit proposals on leases or real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, Successful Proposer, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in Section 287.017 for Category Two for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list.

In addition, Manatee County Code of Laws Chapter 2-26 Article V prohibits the award of County contracts to any person or entity who/which has, within the past 5 years, been

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 9 convicted of, or admitted to in court or sworn to under oath, a public entity crime or of any environmental law that, in the reasonable opinion of the Purchasing Official, establishes reasonable grounds to believe the person or business entity will not conduct business in a reasonable manner.

To ensure compliance with the foregoing, Manatee County Code of Laws requires all persons or entities desiring to contract with Manatee County to execute and file with the

Purchasing Official an affidavit, executed under the pain and penalties of perjury, confirming that person, entity, and any person(s) affiliated with the entity, does not have such a record and is therefore eligible to seek and be awarded business with Manatee

County. Proposer is to complete Form 3 and submit with your Proposal.

A.24 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES

Manatee County does not discriminate upon the basis of any individual's disability status. This non-discrimination policy involves every aspect of County's functions including one's access to participation, employment, or treatment in its programs or activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation for an information conference or Proposal opening should contact the person named on the cover page of this document at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of either activity.

A.25 EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title 15, Part 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations and the Civil Rights Act of 1992, Manatee County hereby notifies all Proposers that it will affirmatively ensure minority business enterprises are afforded full opportunity to participate in response to this Request for Qualifications and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, handicap, or marital status in consideration of award.

A.26 MINORITY AND/OR DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE

The State of Florida Office of Successful Proposer Diversity provides the certification process and maintains the database of certified MBE/DBE firms. Additional information may be obtained at http://www.osd.dms.state.fl.us/iframe.htm or by calling (850) 487-

0915.

A.27 DISCLOSURE

Upon receipt, all inquiries and responses to inquiries related to this Request for Proposal become “Public Records”, and shall be subject to public disclosure consistent with

Florida Statute, Chapter 119.

Proposals become subject to disclosure thirty (30) days after the opening or if a notice of intent to award decision is made earlier than this time as provided by Florida Statutes §

119.071(1)(b). No announcement or review of the Proposals shall be conducted at the public opening.

If County rejects all Proposals and concurrently notices its intent to reissue the solicitation, the rejected Proposals are exempt from public disclosure until such time the

County provides notice of an intended decision concerning the reissued solicitation or

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 10 http://www.osd.dms.state.fl.us/iframe.htm until County withdraws the reissued solicitation. A Proposal is not exempt for longer than twelve (12) months after the initial notice of rejection of all Proposals.

Pursuant to Florida Statute 119.0701, to the extent Successful Proposer is performing services on behalf of County, Successful Proposer must:

a. Keep and maintain public records required by public agency to perform the service.

That information and data it manages as part of the services may be public record in accordance with Chapter 119, Florida Statutes and Manatee County public record policies. Proposer agrees, prior to providing goods/services, it will implement policies and procedures, which are subject to approval by County, to maintain, produce, secure, and retain public records in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and County policies including but not limited to Section 119.0701, Florida Statutes.

b. Upon request from the public agency’s custodian of public records, provide the public agency with a copy of the requested records or allow the records to be inspected or copied within a reasonable time at a cost that does not exceed the cost provided in Florida Statutes, Chapter 119, or as otherwise provided by law.

c. Ensure that public records that are exempt or confidential and exempt from public records disclosure requirements are not disclosed except as authorized by law for the duration of the contract term and following completion of the contract if the

Successful Proposer does not transfer the records to the public agency.

d. Upon completion of the contract, transfer, at no cost, to the public agency all public records in possession of contractor or keep and maintain public records required by the public agency to perform the service. If the Successful Proposer transfers all public records to County upon completion of the contract, the Successful Proposer shall destroy any duplicate public records that are exempt or confidential and exempt from public records disclosure requirements. If the Successful Proposer keeps and maintains public records upon completion of the contract, the Successful Proposer shall meet all applicable requirements for retaining public records. All records stored electronically must be provided to County, upon request from County’s custodian of public records, in a format that is compatible with the information technology systems of County.

IF THE SUCCESSFUL PROPOSER HAS QUESTIONS

REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 119, FLORIDA

STATUTES, TO ITS DUTY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC RECORDS

RELATING TO ANY RESULTING CONTRACT, CONTACT

COUNTY’S CUSTODIAN OF PUBLIC RECORDS AT:

BY PHONE: 941.742.5845

BY EMAIL: PUBLIC.RECORDS@MYMANATEE.ORG

BY MAIL: PO BOX 1000

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 11 mailto:public.records@mymanatee.org

BRADENTON, FLORIDA 34206

IN PERSON: MANATEE COUNTY

ATTN: RECORDS MANAGER

1112 MANATEE AVENUE WEST

BRADENTON FL 34205

A.28 TRADE SECRETS

Manatee County is subject to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Therefore, all documents, materials, and data submitted as part of a Proposal in response to a Request for Proposal are governed by the disclosure, exemption and confidentiality provisions relating to public records in Florida Statutes.

Notwithstanding any other provision in this solicitation, designation of the entire proposal as ‘trade secret’, ‘proprietary’, or ‘confidential’ is not permitted and may result in a determination that the Proposal is non-responsive and therefore the proposal will not be evaluated or considered.

Except for materials that are ‘trade secrets’ as defined by Chapter 812, Florida Statutes, ownership of all documents, materials and data submitted as part of a Proposal in response to the Request for Proposal shall belong exclusively to County.

To the extent that Proposer desires to maintain the confidentiality of materials that constitute trade secrets pursuant to Florida law, trade secret material submitted must be segregated from the portions of the Proposal that are not declared as trade secret. In addition, Proposer shall cite, for each trade secret claimed, the Florida Statute number which supports the designation. Further, Proposer shall offer a brief written explanation as to why the cited Statute is applicable to the information claimed as trade secret.

Additionally, Proposer shall provide a hard copy of its Proposal that redacts all information designated as trade secret.

In conjunction with trade secret designation, Proposer acknowledges and agrees that:

a. Trade secret requests made after the opening will not be considered. However, County reserves the right to clarify the Proposers request for trade secret at any time;

and

b. County and its officials, employees, agents, and representatives are hereby granted full rights to access, view, consider, and discuss the information designated as trade secret throughout the evaluation process and until final execution of any awarded purchase order or contract; and

c. That after notice from County that a public records request has been made pursuant to Proposer’s proposal, the Proposer at its sole expense, shall be responsible for defending its determination that submitted material is a trade secret and is not subject to disclosure. Action by Proposer in response to notice from the County shall be taken immediately, but no later than 10 calendar days from the date of

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 12 notification or Proposer will be deemed to have waived the trade secret designation of the materials.

Proposer shall indemnify and hold County, and its officials, employees, agents and representatives harmless from any actions, damages (including attorney’s fees and costs), or claims arising from or related to the designation of trade secrets by the Proposer, including actions or claims arising from County’s non-disclosure of the trade secret materials.

A.29 CONFIDENTIALITY OF SECURITY RELATED RECORDS

a. Pursuant to Florida Statutes § 119.071(3), the following records (hereinafter referred to collectively as “the Confidential Security Records”) are confidential and exempt from the disclosure requirements of Florida Statutes § 119.07(1):

1. A Security System Plan or portion thereof for any property owned by or leased to

County or any privately owned or leased property held by County.

2. Building plans, blueprints, schematic drawings, and diagrams, including draft, preliminary, and final formats, which depict the internal layout and structural elements of a building, arena, stadium, water treatment facility, or other structure owned or operated by County.

3. Building plans, blueprints, schematic drawings, and diagrams, including draft, preliminary, and final formats, which depict the internal layout or structural elements of an attractions and recreation facility, entertainment or resort complex, industrial complex, retail and service development, office development, or hotel or motel development in the possession of, submitted to

County.

b. Successful Proposer agrees that, as provided by Florida Statute, it shall not, as a result of a public records request, or for other reason disclose the contents of, or release or provide copies of the Confidential Security Records to any other party absent the express written authorization of County’s Property Management Director or to comply with a court order requiring such release or disclosure. To the extent

Successful Proposer receives a request for such records, it shall immediately contact the County’s designated Contract administrator who shall coordinate County’s response to the request.

A.30 E-VERIFY

Prior to the employment of any person under this contract, the Successful Proposer shall utilize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of (a) all persons employed during the contract term by the

Successful Proposer to perform employment duties within Florida and (b) all persons, including subcontractors, assigned by the Successful Proposer to perform work pursuant to the contract with Manatee County. For more information on this process, please refer to United States Citizenship and Immigration Service site at: http://www.uscis.gov/.

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 13 http://www.uscis.gov/

Only those individuals determined eligible to work in the United States shall be employed under this contract.

By submission of a Proposal in response to this RFQ, the successful Proposer commits that all employees and subcontractors will undergo e-verification before placement on this contract.

The successful Proposer shall maintain sole responsibility for the actions of its employees and subcontractors. For the life of the contract, all employees and new employees brought in after contract award shall be verified under the same requirement stated above.

A.31 LICENSES AND PERMITS

The successful Proposer shall be solely responsible for obtaining all necessary license and permit fees, including, but not limited to, all license fees, permit fees, impact fees, or inspection fees, and responsible for the costs of such fees. Successful Proposer is solely responsible for ensuring all work complies with all Federal, State, local, and Manatee

County ordinances, orders, codes, laws, rules, regulations, directives, and guidelines.

A.32 MINIMUM WAGE REQUIREMENTS

The successful Proposer shall comply with all minimum wage requirements, such as

Living Wage requirements, minimum wages based on Federal Law, minimum wages based on the Davis-Bacon Act, and the provisions of any other employment laws, as may be applicable to the Agreement.

A.33 PROTEST

Any actual bidder, Proposer, or contractor who is aggrieved in connection with the notice of intent to award of a contract with a value greater than $250,000 where such grievance is asserted to be the result of a violation of the requirements of the Manatee County

Procurement Code or any applicable provision of law by the officers, agents, or employees of the County, may file a protest to the Purchasing Official.

Protest must be in writing and delivered via email at purchasing@mymanatee.org or by hand delivery to the Procurement Division at the Manatee County East-Campus, 9000

Town Center Parkway, Lakewood Ranch, Florida 34202 by 5:00 p.m. on the fifth business day following the date of posting of the Notice of Intent to Award on the County website. There is no stay of the procurement process during a protest. The Purchasing

Official shall have the authority to settle and resolve a protest concerning the intended award of a contract.

For additional information regarding the County protest process, visit the Procurement

Division webpage on the County website.

A.34 BINDING OFFER

Proposals will remain valid for a period of 120 days following the Due Date and Time and will be considered a binding offer to perform the required services and/or provide the

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 14 required goods. The submission of a Proposal will be taken as prima facie evidence that the Proposer has familiarized itself with the contents of this Solicitation

A.35 ACCESSIBILITY

The County is committed to making its documents and information technologies accessible to individuals with disabilities by meeting the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and best practices (W3C WCAG 2). For assistance with accessibility regarding this solicitation, contact the Manatee County Procurement

Division via email at purchasing@mymanatee.org or by phone at 941-748-4501, X3014.

Successful Proposer shall ensure all its electronic information, documents, applications, reports, and deliverables required in the proposal are in a format that meets the requirements of Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and best practices (W3C WCAG

2).

Where not fully compliant with these requirements and best practices, Successful

Proposer shall provide clear points of contact for each document and information technology to direct users in how to obtain alternate formats. Further, Successful

Proposer shall develop accommodation strategies for those non-compliant resources and implement strategies to resolve the discrepancies.

A.36 PROMPT PAYMENT

County Shall pay in accordance with the requirements of Florida Statutes § 218.73, Prompt

Payment Act.

A.37 RECORD RETENTION

Successful Proposer shall retain all records and supporting documents related to any

Agreement resulting from this RFQ in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, and, at a minimum, retain all records and supporting documents related to said

Agreement, except duplicate copies or drafts, for at least five (5) years from final payment.

A.38 PROHIBITION AGAINST CONSIDERING SOCIAL, POLITICAL, OR

IDEOLOGICAL INTERESTS IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS

This section shall serve as notification that this solicitation is in accordance with Florida

Statutes Chapter 287.05701.

A.39 SOLICITATION SCHEDULE

The following schedule has been established for this Solicitation process. Refer to the

County’s website (www.mymanatee.org > Business > Bids & Proposals) for meeting locations and updated information pertaining to any revisions to this schedule.

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 15

END SECTION A

Scheduled Item Scheduled

Date

Question and Clarification Deadline May 18, 2026, by 4:00 PM ET

Proposal due Date and Time June 3, 2026, by

1:00 PM ET

Technical Evaluation Meeting TBD

Technical Evaluation Meeting TBD

Interviews/Presentations/Demonstrations (if conducted)

TBD

Final Evaluation Meeting (if required) TBD

Projected Award October 2026

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 16

SECTION B, EVALUATION OF RESPONSES

B.01 EVALUATION

A due diligence review will be conducted to determine if the Proposal is responsive to the submission requirements outlined in this Solicitation and to determine if the Proposer is a responsible Proposer.

A responsive Proposal is one that follows the requirements of this Solicitation, includes all documentation, is submitted in the format outlined in this Solicitation, is of timely submission, and has the appropriate signatures as required on each document. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in the Proposal being deemed non-responsive.

A responsible Proposer is a Proposer which the County affirmatively determines has the ability, capability and skill to perform under the terms of the agreement; can provide the materials and/or service promptly within the time specified, without delay or interference;

has a satisfactory record of integrity and business ethics; and meets the minimum qualification requirements in this RFQ.

Evaluation of Proposals will be conducted by an evaluation committee. Each evaluation committee member will evaluate and score the Proposals for each of the evaluation criteria. The committee will consider all information submitted by each responsible and responsive Proposer; clarification information provided by Proposer; information obtained during the interviews, presentations, or demonstrations; feedback received from

Proposer’s references; and any other relevant information received during any investigation of Proposer to ascertain the ability of the Proposer to perform the Scope of

Services as stated in this RFQ.

B.02 EVALUATION CRITERIA

The following evaluation criteria have been established for this RFQ.

Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points

Proposer & Team's Experience 41

Approach 36

Organizational Structure and Capacity 15

Similar Completed Projects 8

B.03 CLARIFICATIONS, INTERVIEWS, PRESENTATIONS, DEMONSTRATIONS

As part of the evaluation process, the evaluation committee will determine a list of those responsive and responsible Proposals that are deemed by the committee as having a reasonable probability of being selected for award (Short List). At a minimum, the evaluation committee shall conduct discussions with the Short List Proposers and may request additional information or clarification from Proposers for the purpose of further evaluation of (a) conformance to the solicitation requirements, (b) the abilities of the

Proposer, and (c) understanding of the Proposal submitted. Additional information and clarification must be submitted by Proposer within the requested time-period.

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 17

Additionally, interviews, presentations or demonstrations may be conducted with

Proposers as part of the evaluation process. If conducted, the Short List Proposers will be invited to meet with the committee. The information gained from these interviews, presentations, or demonstrations will be part of the committee’s consideration in making a recommendation for award. Therefore, Proposers should make arrangements to attend, if invited.

The interviews, presentations and demonstrations are closed to the public to the extent permitted by law.

In the final evaluations, each evaluator will consider the information obtained from the proposals as well as the discussions and clarifications presented during the presentations.

As part of the final evaluations, the initial technical evaluation scores for each short-listed firm, in each of the evaluation criterion, will be discussed by the evaluation committee and are subject to change.

B.04 RECOMMENDATION FOR NEGOTIATION

The evaluation committee will determine from the responses to this RFQ and subsequent investigations, the Proposer(s) who best meets the County’s requirements. Upon completion of the technical evaluations, the evaluation committee will make a recommendation as to the Proposer(s) which the County should enter into negotiations, if any. The County will notice the Intent to Negotiate, in the same manner the original

Request for Qualifications document was noticed prior to commencing negotiations.

Upon approval to commence negotiations, the recommended Proposer(s) shall submit one original hard copy and one electronic copy on a CD or USB flash drive of its pricing proposal. The pricing information should show a categorical breakout of the pricing, with any alternates or options clearly identified. The pricing information shall be clear and unambiguous to facilitate evaluation of the prices submitted.

The County will conduct negotiations with the highest scoring Proposer. If the County and the highest-scored Proposer cannot reach agreement on a contract, the County reserves the right to terminate negotiations and may, at its sole discretion, begin negotiations with the next highest-scored Proposer(s). This process may continue until a contract acceptable to the County has been negotiated or all Proposals are rejected.

B.05 RECOMMENDATION FOR AWARD

Upon successful completion of negotiations, a recommendation for award to the successful Proposer(s) will be presented for approval per County ordinances, policies and procedures.

END SECTION B

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 18

SECTION C, AWARD OF THE AGREEMENT

C.01 GENERAL

By submitting a Proposal, Proposer understands and agrees:

a. The Proposal and all subsequent information requested by the County during the procurement process will serve as a basis for the Agreement.

b. All products and papers produced during the Agreement period become the property of Manatee County upon termination or completion of the engagement.

C.02 AGREEMENT

The successful Proposer(s) will be required to execute the Agreement in a form and with provisions acceptable to the County (See Section F, Sample Agreement). The County (as

Owner) will execute this Agreement with the successful Proposer (as Consultant).

The negotiated Agreement may or may not include all elements of this RFQ or the

Proposal submitted by the successful Proposer(s) where alternatives provide best value, are desirable to the County, and the parties agree to such terms. Negotiations of the terms of the Agreement, may include specifications, scope of project, price, the Agreement period, renewal, or any other relevant provisions.

C.03 AWARD

County does not make award to a Proposer who is delinquent in payment of any taxes, fees, fines, contractual debts, judgments, or any other debts due and owed to County, or is in default on any contractual or regulatory obligation to County. By submitting this solicitation response, Proposer attests that it is not delinquent in payment of any such debts due and owed to County, nor is it in default on any contractual or regulatory obligation to County. In the event the Proposer’s statement is discovered to be false, Proposer will be subject to suspension and debarment and County may terminate any contract it has with Proposer.

Award of the Agreement is subject to approval as provided for in the Manatee County

Procurement Code.

END SECTION C

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 19

SECTION D, FORMS

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 20

FORM 1 - ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ADDENDA

RFQ NO. 26-R090083RB

The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the following addenda:

Addendum No. _____ Date Received:

Print or type Proposer’s information below:

Name of Proposer Telephone Number

Street Address City/State/Zip

Email Address Website Address

Print Name & Title of Authorized Officer Signature of Authorized Official

Date

Return this fully executed form with your Proposal.

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 21

FORM 2 - PROPOSAL SIGNATURE FORM

The undersigned represents that by signing this Proposal Signature Form that:

(1) He/she has the authority and approval of the legal entity purporting to submit the Proposal and any additional documentation which may be required such as the Joint Venture

Agreement or Joint Venture Affidavit, if applicable; and

(2) All facts and responses set forth in the Proposal are true and correct; and

(3) If the Proposer is selected by County to negotiate an agreement, that Proposer’s negotiators will negotiate in good faith to establish an agreement to provide the services described in this

RFQ; and

(4) By submitting a Proposal and signing below, the Proposer agrees to the terms and conditions in this RFQ, which incorporates all addenda, appendices, exhibits, and attachments, in its entirety, and is prepared to sign the Agreement, of which a sample is incorporated into this

RFQ as Section F. The Proposer understands that if it submits exceptions to the Sample

Agreement in its Proposal, the Proposer may be determined non-responsive.

Print or type Proposer’s information below:

Name of Proposer Telephone Number

Street Address City/State/Zip

Email Address Web Address

Print Name & Title of Authorized Officer Signature of Authorized Officer Date

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 22

FORM 3 - PUBLIC CONTRACTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES

CERTIFICATION

SWORN STATEMENT PURSUANT TO MANATEE COUNTY PROCUREMENT CODE

SECTION 2-26 ARTICLE V,

THIS FORM MUST BE SIGNED AND SWORN TO IN THE PRESENCE OF A NOTARY

PUBLIC OR OTHER OFFICIAL AUTHORIZED TO ADMINISTER OATHS.

This sworn statement is submitted to Manatee County by

[print individual's name and title] for

[name of entity submitting sworn statement] whose business address is:

and (if applicable) its Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is

. If the entity has no FEIN, include the Social Security Number of the individual signing this sworn statement:

I, the undersigned, understand that no person or entity shall be awarded or receive a

County contract for public improvements, procurement of goods or services (including professional services) or a county lease, franchise, concession or management agreement, or shall receive a grant of County monies unless such person or entity has submitted a written certification to County that it has not:

(1) been convicted of bribery or attempting to bribe a public officer or employee of

Manatee County, the State of Florida, or any other public entity, including, but not limited to the Government of the United States, any state, or any local government authority in the United States, in that officer's or employee's official capacity; or

(2) been convicted of an agreement or collusion among Proposers or prospective

Proposers in restraint of freedom of competition, by agreement to bid a fixed price, or otherwise; or

(3) been convicted of a violation of an environmental law that, as determined by the

County, reflects negatively upon the ability of the person or entity to conduct business in a responsible manner; or

(4) made an admission of guilt of such conduct described in items (1), (2) or (3) above, which is a matter of record, but has not been prosecuted for such conduct, or has made an admission of guilt of such conduct, which is a matter of record, pursuant to formal

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 23 prosecution. An admission of guilt shall be construed to include a plea of nolo contendere; or

(5) where an officer, official, agent or employee of a business entity has been convicted of, or has admitted guilt to, any of the crimes set forth above on behalf of such and entity and pursuant to the direction or authorization of an official thereof (including the person committing the offense, if he/she is an official of the business entity), the business shall be chargeable with the conduct herein above set forth. A business entity shall be chargeable with the conduct of an affiliated entity, whether wholly owned, partially owned, or one which has common ownership or a common board of directors.

For purposes of this Form, business entities are affiliated if, directly or indirectly, one business entity controls or has the power to control another business entity, or if an individual or group of individuals controls or has the power to control both entities.

Indicia of control shall include, without limitation, interlocking management or ownership, identity of interests amount family members, shared organization of a business entity following the ineligibility of a business entity under this Article, or using substantially the same management, ownership or principles as the ineligible entity.

Any person or entity who claims that this Article is inapplicable to him/her/it because a conviction or judgment has been reversed by a court of competent jurisdiction, shall prove the same with documentation satisfactory to Manatee County's Purchasing Official.

Upon presentation of such satisfactory proof, the person or entity shall be allowed to contract with Manatee County.

I UNDERSTAND THAT ANY CONTRACT OR BUSINESS TRANSACTION SHALL

PROVIDE FOR SUSPENSION OF PAYMENTS, OR TERMINATION, OR BOTH, IF THE

PROCUREMENT DIVISION OR THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR DETERMINES THAT

SUCH PERSON OR ENTITY HAS MADE FALSE CERTIFICATION.

Signature of Contractor Representative

STATE OF

COUNTY OF

Sworn to and subscribed before me this day of , 20 by . Personally known OR Produced the following identification

[Type of identification]

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No. 26-R090083RB 24

Notary Public Signature

My commission expires

[Print, type or stamp Commissioned name of Notary Public]

Signatory Requirement - In the case of a business entity other than a partnership or a corporation, this affidavit shall be executed by an authorized agent of the entity. In the case of a partnership, this affidavit shall be executed by the general partner(s). In the case of a corporation, this affidavit shall be executed by the corporate president.

Manatee County BCC Request for Qualifications No.