It is the responsibility of Respondents who receive this solicitation from sources other than the portals identified above or St. Johns River Water Management District to contact the District’s Procurement staff prior to the due date to ensure any updates/addenda are received in order to submit a responsible and responsive offer. If you fail to submit a complete and accurate document, the District may deem the offer non-responsive and reject your submittal.

ADDENDA ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Prior to submitting my offer, I have verified that all addenda issued to date are considered as part of my offer:

Addendum No. Date Addendum No. Date Addendum No. Date

RESPONDENT NAME:

STREET ADDRESS:

MAILING ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT):

PRIMARY E-MAIL ADDRESS (required)

SECONDARY E-MAIL ADDRESS (required)

TELEPHONE: ( ) YEAR COMPANY WAS ESTABLISHED

NAME/TITLE OF PERSON SUBMITTING QUALIFICATIONS:

SIGNATURE OF PERSON SUBMITTING QUALIFICATIONS:

This document must be completed and returned with your submittal

THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

42362RFQ26 ENGINEERING/ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES:

APOPKA FIELD STATION CONSTRUCTION

The St. Johns River Water Management District (the “District”) is seeking a submittal of qualifications from engineering and/or architectural firms, licensed in the state of Florida, who can provide professional design, bid support, and construction-phase services for the improvements and expansion of the Apopka Field Station (the “Work”). This solicitation seeks professional services and is being conducted in compliance with the Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act, §287.055, Fla.

Stat.

Interested and qualified Respondents are invited to submit a complete qualifications package in accordance with the requirements and specifications detailed in this solicitation. Submittals must address all elements of the Scope of Work and comply with the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Further information is available through DemandStar at demandstar.com, Central Bidding at centralbidding.com, the State of Florida’s MyFloridaMarketPlace at myfloridamarketplace.com or the District’s website at sjrwmd.com. Solicitation packages may be obtained from the above portals. Respondents may also request the solicitation package directly from the District.

For all requests or questions relating to this solicitation, please contact:

Shari Chinevere, Procurement Manager

Phone: 386-643-1172 or E-Mail: slchinev@sjrwmd.com

NON-MANDATORY PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETING – July 28, 2026 11:00 AM

Location: District HQ 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177 (Firms may also attend virtually – See Link on Pg. 2)

LAST DAY FOR QUESTIONS – August 5, 2026; 5:00 PM

SUBMITTAL DUE DATE

2:00 PM Friday, August 14, 2026

PLEASE NOTE! Submittal must include all required documents and forms requested in this solicitation or the submittal may be rejected and deemed non-responsive.

42362RFQ26 | Page 1 of 46

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

42362RFQ26 ENGINEERING/ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES:

APOPKA FIELD STATION CONSTRUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Sheet Page 1

Table of Contents Page 2

PART 1 – Scope of Work Pages 3 – 5

PART 2 – General Information & Requirements Pages 6 – 16

PART 3 – Required Documents & Forms Pages 17 – 24

(NOTE! Additional documents not included in this section may be required)

PART 4 – Draft Agreement Pages 25 – 46

Non-Mandatory Pre-Submittal Meeting

Date/Time: July 28, 2026; 11:00 AM

You may attend this meeting in person or virtually via the Microsoft Teams link below.

Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/236652092987954?p=7wA9R1IrfY5jZodws5

Meeting ID: 236 652 092 987 954

Passcode: TZ3yh3r4

42362RFQ26 | Page 2 of 46 https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/236652092987954?p=7wA9R1IrfY5jZodws5

APOPKA FIELD STATION CONSTRUCTION

PART 1 – SCOPE OF WORK

1. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

The Apopka Field Station (AFS), constructed in 2007, is located at 25633 County Rd. 448A, Mount Dora, FL, 32757. The original design does not have adequate facilities to support and meet the current and future requirements.

2. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this Project is to retain a qualified engineering and/or architectural firm to develop complete, coordinated, permit-ready construction documents for the renovation and expansion of the AFS. The Firm shall advance the District-provided conceptual drawings into a complete bid-ready construction package, provide an Opinion of Probable Construction Cost, assist the District with construction bid documents and procurement support, and provide construction administration and closeout services through final completion of the Project.

3. PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Project consists of facility improvements to the existing structure and approximately 1,700 square feet of new construction at the AFS. The District will provide architectural conceptual drawings to serve as the basis for design development. The estimated budget for construction only for the Apopka Field Station is approximately $500,000.

4. SERVICES

The Firm shall provide all professional services necessary to produce complete, coordinated, and constructible documents and support the Project through the bid process, construction, and closeout.

4.1 Project Initiation and Existing Conditions Review

(a) Review District-provided conceptual drawings and available project information.

(b) Attend a kickoff meeting; conduct site verification; confirm existing conditions; and identify permitting, code, constructability, schedule, and budget considerations.

(c) Ensure compliance with applicable codes, regulations, and permitting requirements of all relevant authorities having jurisdiction.

4.2 Design Development

(a) Develop coordinated design documents for the renovation and approximately 1,700 square feet of new construction, including architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, environmental, and other required disciplines.

4.3 Construction Documents/Bid Set

(a) Prepare complete, coordinated, permit-ready construction drawings and technical specifications suitable for competitive bidding and construction.

(b) Provide technical input for the District’s procurement documents, including scope narratives, bid forms, minimum qualifications, timeline for completion, and special provisions.

(c) Ensure documents are clear, coordinated, and free of material conflicts or omissions.

(d) Review the District’s final procurement documents and provide comment, as needed.

4.4 Opinion of Probable Construction Cost (OPCC)

(a) Prepare and update an OPCC for the complete Project, including assumptions, exclusions, allowances, contingencies, and budget risks.

42362RFQ26 | Page 3 of 46

4.5 Permit, Bidding, and Procurement Support

(a) Identify applicable permitting requirements; prepare permit-ready documents; respond to permitting comments; and revise documents as necessary to support permit approval.

(b) Assist the District during the solicitation process by responding to technical questions, attending onsite pre-bid conference, assisting in addenda preparation and/or revised drawings, clarifying design intent, attending meetings (in person and online), and assisting with document reviews as needed.

4.6 Construction Phase Services

(a) Provide construction administration services, including, but not limited to:

(i) Site observations at least bi-weekly and/or at required project milestones;

(ii) Review of submittals, shop drawings, substitution requests, and RFIs;

(iii) Assisting in change order reviews and negotiations as needed;

(iv) Participation in meetings;

(v) Review of pay applications to ensure conformity to work completed;

(vi) Notification to the District of observed deficiencies or deviations; and

4.7 Assist in the Substantial Completion Inspection and follow-up inspections through completion of the punch list.Closeout and Record Documents

(a) Review contractor-provided as-built drawings;

(b) Update drawings to reflect record conditions; and

(c) Prepare final record drawings, and sign and seal final record documents in accordance with Florida requirements;

(d) Review contractor-provided warranty documents; and

(e) Review other contractor-provided closeout documents as needed.

5. DELIVERABLES

The Firm, at a minimum, is responsible for providing the following deliverables, as applicable to each phase of the Project and as directed by the District:

(a) Kickoff meeting notes and summary of initial project requirements, constraints, and concerns.

(b) Existing conditions summary based on review of District-provided information and site verification.

(c) Design development documents, including drawings, narratives, assumptions, and discipline-specific design information.

(d) Complete construction drawings and technical specifications suitable for competitive bidding, permitting, and construction.

(e) Technical input for the District’s procurement documents, including scope narratives, bid forms, special provisions, addenda and related project-specific language.

(f) Opinion of Probable Construction Cost, including assumptions, exclusions, allowances, contingencies, and identified budget risks.

(g) Permit-ready documents, supporting calculations, and responses to permitting agency or authority having jurisdiction comments.

(h) Written responses to bidder questions, RFIs, requests for clarification, attendance at the onsite pre-bid conference, and technical language or revised documents needed for addenda.

(i) Construction phase documentation, including submittal reviews, shop drawing reviews, substitution request reviews, RFI responses, site observation reports, meeting input, deficiency notices, and pay application review comments.

42362RFQ26 | Page 4 of 46

(j) Attend Substantial Completion Inspection and develop a punch list in concert with District staff.

(k) Review contractor-provided as-built drawings and closeout documentation.

(l) Final signed and sealed record drawings reflecting record conditions.

(m) Final electronic files, including PDF and editable native files, and hard copies as requested by the District.

6. PROJECT MANAGEMENT

(a) Assign a Project Manager as the primary point of contact.

(b) Coordinate with the District and adhere to the project schedule.

(c) Perform quality control prior to submission of deliverables.

7. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

(a) Services shall be performed by properly licensed professionals in the state of Florida.

(b) Documents requiring professional licensure shall be signed and sealed by the appropriate Florida-licensed professional.

(c) The Firm is responsible for the completeness and coordination of all deliverables.

8. SCHEDULE

The District anticipates that the Firm will be able to initiate the design work no later than October 1, 2026. The final design and bid documents must be completed not later than January 29, 2027, unless otherwise approved in writing by the District. Construction phase services are anticipated to be completed no later than September 30, 2027.

42362RFQ26 | Page 5 of 46

APOPKA FIELD STATION CONSTRUCTION

PART 2 – GENERAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS

Thank you for your interest in working with the St. Johns River Water Management District. Please direct questions regarding the submittal documents and specifications to the District’s procurement staff member identified on the first page of this solicitation, in writing. We look forward to working with you. Pertinent information and required documents regarding this solicitation as part of a responsive submittal are listed below.

The District will publish notice of specifications and criteria, including addenda, intended agency decisions, or other matters pertinent to this solicitation on portals identified on the first page of this document.

2.1 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Respondent must satisfy the following minimum qualifications. Instructions for providing this documentation are provided herein. Failure to provide required documentation as instructed may result in a submittal being rejected as non-responsive.

(a) Experience: Respondent must have a minimum of five cumulative years of experience providing structural engineering services. Engineers assigned to this project must be registered and in good standing with the Florida Board of Professional Engineers. Those Respondents with more recent experience, and experience with Florida public entities, will receive greater consideration.

(b) Experience: Respondent must have a minimum of five cumulative years of experience providing architectural and design services. Architects assigned to this project must be registered and in good standing with the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design. Those Respondents with more recent experience, and experience with Florida public entities, will receive greater consideration.

(c) Key Personnel:

1. Respondent’s Lead Engineer must be directly employed by Firm and be a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in the state of Florida at the time of submittal and have a minimum of five cumulative years of experience performing structural analysis and design. Lead engineers with more recent experience, and experience with Florida public entities, will receive greater consideration.

2. Respondent’s Lead Architect must be directly employed by Firm and be a licensed Professional Architect (P.A.) in the state of Florida at the time of submittal and have a minimum of five cumulative years of experience in architecture and design. Lead architects with more recent experience, and experience with Florida public entities, will receive greater consideration.

(d) Similar projects: Respondent must have successfully completed at least three projects performing building addition design including construction administration as set forth on the SIMILAR PROJECTS FORM. The District reserves the right to determine whether a project shall be considered “similar.”

Irrespective of the minimum qualifications stated above, the District may make such investigations as it deems necessary to determine the ability of the Respondent to perform the Work. The District reserves the right to reject any submittal if the evidence submitted by such Respondent and/or the District’s independent investigation of such Respondent fails to satisfy the District that such Respondent is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the Agreement and complete the Work in a manner acceptable to the District within the time period specified.

2.2 BUDGET ESTIMATE

The estimated budget is an estimate only and does not limit the District in awarding the Agreement.

Respondents are cautioned to not make any assumptions from the District Project Manager’s construction estimate about the total funds available for the Work. The District retains the right to adjust the estimate in awarding the Agreement. The District also reserves the right to reject all Submittals if subsequent negotiations with qualified Respondents result in costs over the District’s estimate. In addition, the District reserves the right to increase, 42362RFQ26 | Page 6 of 46 decrease, or delete any class, item, or part of the Work in order to reduce costs for any reason. The District may discuss alternatives for reducing the cost of the Work with Respondents and make such modifications as it determines to be in its best interest.

2.3 SUBMITTAL LAYOUT/ORDER OF DOCUMENTS

Respondent’s submittal shall be organized in the following manner:

Tab A – Introduction and Respondent Information- Administrative (Not Scored)

(1) Cover letter.

(2) Completed solicitation page 1 / addenda acknowledgement (form).

(3) Completed Submittal Acknowledgement Form (form).

(4) Completed affidavit of Non-Collusion and Certification of Material Conformance with

Specifications (form).

(5) Proof of insurability issued by a company authorized to do business in the State of Florida and with an A.M. Best Company rating of at least A- or greater for the required insurance(s) as set forth in the Agreement. Successful Respondent will be required to obtain and provide a Certificate of Insurance that meets all requirements as stated, references the Agreement number and shows St. Johns River Water Management District named as additional insured.

(6) Completed Certificate of Authority to Do Business in Florida (form).

(7) Proof of Respondent’s active registration on www.sunbiz.org.

(8) Proof of Respondent’s active registration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-

Verify system.

(9) Completed Drug-Free Workplace Form (form) (will be used only if a tie occurs).

Tab B – Respondent Organization, Background, and Expertise

(1) General Information (form).

(2) Completed Proposed Subconsultants (form).

(3) Completed Similar Projects Form.

(4) Provide a written description of the Respondent and services provided.

(5) Provide an organizational chart for Respondent.

(6) Provide a list of all proposed key and professional staff for the project.

(a) Provide brief resumes for all proposed key and professional staff proposed for the Project.

Resumes should address:

i. Education;

ii. Experience; and

iii. Professional certifications / licenses.

(7) Describe any prior or pending litigation or investigation, either civil or criminal, involving a governmental agency or which may affect the performance of the services to be rendered herein, in which Respondent or any of its employees intended for this project is, or has been involved within the last three years.

(8) Provide a letter from a financial institution with which Respondent has conducted business for at least the last 12 months stating that Respondent is in good standing (Note: this letter should be generic enough to not be considered confidential).

(9) List any current or past clients, projects, or engagements that may present a potential conflict of interest if Respondent firm is selected to provide services under this solicitation for the District.

Include a brief description of the nature of the potential conflict. If no such conflicts exist, state that explicitly.

42362RFQ26 | Page 7 of 46 http://www.sunbiz.org/

Tab C — Methodology

(1) Describe the Respondent’s understanding of the Project and proposed management approach to developing the District-provided conceptual drawings into complete, coordinated, permit-ready construction documents. The response should include the Respondent’s approach to design development, permitting, willingness to meet time and budget requirements, hierarchy and discipline coordination, quality control, technical execution, and timely deliverables.

(2) Describe the Respondent’s approach to construction administration, including communication, coordination, site observations, RFI and submittal reviews, change order management, documentation controls, and issue resolution.

Tab D — Location of Respondent’s Project Manager/Management Office

(1) Higher scores will be given to Respondents whose Management Office or Project Manager is located in proximity to the entrance to the Apopka Field Station, 25633 County Road 448A, Mount Dora, Florida 32757. The District shall utilize the website maps.google.com and the shortest driving route to determine the mileage. Points will be awarded as follows:

(a) Within 0 – 70 miles = 10 points

(b) Within 71 or more = 0 points

Tab E — Volume of District work previously awarded to Respondent

(1) Submit documentation as to the volume of work (in dollars) awarded by the District to Respondent in the five years immediately preceding the deadline date for receipt of Submittals for this solicitation, including contracts, work orders, and purchase orders.

(2) Points will be allocated from 0 to 10; Respondents with higher awarded contract totals in the last five years based on the solicitation date of this RFQ shall receive fewer award points.

(a) Respondents with no previous work awards shall receive the highest allocation of points (10).

(b) Respondent with the highest volume of work will receive zero (0) points.

(3) The District shall rely on its official financial records to resolve any discrepancies. Contracts, work orders, and purchase orders issued by the District in the last five years shall be included in this total even if Respondent has not yet received payment. The District shall calculate scores as follows:

(a) The amount (in dollars) awarded to Respondent with the highest volume of work in the last five years shall represent the Allocation Basis Total (ABT). The ABT less a Respondent’s total volume of work awarded shall be divided by the ABT and then multiplied by 10; the result rounded to the tenths shall represent Respondent’s score for this criterion.

Tab F — Completeness of Response

Professional presentation, submittal in the ordered layout as directed, and inclusion of all information as required.

2.4 SUBMITTAL SPECIFICATIONS AND ASSEMBLY

(a) Submittal requirements:

(1) One Original Document – uploaded into DemandStar or Central Bidding as a single .pdf file.

(2) Page Limit – none, unless otherwise specified in this document.

(3) Page Size – 8 ½ x 11; oversized pages must be scanned to print out to appropriate page sizes, if necessary.

(b) Assembly requirements:

Submitted in order of submittal layout as listed above – documents should be scanned as PDF or similar format as one complete package.

42362RFQ26 | Page 8 of 46

(c) Submittal requirements:

Complete submittal package – Complete package shall consist of all required information and documents as listed in the Section titled SUBMITTAL LAYOUT/ORDER OF DOCUMENTS. A submittal returned without these documents may be deemed non-responsive. The District reserves the right to request additional information from any Respondent prior to an award.

2.5 SCORING GUIDELINES AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

All submittals received in accordance with this solicitation will be evaluated using the following scoring guidelines (multiplied by weights when applicable) unless other scoring is specifically identified in the category. Respondent must adhere to the organized structure for its submittal as described in section titled SUBMITTAL

LAYOUT/ORDER OF DOCUMENTS.

Scoring Matrix 0 Not covered in submittal 5 –7 Adequate 1 – 4 Less than adequate 8 –10 More than adequate

Failure by Respondent to include the required information may result in the submittal being considered non-responsive or may receive a correspondingly low score pursuant to the evaluation rating scale.

CRITERIA WEIGHT SCORE TOTAL

A. Introduction and Respondent Information Not Scored

B. Respondent Organization, Background, and Expertise 45%

C. Methodology 35%

D. Location of Respondent’s Project Manager/Management Office

Higher scores will be given to Respondents whose Management Office or Project Manager is located in proximity to the entrance to the Apopka Field Station, 25633 County Road 448A, Mount Dora, Florida 32757. The District shall utilize the website maps.google.com and the shortest driving route to determine the mileage. Points will be awarded as follows:

Within 0 – 70 miles = 10 points Within 71 or more = 0 points

2%

E. Volume of District work previously awarded to Respondent Score will be allocated from 0 to 10 based on calculation described in Section 2.3 above.

Respondents with no previous work awards shall receive the highest allocation = 10 points.

Respondent with the highest volume of work will receive the lowest allocation = 0 points.

3%

F. Completeness of Response 15%

TOTAL

*Scores are per Committee member; to gain maximum points, verify that each item above is supported by all necessary and required documentation listed in the tabs below.

42362RFQ26 | Page 9 of 46

2.6 PREPARATION, ORGANIZATION AND SUBMITTAL OF QUALIFICATIONS

a. Respondent’s submittal must be submitted in electronic format (no paper copies) either by uploading to DemandStar directly at www.demandstar.com OR to Central Bidding directly at www.centralbidding.com (NOT BOTH); OR by delivering all files on a single pin/thumb/jump drive either by mail or hand delivery in a sealed envelope.

Label all sealed envelopes as follows:

SEALED SUBMITTAL – DO NOT OPEN

Respondent’s Name: ___________________________________________

Request for Qualifications: 42362RFQ26, Engineering/Architectural Services: Apopka Field Station Construction

Opening Time: 2:00 PM

Opening Date: August 14, 2026

Shari Chinevere, Procurement Manager

St. Johns River Water Management District

District Headquarters

4049 Reid Street

Palatka, FL 32177

**Please note that the U.S. Postal Service does not deliver regular mail or express mail to the above address.

The District’s experience is that Federal Express and United Parcel Service will. The District is not responsible for and will not accept or consider late submittals due to delays caused by any mail, package or courier service, including the U.S. mail, or caused by any other occurrence.

DO NOT SUBMIT VIA EMAIL — THIS WILL RESULT IN THE SUBMITTAL BEING REJECTED AS

NON-RESPONSIVE.

b. All blank spaces on the solicitation documents must be typewritten or legibly printed in ink. In the event you decline to submit a response, the District would appreciate submittal of the “No Response Form” provided in this solicitation to describe the reason for not submitting a response.

c. Please do not password protect files saved to a pin/thumb/jump drive. The District recommends that Respondents confirm their submittal documents will open correctly on a non-Respondent-owned computer. Any electronic submittal received by the District that does not open on a District-owned computer is subject to rejection as a defective response. The file naming conventions for the solicitation must clearly identify specific information such as the solicitation number and Respondent’s name (Example: 12345RFQ78, ABC Company).

NOTE! A Respondent’s submittal may be rejected as Non-Responsive for:

(1) Failing to complete all forms.

(2) Failure to provide all required materials; or

(3) Otherwise failing to comply with instructions for preparation and organization of Submittal.

2.7 SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

If an individual submits a response to this solicitation, the individual must sign his/her name therein and state his/her address and the name and address of every other person interested in this solicitation as principal.

If a partnership submits a response to this solicitation, state the name and address of each member of the partnership.

If a corporation or limited liability company submits a response to this solicitation, an authorized agent or officer/member must sign the submittal, subscribing the name of the entity with the individual’s own name and

42362RFQ26 | Page 10 of 46 http://www.demandstar.com/ http://www.centralbidding.com/ affixing the corporate seal (if applicable). Such agent or officer/member must also provide the name of the state under which the entity is chartered/formed, and the names and business addresses of the officers/members.

All Respondents must submit evidence of registration with the Florida Secretary of State for doing business in the state of Florida.

All Respondents must certify that all persons or entities having an interest as principal in this solicitation or in substantial performance of the Work have been identified in the submittal forms.

2.8 PROHIBITED COMMUNICATION

To ensure a fair and impartial evaluation process, the District strictly prohibits any communication related to this solicitation with any District office, department, bureau, or employee during the submission and evaluation period, except as expressly authorized in this solicitation. Respondents are specifically prohibited from initiating any contact or communication with any District official or employee involved in the evaluation or consideration of submittals, including but not limited to the Executive Director and members of the Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District, prior to the issuance of an award decision. All communication regarding this solicitation shall be initiated by the District’s Procurement staff, and solely for the purpose of obtaining information or clarification necessary for the proper evaluation of submittals. Any attempt by a Respondent to engage in unauthorized communication may result in disqualification from consideration for award under this solicitation and may further result in exclusion from future procurement opportunities with the District.

2.9 PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETINGS, INQUIRIES AND ADDENDA

If scheduled, the pre-submittal meeting information will appear on the first page of this solicitation. If the pre-submittal meeting is not designated as mandatory, then attendance at the pre-submittal meeting is strongly recommended. If the pre-submittal meeting is designated as MANDATORY, each Respondent must attend or its submittal will not be accepted. During this meeting, the project scope, procedures, and specifications will be discussed. It is also the only opportunity during the open solicitation period for attendees to ask questions directly to the end user.

District staff are not authorized to provide oral interpretations or clarifications of the solicitation documents, including specifications or other agreement terms. All binding interpretations or corrections must be provided in writing, come only from Procurement staff, and be issued as part of an official addendum to this solicitation. The assigned Procurement Specialist may provide general guidance on District procedures and assist in referencing applicable sections of the solicitation documents; however, Respondents remain fully responsible for understanding and following all written requirements and submitting accordingly.

In order to be considered, all requests for a written interpretation or correction must be submitted via e-mail before the deadline for questions as stated in this solicitation. All official responses, including clarifications, corrections, or supplemental instructions, will be issued in writing via addenda and posted on the solicitation portals listed on Page 1 of this document, prior to the submittal due date.

By submitting a response to this solicitation, Respondent is bound by and must acknowledge receipt of all issued addenda. Submittals will be interpreted as if all addenda were received, whether or not Respondent actually reviewed the addenda. Failure to receive or review an addendum does not relieve Respondent of any obligations under the solicitation or resulting Agreement. All addenda become an official part of the Contract Documents (defined in the Agreement).

2.10 OPENING OF SUBMITTALS

Submittals will be opened on or as reasonably feasible after the due date, after which a Respondents List will be identified and uploaded to DemandStar, Central Bidding, and MyFloridaMarketPlace; pricing (if applicable) is not part of this detail. The Florida Public Records Act, §119.071(1)(b), Fla. Stat., exempts sealed submittals from inspection and copying until such time as the District provides notice of an intended decision pursuant to §120.57(3)(a), Fla. Stat., or until 30 days after opening of submittals or final replies, whichever is earlier. This exemption is not waived by the public opening of the submittals.

Unless otherwise exempt, Respondent’s submittal is a public record subject to disclosure upon expiration of the above exemption period. If any information included in the submittal is a trade secret as defined in §812.081, Fla.

Stat., and exempt from disclosure pursuant to §815.04, Fla. Stat., Respondent must clearly identify any such material

42362RFQ26 | Page 11 of 46 as “CONFIDENTIAL TRADE SECRET” in its submittal and explain the basis for such exemption. The District reserves the right, in its sole judgment and discretion, to reject a submittal for excessive or unwarranted assertion of trade secret confidentiality and return the submittal to Respondent.

2.11 DISQUALIFICATION OF RESPONDENTS

Any of the following causes will be considered as sufficient grounds for disqualification of a Respondent and rejection of the submittal:

(a) Contacting a District employee or officer other than the procurement employee named in this solicitation about any aspect of this solicitation before the notice of intended decision is posted.

(b) Submission of more than one submittal for the same subject matter by an individual, firm, partnership, or corporation under the same or different names.

(c) Evidence of collusion among Respondents.

(d) Submission of materially false information.

(e) Information gained through checking references or other sources which indicates that Respondent may not successfully perform the Work.

(f) Respondent is failing to adequately perform on any existing agreement with the District.

(g) Respondent has defaulted on a previous agreement with the District.

(h) The evidence submitted by Respondent, or the District’s investigation of Respondent, fails to satisfy the District that Respondent is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the Agreement in a manner acceptable to the District and within the time period specified.

(i) Any documented unsatisfactory past performance by Respondent on work performed on a District project.

(j) Any other cause that is sufficient to raise doubt regarding the ability of a Respondent to perform the Work in a manner that meets the District’s objectives for the Work.

2.12 REJECTION OF SUBMITTAL

Submittals must be delivered to the specified location and received before the designated due date and time in order to be considered. Untimely submittals will be returned to Respondent unopened. Submittals will be considered irregular and may be rejected if they show material omissions, alterations of form, additions not called for, conditions, limitations, or other material irregularities. The District may consider incomplete any submittal not prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions specified herein and the District reserves the right to waive any minor deviations or irregularities in an otherwise valid submittal.

The District reserves the right to reject any and all submittals and cancel this solicitation when it determines, in its sole judgment and discretion, that it is not in its best interest to award the Agreement.

2.13 WITHDRAWAL OF SUBMITTALS

Respondent may withdraw its submittal if it submits such a written request to the District prior to the designated date and hour of opening. Respondent may be permitted to withdraw its submittal no later than 72 hours after the submittal opening for good cause, as determined by the District in its sole judgment and discretion.

2.14 EVALUATION OF SUBMITTALS AND AWARD PROCEDURES

Submittals will be reviewed and evaluated by a staff Evaluation Committee (“Committee”) based on the criteria and weighting outlined in the Section titled SCORING GUIDELINES AND EVALUATION CRITERIA, herein.

A Committee meeting will be scheduled, and notice of the meeting, including the date, time, and location, will be posted at least five days in advance on DemandStar, Central Bidding, MyFloridaMarketPlace and Florida Administrative Register. The Committee will meet at District headquarters or another suitable location to discuss and score the submittals. Each Committee member will complete an evaluation form during the meeting, and the compiled results will be used to determine the overall ranking.

42362RFQ26 | Page 12 of 46

(a) Evaluation Process

(1) The Committee will evaluate and rank the submittals, based upon the established evaluation criteria. If the Committee determines that oral presentations will assist in the evaluation, presentations may be conducted at District headquarters, at another designated location, or remotely, as deemed appropriate by the District.

(2) If the Committee determines that not all Respondents will be asked to make an oral presentation, the Committee will complete an initial evaluation to develop a preliminary ranked list. This list will be used to determine which Respondents will be asked to make an oral presentation.

(3) After oral presentations are completed, the Committee members will conduct a final evaluation and ranking using the same criteria. Scores from the initial evaluation will not be carried over. All Respondents will be notified in writing of the Committee’s final ranking results.

(b) Confidentiality of Evaluation Meetings

Under §286.0113, Fla. Stat., certain portions of meetings related to the solicitation process are exempt from public attendance. These include any part of a meeting where (1) a negotiation with a Respondent is conducted pursuant to a competitive solicitation; (2) a Respondent makes an oral presentation as part of a competitive solicitation; (3) a Respondent answers questions as part of a competitive solicitation;

or (4) negotiation strategies are discussed. Recordings and materials from exempt meetings are confidential and exempt from public disclosure under §119.07(1), Fla. Stat., and §24(a), Article I of the Florida Constitution until the District issues a notice of intended decision or until 30 days after the submittal opening, whichever comes first. All exempt portions of meetings must be fully recorded. No portion of the exempt meeting may be held off the record.

(c) Rejection and Reissuance

Pursuant to §286.0113 Fla. Stat., if the District rejects all submittals and concurrently provides notice of its intent to reissue the competitive solicitation, the recording and any records presented at any exempt meeting shall remain exempt from §119.07(1) Fla. Stat., and §24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution (Public Records) until such time as the District provides notice of an intended decision concerning the reissued competitive solicitation or until the District withdraws the reissued competitive solicitation. A recording and any records presented at an exempt meeting are not exempt for longer than 12 months after the initial District notice rejecting all submittals.

(d) Approval of Ranking

Once the evaluation process is complete, the Committee’s final ranking will be presented to the Governing Board for approval, unless the Governing Board has delegated authority to the Executive Director or designee to approve and execute the Agreement.

(e) Negotiations and Award

Negotiations will begin with the highest-ranked Respondent. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the District may end discussions and proceed to the next highest-ranked Respondent, and so on, until an agreement is reached. The Agreement will be awarded to the highest-ranked Respondent being the Respondent with the highest total score as reflected on the solicitation tabulation sheet, who demonstrates, in accordance with the requirements of the submittal documents, a verifiable history of the skill, ability, integrity, and reliability necessary for the faithful performance of the Agreement, and that successfully completes negotiations with the District (“Successful Respondent”). The District may include in the Agreement any proposed alternatives determined to be in its best interest.

(f) Equal Scores

If two or more submittals are equal in all respects, the Agreement will be awarded as follows: (1) to the Respondent that certifies compliance with §287.087, Fla. Stat., via the Drug-Free Workplace Form;

(2) to a Respondent university in the State University System pursuant to §373.63, Fla. Stat.; (3) to a Respondent whose submittal contains commodities manufactured, grown, or produced within the state of Florida pursuant to §287.082 Fla. Stat.; or (4) by lot.

42362RFQ26 | Page 13 of 46

(g) Notice of Intent to Award

All Respondents will be notified of the District's intent to award or decision to award the Agreement.

For the purpose of filing a protest under §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., the time period will commence as provided in the Section titled PROTEST PROCEDURES, herein.

(h) Reservation of Rights

In the event the Successful Respondent fails to enter into the Agreement or the Agreement with said Respondent is terminated within 90 days of the effective date, the District reserves the right to negotiate and award the Agreement to the next highest-ranked Respondent, if available.

2.15 PROTEST PROCEDURES

Notices of Intended Decision will be posted for a minimum of 72 hours. The time period for filing a Notice of Protest pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Rule 28-110.003, Fla. Admin. Code commences at the time notices are posted.

As a courtesy to Respondents, the District may send copies of the notices of intended agency decisions via email to Respondent. These courtesy communications neither constitute official notice nor vary the times of receipt set forth above.

(a) Pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Rule 28-110.003, Fla. Admin. Code, any person adversely affected by the terms, conditions, or specifications contained in a solicitation, including addenda, must file a Notice of Protest with the District Clerk within 72 hours after its posting.

(b) Pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Rule 28-110.003, Fla. Admin. Code, any person adversely affected by a District decision or intended decision to award a contract, or to reject all submittals, proposals, or qualifications, must file a written Notice of Protest with the District Clerk within 72 hours after posting of the decision or intended decision.

(c) Pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Rule 28-110.004, Fla. Admin. Code, a Formal Written Protest must be filed with the District Clerk within 10 days after the date the Notice of Protest is filed with the District. The Formal Written Protest must state with particularity the facts and law upon which the protest is based. Pursuant to §287.042(2)(c), Fla. Stat., any person who files an action protesting the decision or intended decision must post with the District Clerk at the time of filing the formal written protest a bond, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to the St. Johns River Water Management District in an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the District’s estimated Agreement amount.

(d) No additional time will be added for mailing. All filings must comply with Rule 28-106.104, Fla.

Admin. Code, and must be addressed to and received by the District Clerk at the District Headquarters in Palatka, Florida within the prescribed time periods. The District will not accept any electronically transmitted facsimile pleadings, petitions, Notice of Protest or other documents.

(e) The District’s acceptance of pleadings, petitions, Notice of Protest, Formal Written Protest, or other documents filed by email is subject to certain conditions set forth in the District’s Statement of Agency Organization and Operation (issued pursuant to Rule 28-101.001, Fla. Admin. Code), which is available for viewing at sjrwmd.com. These conditions include, but are not limited to, the document being in the form of a PDF or TIFF file and being capable of being stored and printed by the District.

(f) Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond will constitute a waiver of proceedings under chapter 120, Fla. Stat. Mediation under §120.573, Fla. Stat., is not available.

2.16 EXAMINATION OF CONTRACT DOCUMENTS

Respondent is solely responsible for being fully informed of the conditions under which the Work is to be performed in relation to existing conditions. Respondent is responsible for carefully examining the general area of the Work, the requirements of the drawings and other contract documents related to the Work, the time in which the Work must be completed, and any other details of the Work. Respondent must satisfy itself from its own personal knowledge and experience or professional advice as to the character of the Work, the conditions and materials to be encountered, 42362RFQ26 | Page 14 of 46 the character, quality, and quantities of the Work, and any other conditions affecting the Work, including surrounding land.

Failure to satisfy the obligations of this Section will not relieve a Successful Respondent of its obligation to furnish all material, equipment, and labor necessary to perform the Agreement and to complete the Work for the consideration set forth in its submittal. Any such failure will not be sufficient cause to submit a claim for additional compensation.

No verbal agreement or conversation with any District officer, agent or employee, either before or after the execution of the Agreement, will affect or modify any of its terms.

2.17 EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT

(a) By submitting a response to this solicitation, Respondent represents and warrants that its submittal is a firm offer. Upon the District’s issuance of a notice of award (or other written acceptance), the Successful Respondent is bound to the terms, pricing, and commitments set forth in its submittal, as accepted by the District, together with the District’s solicitation documents.

(b) Successful Respondent shall execute the District’s Agreement in the form provided (with any District-approved changes) and shall not condition, qualify, or withdraw its submittal, or refuse to sign the Agreement, after award. Failure to timely execute the Agreement and proceed with performance as required may be deemed a breach and may result in rejection of the submittal, cancellation of award, and any other remedies available to the District under the solicitation, the Agreement, or applicable law.

(c) Unless all submittals are rejected, the Successful Respondent must execute and return the Agreement to the District within 10 business days of receipt along with each of the following:

(1) A completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9.

(2) Satisfactory evidence of all required insurance coverage.

(3) Proof satisfactory to the District of the authority of the person or persons accepting the terms and conditions of this Solicitation on behalf of Respondent.

(4) All other information and documentation required by the Agreement.

(d) The District will not execute the Agreement until the above documents have been executed and delivered to the District. The Agreement will not be binding until executed by the District. A copy of the fully executed Agreement will be sent via e-mail to the Successful Respondent. The District reserves the right to cancel award of the Agreement without liability at any time before the Agreement has been fully executed by all parties and delivered to the Successful Respondent.

2.18

(e) Failure upon the part of the Successful Respondent to execute the Agreement or timely submit the required evidence of insurance coverage, or any other matter required by the Agreement, will be just cause, if the District so elects, for the recommended award to be annulled.

2.19 FLORIDA SALES TAX

2.20

The District is exempt from payment of state of Florida sales tax pursuant to §212.08(6), Fla. Stat. Any tangible personal property that is the subject of this solicitation is intended to remain tangible personal property and not become part of a public work owned by the District.

2.21 PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES/DISCRIMINATORY VENDORS

In accordance with §287.133 and §287.134, Fla. Stat., a person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime or placed on the discriminatory vendor list may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on an agreement to provide any goods or services to a public entity; may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on an agreement with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work; may not submit bids, proposals, or replies on leases of real property to a public entity; may not be

42362RFQ26 | Page 15 of 46 awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, 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 §287.017 for CATEGORY TWO ($35,000) for a period of 36 months following the date of being placed on the convicted or discriminatory vendor lists.

2.22 USE BY OTHER FLORIDA GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES. This section does not apply to this solicitation.

2.23 PROHIBITION AGAINST CONSIDERING SOCIAL, POLITICAL, OR IDEOLOGICAL

INTERESTS IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

Notice is hereby provided that pursuant to §287.05701, Fla. Stat., the District (1) will not request documentation of or consider a Respondent’s social, political, or ideological interests when determining if Respondent is a responsible Respondent and (2) may not give preference to a Respondent based on Respondent's social, political, or ideological interests.

2.24 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

The District does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. Special accommodations for disabilities may be requested through Shari Chinevere, Procurement Manager, or by calling

(800) 955-8771 (TTY), at least five business days (Mon – Fri) before the date needed.

2.23 DEFINITIONS

The definitions of capitalized terms used in this solicitation that are not otherwise defined herein can be found in the draft Agreement below.

42362RFQ26 | Page 16 of 46

APOPKA FIELD STATION CONSTRUCTION

PART 3 – REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND FORMS

The following forms must be included in Respondent’s submittal:

42362RFQ26 | Page 17 of 46

GENERAL INFORMATION FORM

As part of the submittal, Respondent shall complete the following so that the District can determine Respondent’s ability, experience, and facilities for performing the Work.

Name of Respondent:

Year company was organized/formed: ________________________________________________________

Number of years Respondent has been engaged in business under the present firm or trade name:

Total number of years the Respondent has experience performing work similar to the Scope of Work described in this solicitation:

Has Respondent previously been engaged in the same or similar business under another firm or trade name?

___Y ___N

If Yes, please describe each such instance.

Has Respondent (including any parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or predecessor) ever been adjudicated bankrupt, initiated bankruptcy, or been the subject of bankruptcy proceedings on behalf of the current entity submitting this submittal or a prior entity that Respondent substantially operated or controlled? ___ Y ___ N

If Yes, please…