.FINAL Draft - RFP 39118 - Florida Water Star.pdf

RFP 39118

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THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE

ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

FLORIDA WATER STARSM ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 39118

The Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District (the “District”) requests that interested parties respond to the solicitation below by 2:00 p.m., October 11, 2023. Further information is available through Onvia DemandStar at Demandstar.com [(800) 711-1712], Vendor Registry at Vendorregistry.com, the state of Florida’s My Florida Marketplace at vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com or the District’s website at sjrwmd.com. Solicitation packages may be obtained from Onvia DemandStar, Vendor Registry, My Florida Marketplace or the District by emailing Christina Holloway-Williams, Associate Procurement Specialist, at chollowa@sjrwmd.com. Responses will be opened at the District Headquarters, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, FL 32177.

Description of Services:

The objective of this solicitation is to contract with one or more contractors to develop and deliver both online, and in-person training materials to prepare candidates for the Florida Water StarSM Accredited Professional exams. The training is a prerequisite for the exam, which is managed by the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA).

The District’s Evaluation Committee will hold the evaluation meeting at District Headquarters at 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2571, to evaluate and rank Respondents as follows:

• 1:00 p.m. on November 1, 2023, to o Discuss the responses o Finalize the ranking o Determine a shortlist of Respondents

The District will negotiate with the Respondents as follows:

• 11:00 a.m., November 7, 2023, to o Negotiate project and associated costs with the top-ranked Respondent (this portion of the public meeting may be closed pursuant to §286.0113, Fla. Stat.)

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 Christina Holloway-Williams or by calling

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

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INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS ........................................................................................... - 3 -

1. DEFINITIONS ........................................................................................................................ - 3 -

2. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION ........................................................................................ - 3 -

3. WHERE TO DELIVER PROPOSAL ..................................................................................... - 3 -

4. OPENING OF PROPOSALS .................................................................................................. - 3 -

5. PREPARATION AND ORGANIZATION OF DIGITAL PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS ...... - 4 -

6. INQUIRIES AND ADDENDA ............................................................................................... - 5 -

7. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS ............................................................................................ - 5 -

8. SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS .................................................. - 6 -

9. DISQUALIFICATION OF RESPONDENTS ........................................................................ - 6 -

10. REJECTION OF PROPOSAL ................................................................................................ - 6 -

11. WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL .......................................................................................... - 7 -

12. EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCEDURES................................................................... - 7 -

13. EVALUATION CRITERIA .................................................................................................... - 9 -

14. EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT......................................................................................... - 10 -

15. EXAMINATION OF AGREEMENT DOCUMENTS AND WORK AREA ....................... - 10 -

16. DIVERSITY .......................................................................................................................... - 10 -

17. FLORIDA SALES TAX ....................................................................................................... - 11 -

18. PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES/DISCRIMINATORY VENDORS .......................................... - 11 -

19. NOTICES AND SERVICES THEREOF .............................................................................. - 11 -

20. PROTEST PROCEDURES ................................................................................................... - 11 -

FORMS

PROPOSAL FORM ........................................................................................................................... - 13 -

CHECKLIST OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FORM

SIMILAR PROJECTS FORM

QUALIFICATIONS - CLIENT REFERENCES FORM

CERTIFICATE AS TO CORPORATION FORM

AFFIDAVIT AS TO NON-COLLUSION AND CERTIFICATION OF MATERIAL

CONFORMANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS FORM

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE FORM

COST SCHEDULE

NO RESPONSE FORM

SAMPLE AGREEMENT

ATTACHMENTS

ATTACHMENT A - STATEMENT OF WORK (SOW)

ATTACHMENT B - INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

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INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS

1. DEFINITIONS

The definitions of capitalized terms used in this solicitation that are not otherwise defined herein can be found in the sample contract document (the “Agreement”) that is at the end of these instructions. The Agreement includes Instructions to Respondents, any addenda published by the District, the proposal provided by Respondent (the “Proposal”), and all required certifications and affidavits.

2. CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION

All inquiries related to this solicitation may only be directed to the Associate Procurement Specialist:

Christina Holloway-Williams, Associate Procurement Specialist Phone: 386-329-4843 Email: chollowa@sjrwmd.com

Between the release of this solicitation and the posting of the notice of intended decision, Respondents to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact any employee or officer of the District concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except the procurement employee listed above. Violation of this provision is grounds for rejecting a response.

3. WHERE TO DELIVER PROPOSAL

The Proposal must be submitted in a sealed envelope to:

Christina Holloway-Williams, Associate Procurement Specialist Attn: Office of Financial Services St. Johns River Water Management District 4049 Reid St, Palatka, FL 32177-2571

Respondents must clearly label the Proposal envelope with large bold, and/or colored lettering (place label on inner envelope if double sealed) as follows:

SEALED PROPOSAL — DO NOT OPEN

Respondent’s Name: _______________________________ Request for Proposals: 39118 Opening Time: 2:00 p.m.

Opening Date: October 11, 2023

Please note that the United States 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.

4. OPENING OF PROPOSALS

Respondents or their authorized agents are invited to attend the opening of the Proposals at the following time and place:

2:00 p.m. October 11, 2023 St. Johns River Water Management District 4049 Reid St, Palatka, Florida 32177-2571

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The Florida Public Records Act, §119.071(1)(b), Fla. Stat., exempts sealed Proposals 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 Proposals, whichever is earlier. This exemption is not waived by the public opening of the Proposals.

Unless otherwise exempt, Respondent’s Proposal is a public record subject to disclosure upon expiration of the above exemption period. If any information submitted with the Proposal 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 as “CONFIDENTIAL TRADE SECRET” in its Proposal and explain the basis for such exemption. The District reserves the right, in its sole judgment and discretion, to reject a Proposal for excessive or unwarranted assertion of trade secret confidentiality and return the Proposal to Respondent.

5. PREPARATION AND ORGANIZATION OF DIGITAL PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS

Respondent must submit its Proposal in “digital” format on a thumb drive. Instructions for submitting are provided below.

a. Respondent must follow all procedures for digital submission, or its Proposal may be determined as “non-responsive” and rejected.

b. Forms included in this document and all other information requested in this document: Respondents must submit the fully completed documents by converting or scanning any paper forms to PDF format.

c. All of the forms in the Request for Proposals package are available upon request in Microsoft®

Word to aid the Respondent in submitting its Proposal in electronic format.

d. The file-naming conventions for the Proposal shall include:

Proposal submittal: RFP # Respondent’s name (abbreviated) Due Date (Example: RFP _____ ABC Company 09-30-17)

e. The thumb/jump drive MUST be placed in a sealed envelope pursuant to the instructions under Item

3 for sealed responses – DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR RESPONSE BY EMAIL — THIS WILL

RESULT IN THE SUBMITTAL BEING REJECTED AS NON-RESPONSIVE.

f. Respondents shall provide the following information in their Proposal organized under the subfolders identified below (Responses to the forms can be submitted on reproduced copies):

Subfolder 1: Organization Profile and Required Forms

a) Organization Details

b) Proposal Form

c) Certificate as to Corporation Form

d) Affidavit as to Non-Collusion and Certification of Material Conformance with Specifications

e) Drug-Free Workplace Form (if applicable)

f) Checklist of Required Documentation Form

g) Proposed curriculum structure and schedule

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Subfolder 2: Respondent Qualifications and Experience

a) Company experience in teaching irrigation fundamentals (using the Similar Projects form provided).

b) Identify the Project Manager and key staff assigned to the project. Provide resumes summarizing the qualifications and experience of each individual.

c) Certification in Florida Water StarSM Accredited Professional landscape and irrigation, Irrigation

Association Certified Irrigation Contractor (CIC) and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor

(CLIA).

d) Client References (using the Client References form provided).

Subfolder 3: Cost Schedule

a) Proposed training fees.

If you need assistance or have any questions about the format, please email or call Christina Holloway-Williams at chollowa@sjrwmd.com or 386-329-4843.

In the event you decline to submit a Proposal, the District would appreciate submittal of the “No Response Form” provided at the end of the “FORMS” section to describe the reason for not submitting a Proposal.

6. INQUIRIES AND ADDENDA

District staff are not authorized to orally interpret the meaning of the specifications or other Agreement documents, or correct any apparent ambiguity, inconsistency, or error therein. In order to be binding upon the District, the interpretation or correction must be given by the Contracts Manager and must be in writing. The Contracts Manager may orally explain the District’s procedures and assist Respondents in referring to any applicable provision in the Request for Proposals documents, but the Respondent is ultimately responsible for submitting the Proposal in the appropriate form and in accordance with written procedures.

Every request for a written interpretation or correction must be received at least nine days prior to opening of Proposals in order to be considered. Requests may be submitted by email at kmatott@sjrwmd.com. Interpretations, corrections, and supplemental instructions will be communicated by written addenda to this solicitation posted by Onvia DemandStar and Vendor Registry to all prospective Respondents (at the respective addresses furnished for such purposes) no later than five days before the opening of Proposals.

Submission of a Proposal constitutes acknowledgment of receipt of all addenda. Proposals will be construed as though all addenda had been received. Failure of the Respondent to receive any addenda does not relieve Respondent from any and all obligations under the Proposal, as submitted. All addenda become part of the Agreement.

7. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The minimum requirements necessary to meet the qualifications for this solicitation are listed below.

Place documentation to support these requirements in the applicable Subfolders outlined above.

a. Respondent shall provide documentation of certification in Florida Water StarSM Accredited

Professional landscape and irrigation, Irrigation Association CIC, CLIA.

b. Respondent shall have three to five years of experience in teaching irrigation fundamentals. (Use the

Qualifications-General form provided).

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c. Respondent must provide three client references. No more than one of the references may be from completed District projects. If a District project is cited, do not request a letter from District staff.

(Use the Client References form provided).

Irrespective of the stated minimum qualifications, 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 Proposal 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.

8. SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

An individual submitting a Proposal must sign his/her name therein and state his/her address and the name and address of every other person interested in the Proposal as principal. If a firm or partnership submits the Proposal, state the name and address of each member of the firm or partnership. If a corporation submits the Proposal, an authorized officer or agent must sign the Proposal, subscribing the name of the corporation with his or her own name and affixing the corporate seal. Such officer or agent must also provide the name of the state under which the corporation is chartered, and the names and business addresses of the President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Corporations chartered in states other than Florida must submit evidence of registration with the Florida Secretary of State for doing business in the State of Florida. Respondent must certify that all persons or entities having an interest as principal in the Proposal or in substantial performance of the Work have been identified in the Proposal forms.

9. DISQUALIFICATION OF RESPONDENTS

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

d. 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;

e. Submission of more than one Proposal for the same subject matter by an individual, firm, partnership, or corporation under the same or different names;

f. Evidence of collusion among Respondents;

g. Submission of materially false information with the Proposal;

h. Information gained through checking of references or other sources which indicates that Respondent may not successfully perform the Work;

i. Respondent is failing to adequately perform on any existing contract with the District;

j. Respondent has defaulted on a previous contract with the District;

k. 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;

l. 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.

10. REJECTION OF PROPOSAL

Proposals must be delivered to the specified location and received before the Proposal opening in order to be considered. Untimely Proposals will be returned to the Respondent unopened. Proposals 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 Proposal not prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions specified herein and reserves the right to waive any minor deviations or irregularities in an otherwise valid Proposal.

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The District reserves the right to reject any and all Proposals and cancel this request for proposals when it determines, in its sole judgment and discretion, that it is not in its best interest to award the agreement.

11. WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL

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

12. EVALUATION AND AWARD PROCEDURES

m. Proposals will be evaluated by an evaluation Committee based upon the criteria and weighting set forth in “EVALUATION CRITERIA.” The Committee members will meet at District headquarters or other location as appropriate to discuss the Proposals and their individual evaluations. Each Committee member completes a paper or electronic evaluation form, from which the overall ranking of Proposals is compiled. Evaluation forms may be submitted at or subsequent to the evaluation Committee meeting. If it is determined that it will assist the Committee’s evaluation for some or all Respondents to make an oral presentation, such presentations will be scheduled at District headquarters or other location as appropriate.

n. Section 286.0113, Fla. Stat., exempts from being open to the public, any portion of a meeting at which: (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.

Also, recordings of, and any records presented at, the exempt meeting are exempt from §119.07(1) and §24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution (Public Records) until such time as the District provides notice of an intended decision or until 30 days after opening the Proposals or final replies, whichever occurs earlier. A complete recording shall be made of any portion of an exempt meeting. No portion of the exempt meeting may be held off the record.

o. Pursuant to §286.0113 Fla. Stat., if the District rejects all Proposals 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) 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 Proposals.

p. The Committee will meet to evaluate and rank the Proposals in the location(s), time(s) and date(s), stated at the beginning of this Request for Proposals package.

q. Following the evaluation process, the Committee will submit the final ranking of Submittals to the Governing Board for approval, except for those instances in which the authority to approve and execute the Agreement has been delegated by the Governing Board to the Executive Director, or designee. All Respondents will be notified in writing of the evaluation Committee’s final ranking of Submittals.

r. Following the evaluation process, contract negotiations will commence with the Respondent submitting the highest-ranked Proposal. If negotiations fail with the highest-ranked Respondent, negotiations will proceed with the next highest-ranked Respondent, and so forth.

s. The Agreement will be awarded to the Respondent having the highest ranked Proposal, which successfully concludes negotiations with the District (the “Successful Respondent”). The Agreement may be modified based on the District’s acceptance of any alternatives listed in the Proposal that the District deems in its best interest.

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t. If two or more Proposals 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.

u. 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 with the other respondents in ranked order, if available, and award an Agreement.

v. 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 “NOTICES AND SERVICES THEREOF.”

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13. EVALUATION CRITERIA

Responses shall include information or documentaiton and will be evaluated using the evaluation criteria set forth below. The evlauation rating scale is as follows:

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

Criteria Weight Written

Submittal Raw Score

Written Submittal Weighted

Total

Organization Profile and Required Forms

a) Organization Details

b) Proposal Form

c) Certificate as to Corporation Form

d) Affidavit as to Non-Collusion and Certification of Material Conformance with Specifications

e) Drug-Free Workplace Form (if applicable)

40%

Respondent Qualifications and Experience

a) Company experience in teaching irrigation fundamentals (using the Qualifications-General form provided).

b) Identify the Project Manager and key staff assigned to the project. Provide resumes summarizing the qualifications and experience of each individual.

c) Certification in Florida Water StarSM Accredited Professional landscape and irrigation, Irrigation Association CIC, CLIA.

d) Client References (using the Client References form provided).

40%

Cost Schedule

20%

SUBTOTAL (Written Submittal)

100%

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14. EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT

Submittal of a Proposal binds the Successful Respondent to perform the Work upon acceptance of the Proposal and execution of the Agreement by the District.

Unless all Proposals are rejected, a contract substantially in the form included in these documents will be provided to the Successful Respondent, who must execute and return the Agreement to the District within ten days of the date of receipt, along with the following:

a. A completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9;

b. Satisfactory evidence of all required insurance coverage;

c. Proof satisfactory to the District of the authority of the person or persons executing the Agreement on behalf of Respondent;

d. All other information and documentation required by the Agreement

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 delivered 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.

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. In such event, the District will be entitled to the full amount of the Proposal guaranty, not as a penalty, but in liquidation of and compensation for damages sustained.

15. EXAMINATION OF AGREEMENT DOCUMENTS AND WORK AREA

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, 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 paragraph 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 Proposal. 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.

16. DIVERSITY

The District is committed to the opportunity for diversity in the award and performance of all procurement activities. The District encourages its Respondents to make a good faith effort to ensure that women and minority-owned business enterprises (W/MBE) are given the opportunity for maximum participation. The District will assist Respondents by sharing information on W/MBEs to encourage their participation.

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17. FLORIDA SALES TAX

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 Request for Proposals is intended to remain tangible personal property and not become part of a public work owned by the District.

18. 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 or discriminatory vendor lists following a conviction for a public entity crime or placement on the discriminatory vendor list may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity; may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on a contract 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 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.

19. NOTICES AND SERVICES THEREOF

The District will publish notice of specifications and criteria, including addenda, intended agency decisions, or other matters pertinent to this solicitation on Onvia DemandStar at DemandStar.com and Vendor Registry at vendorregistry.com. Onvia DemandStar and Vendor Registry may also be accessed through the District’s web site at sjrwmd.com. In addition, the District will post notices of intended agency decisions at the District’s headquarters, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida, Administration Building, Procurement Bulletin Board, on the date the publication is posted on Onvia DemandStar and Vendor Registry.

Notices 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 or facsimile to Respondent. These courtesy communications neither constitute official notice nor vary the times of receipt set forth above.

20. PROTEST PROCEDURES

Pursuant to§120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Rule 28-110.003, Fla. Admin. Code, any person adversely affected by the procurement methodology described herein, or the specifications or criteria, including addenda, must file a Notice of Protest within 72 hours after its posting.

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 bids, proposals, or qualifications, must file a written Notice of Protest within 72 hours after posting of the decision or intended decision.

Pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Rule 28-110.004, Fla. Admin. Code, the protester must also file with the District Clerk a Formal Written Protest within ten 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

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Water Management District in an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the District’s estimated contract amount.

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 as filed any electronically transmitted facsimile pleadings, petitions, Notice of Protest or other documents.

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, Florida Administrative 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.

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.

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PROPOSAL FORM

Include this form in the response under Subfolder 1

RESPONDENT:

The undersigned, as Respondent, hereby declares and certifies that the only person(s) or entities interested in this proposal as principal(s), or as persons or entities who are not principal(s) of the Respondent but are substantially involved in performance of the Work, is or are named herein, and that no person other than herein mentioned has any interest in this proposal or in the Agreement to be entered into; that this proposal is made without connection with any other person, company, or parties making a proposal; and that this proposal is in all respects fair and in good faith without collusion or fraud.

Respondent represents to the District that, except as may be disclosed in an addendum hereto, no officer, employee or agent of the District has any interest, either directly or indirectly, in the business of Respondent to be conducted under the Agreement, and that no such person shall have any such interest at any time during the term of the Agreement, should it be awarded to Respondent.

Respondent further declares that it has examined the Agreement and informed itself fully in regard to all conditions pertaining to this solicitation; it has examined the specifications for the Work and any other Agreement documents relative thereto; it has read all of the addenda furnished prior to the proposal opening, as acknowledged below; and has otherwise satisfied itself that it is fully informed relative to the Work to be performed.

Respondent agrees that if its proposal is accepted, Respondent shall contract with the District in the form of the attached Agreement and shall furnish everything necessary to complete the Work in accordance with the time for completion specified in the Agreement and shall furnish the required evidence of the specified insurance.

Acknowledgment is hereby made of the following addenda (identified by number) received:

Addendum No. Date Addendum No. Date

Respondent (firm name) Date

Address

Email address

Signature Telephone number

Typed name and title

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CHECKLIST OF REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION FORM

Include this form in the response under Subfolder 1

Proposal to be opened at 2:00 p.m., October 11, 2023.

To: ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Respondents are reminded to refer to “PREPARATION AND ORGANIZATION OF DIGITAL PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS” for information to be included with the proposal package.

Subfolder 1 – Organization Profile:

a) Organizational Details

b) Proposal Form

c) Certificate as to Corporation Form

d) Affidavit as to Non-Collusion and Certification of Material Conformance with Specifications

e) Drug-Free Workplace Form (if applicable)

Subfolder 2 – Respondent Qualifications and Experience:

a) Company experience in teaching irrigation fundamentals (using the Qualifications-General form provided)

b) Identify the Project Manager and key staff assigned to the project. Provide resumes, summarizing the qualifications and experience for each individual.

c) Certification in Florida Water Star SM Accredited Professional landscape and irrigation, Irrigation Association CIC, CLIA.

d) Client References (using the Client References form provided).

Subfolder 3 – Cost Schedule:

Note: The above list is provided to assist Respondents in coordinating their proposals and does not relieve Respondents from ensuring that their proposals are complete including all documentation and required forms, statements, etc.

The proposal will be awarded to the Respondent having the highest ranked proposal, which successfully concludes negotiations with the District.

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QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL

Include this form in the response (under subfolder 2)

Respondent shall have three to five years of experience in teaching irrigation fundamentals and must be documented.

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 Respondent has experience in teaching irrigation fundamentals described in the

INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS:

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

If so, please describe each such instance.

Has Respondent ever been adjudicated bankrupt, initiated bankruptcy, or been the subject of bankruptcy proceedings on behalf of the current entity submitting this bid or a prior entity that Respondent substantially operated or controlled? If yes, please describe the nature and result of those proceedings and the entity involved.

Describe the background/experience of the person or persons who will be primarily responsible for directing the Work that will be performed pursuant to this bid. This inquiry is intended to encompass the project manager and/or superintendent who will be engaged on a daily basis in directing performance of the Work.

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QUALIFICATIONS — CLIENT REFERENCES

Include this form in the response (under Subfolder 2)

Respondent shall provide three client references, which may include the similar project listed above. No more than one reference shall be from the District. (For a similar project listed on the previous form, simply state “Similar Project.”)

Client Reference 1:

Agency/company:

Current contact person at agency/company:

Telephone: E-mail: __________________________________________________

Agency/Company Address:

Name of project:

Description:

Project value: ______________________ Project manager:

Client Reference 2:

Agency/company:

Current contact person at agency/company:

Telephone: E-mail: __________________________________________________

Agency/Company Address:

Name of project:

Description:

Project value: ______________________ Project manager:

Client Reference 3:

Agency/company:

Current contact person at agency/company:

Telephone: E-mail: __________________________________________________

Agency/Company Address:

Name of project:

Description:

Project value: ______________________ Project manager:

- 17 -

CERTIFICATE AS TO CORPORATION FORM

Include this form in the response (under Subfolder 1)

The below Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of ; is authorized by law to respond to this Request for Proposals and perform all work and furnish materials and equipment required under the Agreement and is authorized to do business in the state of Florida.

Corporation name:

Address:

Registration No.:

Registered Agent:

By:

(Official title) (Affix corporate seal)

Attest:

(Secretary)

The full names and business or residence addresses of persons or firms interested in the foregoing proposal as principals or officers of Respondent are as follows (specifically include the President, Secretary, and Treasurer and state the corporate office held of all other individuals listed):

Identify any parent, subsidiary, or sister corporations involving the same or substantially the same officers and directors that will or may be involved in performance of the Project, and provide the same information requested above on a photocopy of this form.

If applicable, attach a copy of a certificate to do business in the state of Florida, or a copy of the application that has been accepted by the state of Florida to do business in the state of Florida, for the Respondent and/or all out-of-state corporations that are listed pursuant to this form.

- 18 -

AFFIDAVIT AS TO NON-COLLUSION AND CERTIFICATION OF

MATERIAL CONFORMANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS

Include this form in the response (under Subfolder 1)

STATE OF

COUNTY OF

I, the undersigned, being first duly sworn, depose and say that:

1. I am the owner or duly authorized officer, representative, or agent of:

the Respondent that has submitted the attached proposal.

2. The attached proposal is genuine. It is not a collusive or sham proposal.

3. I am fully informed respecting the preparation and contents of, and knowledgeable of all pertinent circumstances respecting the attached proposal.

4. Neither Respondent nor any of its officers, partners, owners, agents, representatives, employees, or parties in interest, including this affiant, has in any way colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed, directly or indirectly, with any other Respondent, firm, or person to submit a collusive or sham proposal in connection with the Agreement for which the attached proposal has been submitted, or to refrain from proposing in connection with such Agreement, or has in any manner, directly or indirectly, sought by agreement, collusion, communication, or conference with any other Respondent, firm, or person to fix the price or prices in the attached proposal of any other Respondent , or to fix any overhead, profit, or cost element of the proposal prices or the proposal price of any other Respondent, or to secure through collusion, conspiracy, connivance, or unlawful agreement any advantage against the District or any other person interested in the proposed Agreement.

5. The price(s) quoted in the attached proposal are fair and proper and are not tainted by any collusion, conspiracy, connivance, or unlawful agreement on the part of the Respondent or any of its agents, representatives, owners, employees, or parties in interest, including this affiant.

6. No official or other officer or employee of the District, whose salary or compensation is payable in whole or in part by the District, is directly or indirectly interested in this proposal, or in the supplies, materials, equipment, work, or labor to which it relates, or in any of the profits therefrom.

7. Any materials and equipment proposed to be supplied in fulfillment of the Agreement to be awarded conform in all respects to the specifications thereof. Further, the proposed materials and equipment will perform the intended function in a manner acceptable and suitable for the intended purposes of the District.

Signature:

Title:

Subscribed and sworn to before me this _______ day of _______________, 20 ___.

Notary Public, state of _________________ at Large

My commission expires:

(SEAL)

- 19 -

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE FORM

Include this form in the Response (under Subfolder 1)

This form required only in the event of a tie response.

The Respondent, (business name) , in accordance with §287.087, Fla. Stat., hereby certifies that Respondent does the following:

1. Informs employees about the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace, the business’s policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace, any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs, and the penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations

2. Publishes a statement notifying employees that

a. the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against its employees for violations of such prohibition.

b. as a condition of working on the contractual services that are the subject of this solicitation, the employee will abide by the terms of the statement and will notify the employer of any conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any violation of chapter 893, Fla. Stat., or of any controlled substance law of the United States or any state, for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five days after such conviction.

3. Gives each employee engaged in providing the contractual services that are the subject of this solicitation a copy of the statement specified in paragraph 2, above.

4. Imposes a sanction on, or requires the satisfactory participation in, a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program if such is available in the employee’s community, by any employee convicted of a violation listed in sub-paragraph 2.b., above.

5. Makes a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of §287.087, Fla. Stat.

As the person authorized to sign this statement, I certify that this firm complies fully with the above requirements.

Title:

Date:

- 20 -

COST SCHEDULE

Include this form in the response (under Subfolder 3)

Proposals to be opened at 2:00 pm E.S.T., October 11, 2023

To: ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

In accordance with the advertisement requesting proposals for the Florida Water Star SM Accredited Professional Training, are subject to the terms and conditions of the Agreement, the undersigned proposes to perform the Work for the price contained in the following schedule (fill in all blanks).

This solicitation will be awarded to the Respondent having the highest ranked proposal, which successfully concludes negotiations with the District.

PROPOSED TRAINING FEES*: $_______________________

*(Proposed Training Fees must incorporate all related travel and any other anticipated fringe costs.)

Pursuant to §287.084(2) Fla. Stat., a vendor whose principal place of business is outside the State of Florida must accompany any written bid, proposal, or reply documents with a written opinion of an attorney at law licensed to practice law in that foreign state, as to the preferences, if any or none, granted by the law of that state to its own business entities whose principal places of business are in that foreign state in the letting of any or all public contracts.

I HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE, as Respondent’s authorized representative, that I have fully read and understand all terms and conditions as set forth in this proposal and upon award of such proposal, shall fully comply with such terms and conditions.

Date

Respondent (firm name)

Address

E-mail address

Signature Telephone Number

- 21 -

NO RESPONSE FORM

ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS 39118

FLORIDA WATER STAR SM ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

Your reasons for not responding to this Request for Proposals are valuable to the St. Johns River Water Management District’s procurement process. Please complete this form and return it to the procurement staff named in this solicitation no later than the date set for receipt of proposals. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please check (as applicable):

Specifications too “general” (explain below)

Insufficient time to respond to the Invitation for Bids

Do not provide this type of work for this project

Schedule would not permit us to perform

Unable to meet bid specifications

Specifications unclear (explain below)

Disagree with solicitation or Agreement terms and conditions (explain below)

Other (specify below)

Remarks:

DATE

RESPONDENT (FIRM NAME)

ADDRESS

E-MAIL ADDRESS

SIGNATURE TYPED NAME AND TITLE

TELEPHONE NUMBER

Page - 22 - 110106

SAMPLE AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE

ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

.AND _______________ FOR

FLORIDA WATER STAR SM ACCREDITED PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

THIS Agreement is entered into on ____________, by and between the St. Johns River Water Management District, a public authority, having its principal offices at, 4049 Reid Street, Palatka, Florida 32177-2529 (the “District”) and ____________________, having its principal place of business at ____________________________“Administrator”).

BACKGROUND

The District is a public body existing under Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes dedicated to protecting and managing water resources within eighteen counties in the State of Florida, and supporting Florida’s growth and ensuring the sustainable use of Florida’s water for the benefit of Floridians.

The District has developed an evaluation and certification program that has been adopted in Florida to evaluate the water usage and efficiency of buildings, homes and landscapes known as Florida Water StarSM, including the creation of the Florida Water StarSM certification mark.

The District encourages the use of this program throughout the State of Florida as a standard certification program for the incorporation of water efficiency strategies in buildings, homes, and associated landscapes.

The District, in furtherance of the public interest, and in support of developing the use of Florida Water StarSM as a standardized prescriptive approach to implementing conservation strategies in buildings, homes and landscapes, desires partnerships to expand the Florida Water StarSM certification program.

The Administrator is engaged in the business of developing and administering certification programs for the evaluation of products and systems to recognized performance standards and code requirements.

The Administrator has contracted with the Florida Home Builders Association (“FHBA”) to develop a Certified Ratings program for certifications of home ratings for water conservation in the State of Florida that provides for including the evaluation of homes and landscapes under the requirements of the Florida Water StarSM mark.

The District wishes to partner with the Administrator, including licensing the use of the Florida Water StarSM mark in parallel with the FHBA program; and engage the Administrator to operate the District sponsored program to license use of the Florida Water StarSM Mark in Florida (the “Program”).

The Administrator is willing to assume and carry out its obligations and to perform the services as herein provided for, in return for the compensation specified.

Page - 23 - 110106

NOW THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:

PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

ADMINISTRATOR RESPONSIBILITIES

1. The Administrator shall develop the use of Water Star in the Program on behalf of, and in cooperation with, the District. It is the parties’ intent to maintain the Program during the term of this contract.

2. The Administrator shall form and consult with an advisory group of subject matter experts (the

“Board”) in the development of the Program, using applicable recognized standards and protocols for testing and inspection of businesses, homes and landscapes for water conservation efficiency (“Projects”) to the certification requirements of the Program. The Board will continue to evaluate the Program after development is complete to ensure that the Program meets the goals of promoting water conservation efficiency.

3. The Administrator shall document certification policies and procedures created by the Board using the nationally recognized ISO/ANSI certification standards and protocols for testing and inspection of Projects for water conservation ratings in a Program Operating Manual. The Program Operating Manual will also incorporate the essential requirements of the Florida Water StarSM inspection and certification protocols into its policies and procedures.

4. Development of the Program shall include establishing the requirements for use of the Florida Water StarSM Mark (the “Mark”) to designate compliance with the Program requirements and the District Florida Water StarSM requirements.