Drone_2026_Proposal.docx

PROPOSAL TITLE: PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING SERVICES, COUNTYWIDE UNMANNED AERIAL SERVICES PROPOSAL NUMBER:

1. PURPOSE:

The purpose of this competitive process is to ensure Pinellas County compliance with Section 287.055 Florida Statutes known as the “Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act” (CCNA). The CCNA establishes contracting procedures by which counties must select architects, professional engineers, landscape architects, and surveyors and mappers (“Professional Firms”) for architectural, engineering, landscaping and mapping services (“Professional Services”). The CCNA process allows for professional firms to be chosen on quality of personnel, minority business enterprise consideration, past performance, willingness to meet time and budget requirements, location, workload, and volume of work previously awarded to each Professional Firm by the County.

2. PERIOD OF CONTRACT:

a. Services performed pursuant to this contract shall commence upon execution of the agreement and continue as necessary to perform and complete all the work required. Duration of the contract shall be for the period of five (5) years from the date of contract award unless otherwise indicated.

b. Continuing Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) contracts are limited to projects in which construction cost do not exceed $2 million and when the fee for professional services does not exceed $200,000, per state statue 287.055(2)(g).

c. Services may not begin until after execution of the agreement and approval of all require documentation.

d. The County reserves the right to re-negotiate rates based on current market conditions during the term of the contract.

3. EVALUATION CRITERIA:

Following is the criteria that will be used by the County to evaluate and score responsive proposals. Proposers shall include sufficient information to allow the County to thoroughly evaluate and score their proposals. Each proposal submitted shall be evaluated and ranked by an evaluation committee. The contract will be awarded to the most qualified proposer, per the evaluation criteria listed.

a. Ability of Firm and its Professional Personnel. Willingness and Ability to Meet Schedule and Budget Based on Current and Projected Workload. 450 Points

i. Reviews the level of qualifications and experience of the firm and project team and appropriateness of the organization of the project team.

ii. Reviews the professional resources available to properly provide services as requested in the RFP document.

iii. Reviews the project team to insure the team proposed contains all of the critical disciplines required.

iv. Prime team proposed should have exceptional professional resources to properly provide services.

v. The project manager and proposed team should be uniquely qualified to provide the desired services.

vi. Evaluates the workload commitments that will impact the firm’s ability to complete services on schedule.

vii. The submittal should demonstrate that the firm has adequate time available and personnel to compete services on schedule and additional backup staffing capability in the event of unforeseen circumstances.

b. Firm Experience with Projects of Similar Size and Past Performance 375 Points

i. Reviews the firms experience with projects of similar size, type and scope and the performance on those specific projects.

ii. The prime firm must have adequate, recent (within the past five years) experience with projects of similar type as defined in the RFP document.

iii. Experience pertaining to specific Pinellas County projects may also be considered. Pinellas County staff shall not however furnish references for such projects.

iv. The scope of services provided should represent projects that are similar to those defined in the RFP document.

v. The overall performance of the firm relative to projects of similar size and scope should be evaluated.

c. Volume of Work Previously Awarded by the County 50 Points Pre-populated by the Purchasing Department, the purpose of this criterion is to effect an equitable distribution of contracts. This criterion is evaluated based on CCNA Continuing contract value encumbered to a firm during the two (2) previous completed fiscal years through current to date. The points are worth 5 percent of the overall points available and are distributed as follows:

$0 - $200,000 – five (5%) percent of points available $200,001 - $400,000 – four (4%) percent of points available $400,001 – 600,000 – three (3%) percent of points available $600,001- $800,000 – two (2%) percent of points available $800,001 - $1,000,000 – one (1%) percent of points available Over $1,000,000 – zero (0%) percent of points available Based on a typical 1000 point evaluation scoring process, a firm deemed to be in the $0-$200,000 category threshold would be allotted 50 points etc.

d. Minority Business Status 50 Points Provides points pre-populated by the Purchasing Department for minority business status as designated by the Florida State Office of Supplier Diversity, Department of Management Services. If the firm, or its sub-contractors, are designated as a minority business by the Florida State Office of Supplier Diversity, Department of Management Services, five (5%) percent of the total evaluation points are awarded. If the firm does not have minority business status as per the Florida State Office of Supplier Diversity, Department of Management Services, zero (0%) percent of the points available are awarded.

e. Location 75 Points Provides points pre-populated by the Purchasing Department. Evaluates the location of the project team relative to Pinellas County including the prime firm and project manager. If firm has an established office located in Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough or Pasco counties, 75 points are awarded. If not, no points will be awarded.

Total 1,000 Points

4. ITEMS TO BE RETURNED WITH PROPOSAL:

Please Review this document carefully. Offers that are accepted by the county are binding contracts. All documents and submittals shall be received by the Purchasing Department on or before date and hour specified for receipt (see page #1). Late proposals will be returned unopened. The Following Documents Shall Be Returned With Proposal: a. Standard Forms 330 b. Certificate Of Florida Small and Minority Business issued by the Florida State Office of Supplier Diversity, Department of Management Services. (if applicable)

5. TIME LINE:

Following is a listing of actions and anticipated dates; the County reserves the right to change the dates, if necessary.

February 23, 2026 Advertising & Publishing RFP March 13, 2026 Deadline for Questions/Clarifications March 23, 2026 Proposals due in Purchasing by 3:00 p.m. Public ITB/RFP opening to follow immediately.

April 2026 Evaluation of the RFP July 2026 Submit recommendation to Board for Award of Contract

6. INFORMATION PACKAGE

Per Florida Stature 287.055 the following applies and is required as applicable: a. Request for Letters of Interest for Professional Services As Governed by Florida Statute 287.055 1) "Professional services" is defined as those services within the scope of the practice of architecture, professional engineering, landscape architecture, or registered surveying and mapping, as defined by the laws of the state, or those performed by any architect, professional engineer, landscape architect, or registered surveyor and mapper in connection with his or her professional employment or practice. 2) An award may not be issued without proof that your firm is registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, as per Florida Statute §607.1501 (http://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/607.1501). 3) A foreign corporation (foreign to the State of Florida) may not transact business in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority from the Department of State. Please visit www.sunbiz.org for this information on how to become registered. b. Scope of Services The intent of this solicitation is to acquire a broad range of professional services for Pinellas County based on the definition of “Continuing Contract” in FS 287.055: FS.287.055 (g) A "continuing contract" is a contract for professional services entered into in accordance with all the procedures of this act between an agency and a firm whereby the firm provides professional services to the agency for projects in which estimated construction costs of each individual project under construction does not exceed $2 million, for study activity if the fee for professional service for each individual study under the contract does not exceed $200,000, or for work of a specified nature as outlined in the contract required by the agency, with the contract being for a fixed term or with no time limitation except that the contract must provide a termination clause. The services sought may include, but are not limited to: Architect Landscape Architect Engineering Services 1) Civil 2) Electrical 3) Environmental 4) Geotechnical 5) Hazardous Waste 6) HVAC 7) Hydrogeological 8) Mechanical 9) Solid Waste 10) Structural 11) Surveying 12) Transportation/Traffic Mapping/GIS Services Planning Services Construction Management Services The resulting “continuing contract” shall provide for issuance of individual Work Assignments based on specific scopes of work. Work Assignments will be individually negotiated based on a “Fee Schedule” and any additional negotiated services required within the scope of work. 7. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS: Submittal of current SF-330 (federal Standard Form), Part I and II, with all sections completed. SF-330 can be obtained from U. S. General Services Administration (GSA) website - http://gsa.gov/forms , then select Standard Form on the menu and go to the 330. The submittals shall be in the format of Standard Forms (SF) 330. The submittal shall be limited to one hundred (100) pages, must be in format of a loose leaf binder. The selection of the firms will be based on the information provided on the forms and in the additional sections. A contractor may submit a response as a prime and also be a subcontractor to another firm. Note: Standard Form (SF) 330 - Part II should be submitted for each firm and for each subcontractor. Submittal requirements must be indexed and listed in the order described below: a. Introduction Tab 1) Letter of Interest by corporate office or principal of the firm. 2) Specific Professional services to be offered (please delineate each service your firm offers). 3) Table of Contents. b. Tab 1 - Standard Form (SF) 330 – Part I & II Should be a Maximum of 50 pages and fully completed as required by the law governing Standard Form (SF) 330. Please furnish a list of ten (10) projects, where multiple team members worked together, if possible, illustrating the proposed team’s qualifications for performance pertaining to this project. The County does not request nor require an amount greater than ten (10) projects be submitted. Your firm will not be penalized if more than ten (10) projects are furnished as part of your submittal; however, submitting more than ten (10) projects will not provide your firm an advantage during the evaluation process. Note: Information submitted in Tab 2 through Tab 6 should be a maximum of 50 pages. c. Tab 2 - Statements and Documentation 1) Proof of licenses/certifications 2) Provide proof of proper State of Florida business licensure and professional certifications/registration(s) in the State of Florida. 3) Provide proof of corporate registration to operate in the State of Florida by the Department of State, Division of Corporations. Information concerning certification with the Secretary of State can be obtained at: http://ccfcorp.dos.state.fl.us/index.html. Must be active status. 4) Provide Certificate of Florida Small and Minority Business issued by the Florida State Office of Supplier Diversity, Department of Management Services (if applicable). 5) State and provide address, phone number, contact, etc., if firm has an established office located in Pinellas, Manatee, Hillsborough or Pasco counties. d. Tab 3 - Certificate(s) of Insurance. Section C reflects the insurance requirements deemed necessary for this project by County Risk Management. It is not necessary to have this level of insurance in effect at the time of submission, but certificates indicating that the insurance is currently carried, or acknowledgment from the carrier indicating upgrade availability will speed the review process. e. Tab 4 - Key Personnel Statement Submit a statement that personnel listed in the submittal will be available for and shall be assigned to this project. Failure to produce the proposed key personnel may be grounds for dismissal. PINELLAS COUNTY PURCHASING RFP – Professional Services Continuing Contract REVISED: 01-2019 189-0211-CN (RG) Page 15 of 29 SECTION B – GENERAL CONDITIONS f. Tab 5 - Forms • Acknowledgment of Addenda (if applicable). • W-9 Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification • Section D Vendor References • Page 1, Signature Page of the RFP • Section F Electronic Payment (ePayable) Form g. Tab 6 - Include any additional information to represent your firm for consideration. Original letters shall be signed by an authorized representative of the firm. All information requested must be submitted. Failure to submit all information may delay evaluation of the proposal. Letters, which are substantially incomplete or lack key information, may be rejected by the County at its discretion. The submittals shall be in the format of Standard Forms (SF) 330. The submittal shall be limited to one hundred (100) pages, must be in format of a 3 ring loose leaf binder. The selection of the firms will be based on the information provided on the forms and in the additional sections. Information submitted with your letter of interest should include documentation to demonstrate your firm’s qualifications and abilities to perform as noted in the scope of services and also include information to allow for a clear understanding of past projects, especially in Florida, staff experience and abilities, and any additional information to present your firm for consideration. An evaluation committee will review the information submitted. Once review is complete and the firm confirms the maximum ceiling for establishing a fee schedule, a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners will be prepared. This contract will result in negotiated rates that will be fully loaded and will encompass all profit, markup, and local travel expenses. Award(s) resulting from this solicitation shall be subject to the provisions of Section 2-178, contracting for Designated Professional Services of the Ordinances of Pinellas County and Section 10 of the Purchasing Policies and Procedures of Pinellas County. For questions and additional information, the County’s contact person is indicated on page 1. Letters of Interest will be evaluated using the criteria listed in Item 4, Evaluation Criteria of this Section. Firms will be notified in writing if they have been selected in a reasonable time after submittal date. 8. PROPOSAL SUBMITTAL COPIES: All proposals shall be signed in ink by authorized principals of the firm. Proposals are to be submitted in a sealed envelope. The face of the envelope shall indicate the RFP number, name, and address of the firm, and title of the proposal. Proposals are to be submitted to Pinellas County Purchasing Department, 400 S. Ft. Harrison Avenue, Annex Bldg, 6th Floor, Clearwater, FL 33756 by the date and time indicated on the cover sheet. Proposals shall be submitted in one (1) original paper document and one (1) electronic media copies CDs/DVDs or Travel Drives in PDF format. The preferred method is PDF conversion from the Proposer’s source files (to minimize file size and maximize quality and accessibility) rather than scanning so that the County can open, print, read and save the pdf file you have created. To ensure consistency, the electronic copy should be ONE file document and in the same order as the paper original. If this is not possible, the electronic copy files should be in the same order as the paper copy, with a directory listing of the files. Please note the evaluation committee will use the electronic media copies to review your submittal. Failure to include all information in the electronic media copies may have an impact on your evaluation scores

I. OBJECTIVE:

The Business Technology Services department is seeking to secure a contract to be utilized by various County Departments for unmanned aerial services as described below.

II. SCOPE OF WORK:

A. Anticipated missions will be a mix of on-demand services for urgent short-term needs (within a 12-24 hour timeframe) and planned projects.

B. Successful proposer(s) shall be able to provide a set of services including support for a variety of missions, which may require additional analysis or support to assist with the completion of the mission.

C. MISSION TYPES: The following constitutes examples of anticipated mission types:

1) Topographic Survey:

a) Contractor shall use data derived from unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) surveys to provide site topography with 1-foot contours, and this data will also be joined into a seamless three-dimensional reconstruction of the ground surface.

b) The initial topography shall include the terrain as well as above ground features such as buildings and treetops. A secondary topographic shall also be created in which the above ground objects are removed and only the bare-earth terrain is left.

c) Both of these surfaces shall be produced as georeferenced .tiff files which are compatible for use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) like any other elevation raster.

d) Post-processing of UAS data shall also generate contours from the topographic surfaces as GIS shapefiles or CAD .dxf files.

e) Depending on the specific needs of a project, contractor proposer shall provide topographic contours either based on an assumed datum (i.e., relative elevations without surveyed control points or specific elevation datum), or as elevation contours based on a specified datum (e.g., NAVD 1988) and surveyed control points (x, y, and z coordinates) located within or in close proximity to the drone survey area.

f) Required survey work products including topographic surveys shall be performed under the responsible charge of a Florida-licensed Professional Surveyor and Mapper (P.S.M.) per Chapter 472, F.S.

2) Ecological Assessments / Mapping

a) Contractor shall provide UAS ecological assessment and mapping services, including:

1) Freshwater Wetlands

2) Coastal/Estuarine Habitats

3) Vegetation Community Mapping

4) Algal/Cyanobacteria Bloom Assessments

5) Forestry Investigations

6) Invasive Species Investigations

b) Data derived from UAS imagery shall be combined with field services and analyses by qualified wetland scientists, biologists, Certified Lake Managers, or other qualified technical staff.

3) Infrastructure / Asset Inspections

a) Contractor shall provide UAS civil infrastructure inspection services, including but not limited to the infrastructure categories listed below.

1) Water/Sewer Infrastructure

(a) Use cases include both pre-construction and post-construction services.

(b) Provide high-resolution imagery, video documentation, and/or AI-assisted defect detection for cracks, corrosion, and anomalies.

2) Stormwater Infrastructure

(a) In conjunction with drone inspection of above-grade stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs), contractor shall have engineering staff experienced with the inspection and evaluation of the maintenance requirements for BMPs.

(b) Provide high-resolution imagery, video documentation, and/or AI-assisted defect detection for cracks, corrosion, and anomalies.

3) Post disaster assessment and survey

(a) Rapid deployment for damage assessment following hurricanes, floods, or other disasters to provide UAS services for rapid situational awareness, prioritizing recovery efforts in response to natural disasters or emergencies.

(b) Survey residential areas, coastal zones, and public infrastructure (roads, bridges, utilities).

(c) Deliver AI-enhanced mapping for critical infrastructure and vulnerable areas.

(d) Deliver georeferenced imagery, orthophotos, and AI-prioritized damage maps for emergency response.

(e) Leveraging AI to identify wind, rain, an/or flooding damage to property and infrastructure.

(f) Debris/stockpile management (volumes, time-lapse) related to disaster response.

(g) High water marks on building and property features.

4) Construction Inspection Services

(a) Provide AI-enabled change detection for progress monitoring and compliance verification;

(b) The successful proposer shall have the ability to use drones for construction inspection to provide the following:

1. Progress documentation for daily, weekly and monthly progress reports;

2. Photo-documentation;

3. Quality control verification (e.g., proposed vs. actual grades);

4. Stockpile management: georeferenced, quantity and time-lapse;

5. Heavy equipment asset management;

6. Traffic change update video;

7. Construction access investigation;

8. Environmental monitoring/regulatory compliance;

9. As-built surveys.

5) Shoreline And Marine Structure Inspection Services

(a) Deliver orthophotos, 3D models, and condition reports for coastal resilience planning.

(b) The successful proposer shall have the ability to provide UAS shoreline inspection and mapping services, including the following:

1. Shoreline/Bank Erosion Inspections for Lakes, Rivers, and Coastal Areas

2. Shoreline Structures

3. Marine structures such as waterway markers, buoys, groins, etc.

4. Red tide surface lines

5. Dock inspections

6) Damage Assessment / Emergency Management D. All photographs, videos, data gathered, data analyzed, and reports generated shall be the sole property of Pinellas County.

E. After Action Report

1) Contractor shall be required to provide an individual after-action report within 48 hours for all missions performed on behalf of the County to both the requesting department Director.

2) Report must include at a minimum the date, time, location, department, purpose, cost and summary of data collected.

III. MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

A. Proposer(s) must have an established (i.e. physical address) presence in Florida, of sufficient size and capability to provide resources for mission types stated above.

B. All survey work products, including but not limited to topographic surveys as defined in the Scope of Services, shall be performed under the responsible charge of a Professional Surveyor and Mapper (P.S.M.) licensed in the State of Florida, in accordance with Chapter 472, Florida Statutes, and applicable rules of the Florida Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers.

C. Proposer(s) must hold a valid and current FAA Remote Pilot Certificate with a UAS rating (per 14 CFR Part 107).

D. Successful proposer(s) shall comply with all applicable federal regulations, including FAA Part 107 and related TSA background screening for Remote Pilot Certification. Proposers may need to include proof of Remote Pilot Certificates (which includes TSA vetting) as may be required by law.

E. Successful proposer(s) shall comply with all applicable Florida Statutes governing unmanned aircraft systems, including Chapter 330.41 (Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act), Chapter 330.411 (Prohibited UAS Operations), and Chapter 934.50 (Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act).

F. The proposer(s) shall ensure that all unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) deployed comply with Florida law by prohibiting the use of drones manufactured in “foreign countries of concern”, specifically those made by Chinese companies such as DJI, as enforced under Florida Statute 934.50 G. Proposer(s) shall adhere to Pinellas County policies and ordinances regarding UAS operations. This includes obtaining written permission from Pinellas County prior to any flight that involves takeoff, landing, or operation within a horizontal distance of 500 feet, or a vertical distance of 250 feet to County facilities, as defined by County policy or ordinance.

H. Successful proposer(s) will be required to maintain all proper certifications during the entirety of the contract.

I. Successful proposer(s) shall comply with all other current state and federal regulations and guidelines.

J. Successful proposer(s) shall be required to perform background checks on their employees or certify that their employees have already received a background check and/or provide proof of such checks if requested by Pinellas County.

K. Successful proposer(s) shall be required to notify the County Project Manager immediately upon lapse or revocation of any relevant permits or certifications or in the instance of any issue that could prevent completion of missions outlined herein in a safe, effective and legal manner.

L. Successful proposer(s) must employ industry acceptable standards to manage security risks to equipment and data. This should include at a minimum:

1) Having a written security policy with respect to the collection, use, storage, and dissemination of data.

2) Making a reasonable effort to regularly monitor systems for breach and data security risks and provide effective remediation.

3) Making a reasonable effort to provide security training to employees with access to data.

4) Making a reasonable effort to permit only authorized individuals to access data.

M. Successful proposer (s) shall be solely responsible for maintaining insurance against physical damage to the drone system used to perform services, including hull, payload, and any other equipment.

N. Proposals should include a description of:

1) Equipment currently owned and operated, including capabilities. This shall include any and all sensors and attachments that may be used to support the services requested. Contractor shall specify which service the deployable equipment is able to support.

2) Detailed equipment maintenance plans to ensure equipment operability in the event of a service request by the Project Manager.

3) Security policies/procedures/protocols that detail the proposer's processes for ensuring the appropriate and secure handling of data including (but not limited to) collection, use, storage, dissemination, retention, and disposal.

4) Policies/procedures/protocols for acquiring necessary takeoff / landing permissions from private landowners.

5) The needs of missions requiring high positional precision and accuracy data collection, contractor should provide a description of methods for collecting ground control and/or post processing GPS locations of imagery collected. Description should include how ground control is performed, encompassing equipment used (including precision) and spatial layout of ground control.

6) Description of ability/procedures/equipment used to perform data collection, including collection of multispectral data, accurate geo-location, as well as ability to correct for reflectants, etc.

7) Proposer’s ability to provide the data in the specified format AND/OR document exceptions or recommend appropriate data format options based on the intended uses of the data.

8) Thermal imaging for infrastructure / asset inspections, although not a requirement, it will be considered as a plus. As such, proposer should indicate if the proposed team has capacity to provide thermal imaging product.

9) Proposer’s ability to conduct day/night flights, as well as, the ability to fly in harsh conditions.

10) Proposer’s ability (software and technical expertise) to provide post-processing of field-collected data on BMPs for data compilation and for quantification of maintenance issues including sediment accumulation, erosion surface areas, vegetation of-concern surface areas, etc.

11) Proposer’s ability to provide post-processing of field-collected data on BMPs for data compilation and for quantification of maintenance issues including sediment accumulation, erosion surface areas, vegetation of-concern surface areas, etc.

12) Proposer’s ability to use drones for construction inspection as well as to the ability to provide UAS shoreline inspection and mapping services.

13) Proposer’s ability to provide the following products based on drone surveys, associated imagery, post-processing, and related technical analyses outlined in the Scope of Services (Mission Types). Esri based deliverables are mostly preferred and the County has access to a full suite of Esri products including ArcGIS Enterprise, ArcGIS Flight, and Site Scan for ArcGIS.

a) Video Inspection: High-resolution, real-time flight video with vertical or oblique camera angles; ability to export in standard formats (MP4, MOV) with geotagging metadata.

b) Orthophotos: Seamless mosaic of high-resolution aerial photos, delivered in GeoTIFF and JPEG formats with accompanying world files (.tfw).

c) Distance, Area, and Volume Measurements: Based on high-resolution 3D reconstruction using photogrammetric algorithms; deliverables in CSV and GIS-compatible formats.

d) Imaging Products: Multispectral imaging (including near-infrared) for pervious/impervious surface analysis and thermal imaging for temperature profiling; export in TIFF and ENVI formats.

e) AutoCAD Drawings: Orthophotos, contours, or 3D mesh surfaces in native CAD formats (DWG, DXF) with proper layer structure.

f) GIS Data: ESRI file geodatabase (.gdb), shapefiles (.shp), raster datasets (.tif), and metadata compliant with FGDC standards.

g) GeoHECRAS Calculations: Stream cross-sections, streambank elevations, flow calculations in formats compatible with GIS and CAD (HEC-RAS geometry files, DXF, and CSV).

h) Drone-Enhanced Ecological Assessments: Habitat mapping, vegetation indices (NDVI), and wildlife observation reports in PDF and GIS formats.

i) Point Cloud Data: High-density LiDAR or photogrammetric point clouds in LAS/LAZ formats for 3D modeling and elevation analysis.

j) 3D Mesh Models: Textured mesh models in OBJ or STL formats for visualization and engineering applications.

k) Digital Elevation Models (DEM/DSM): Raster elevation products in GeoTIFF format for hydrologic and terrain analysis.