Non-Competitive_Oversight_Committee_Justification_Form.docx

This is a Non-Competitive Oversight Committee Justification Form related to Pinellas County's Request for Proposal for Concession Services—Luggage Cart Rental at St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport. The RFP seeks a qualified vendor to provide, operate, and maintain luggage cart rental services at an airport serving over 2.4 million passengers annually. Proposers must demonstrate a minimum of five years of continuous successful experience operating luggage cart rental services at a small hub or larger commercial service airport in the United States. The contract will commence on February 27, 2026, and continue for 60 months with options to extend up to two additional 12-month periods. A non-mandatory pre-conference and site visit are scheduled for November 17, 2025, with proposal submissions due by December 9, 2025. The evaluation process allocates 1,000 total points across six criteria: Qualifications (200 points), Background & Experience (100 points), Proposed Plan (200 points), Customer Service & Transition Approach (100 points), Proposed Financial Return to the County (300 points), and No Exceptions to the RFQ or Contract (100 points).

The airport currently pays the incumbent vendor, Bagport America, LLC, doing business as Smarte Carte, a flat fee of $500 per month regardless of revenues collected or costs incurred, a relationship that has existed since 2005. The vendor is responsible for supplying carts, holding racks, payment machines, and maintaining them in good operating condition throughout the agreement. The airport is seeking proposals that will enhance revenue while maintaining service quality. The financial proposal represents 30% of the total evaluation points, with the fee structure to be negotiated based on annual gross receipts using a tiered percentage-based concession fee schedule detailed in Attachment A. Proposers must complete mandatory affidavits including a Common Carrier Attestation, Foreign Countries of Concern Affidavit, and Human Trafficking Affidavit, which are standard requirements for Pinellas County contracts.