Rate_Consultant_RFP_a.docx

SCOPE OF SERVICES

The City of Tampa is soliciting proposals from qualified and experienced firms to provide assistance in water, wastewater, solid waste and other rate advisory financial services. The selected firm will be expected to perform upon the issuance of periodic task orders for such services as assistance in budgeting and forecasting, rate making, management accounting assistance, financing activities assistance, financial analysis of systems, as well as other tasks as may be deemed necessary by the County.

Tasks may include, but will not be limited to:

· Review and redesign as considered necessary based on cost of services and recovery principals, the potable water, wastewater and reuse rates, solid waste disposal and collection fees, stormwater fees, impact fees, fees for general services, including but not limited to; fire service, parks and recreation, planning, zoning and building, and other charges.

· Prepare statistics and projections of potable water, wastewater, solid waste, stormwater and other programs including number of customers and usage and generation rate, for planning and rate evaluation services.

· Separately project annual revenue requirements for potable water, wastewater, solid waste, stormwater and other programs, for planning and rate evaluation services.

· Review and design as considered necessary, appropriate fees for other miscellaneous services as provided by water and wastewater utility systems.

· Investigate and develop potential wholesale water, wastewater and reclaimed water rates associated with the provision of such type of service.

· Review operations of the water and wastewater utility, solid waste and stormwater systems to determine if additional services, charges and revenue enhancements are appropriate.

· Perform financial sensitivity analyses on utility operations taking into account such factors as capital program implementation, regulatory changes and other such issues that may cause a need to review financial operations.

· Review the prevailing connection (capital facility) fees and capital cost recovery programs in light of the projected expansion and unused existing capacity. Develop new charges to recover the capital investment require to accommodate growth and provide for future adjustments to the charges.

· Perform financial due diligence activities related to the acquisition of utility and solid waste systems or service areas.

· Provide assistance in development of utility and solid waste contracts including, but not limited to, rate ordinances and resolutions, bulk service agreements, franchise agreements, acquisition contracts, extension and development agreements, reclaimed water usage agreements, and inter- local agreements between the County and other public agencies. Services may involve drafting agreements, review of documents, negotiations among affected parties and performance of economic analyses required for evaluation.

· Provide assistance in strategic planning activities.

· Provide assistance in the preparation of loan documents.

· Preparation of financial feasibility reports in support of the issuance of revenue bonds, including preparation for and attendance of presentations before rating agencies, bond insurance companies, potential investors and purchasers of instruments of debt, and other required parties.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Proposer must have performed similar services for the past (5) five years of the scope and nature required by this RFP.

2. The proposer must have sufficient staff and computer technology ability to handle the proposed workload described herein in a timely manner.

3. If sub-contractor service is proposed, verification of qualifications shall be submitted with proposal.

Proposers that do not meet the meet the minimum qualifications and do not provide the required past project references may be deemed “non-responsive” and/or “non-responsible”.

CONTRACT

The maximum total value of this contract shall not exceed $1,000,000 over the life of the contract (question – is the $600,000 for the initial three years? Or would it include the two optional years for a total of five years?).

The Term of the Contract shall be for a period of three (3) years provided both parties are in agreement and there are no changes to the terms and conditions. The City shall reserve the right to terminate the Contract in accordance with the provisions under the Terms & Conditions herein. The contract may be renewed for two additional 1-year