RFP 51 Addendum 1.pdf

February 13, 2024

ADDENDUM 1

TO: VENDORS

FROM: MICHELLE FAIRCLOTH, PROCUREMENT OFFICER

RE: REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: RLFPP 23 24 51

SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREA MAPPING AND COMBINATION PHASE I

ENVIRONMENT SITE ASSESSMENT / BASELINE DOCUMENTATION

REPORT SERVICES

This addendum is to provide answers to questions received in reference to this RFP.

Question / Answer

1. I Can we substitute a licensed landscape architect for an engineer or geologist?

13. The report shall be approved and certified by either a professional engineer or professional geologist licensed by the State of Florida or ASTM Certified Environmental Professional. (ESA) No. The report must be certified by someone with the listed credentials.

2. How should travel for site visits be budgeted?

Travel must be factored into the bid price.

3. Within the ASTM 1527 Standard, the procurement of the Chain of Title is a user responsibility unless indicated as an added non-scope item. Other state agencies have made this request under certain conditions.

a. Task 1 of the ESA/BDR assignment indicates that the Contractor shall “Search the recorded chain of title documents…”

i. Is the Department requesting that the Contractor procure a 50-year Chain of Title or just review the title which will be provided by the Department/End User?

Chain of Title will be provided by FDACS.

ii. Concern: Each parcel in a project will have a unique chain of title with a substantial additional cost based on the number of parcels that cannot be accounted for in the current fee schedule format.

4. Within the ASTM 1527 Standard Section 7.4 for Phase I ESA, This practice does not include any testing or sampling of materials (for example, soil, water, air, or building materials).

a. Task 10.e. of the ESA/BDR assignment during Property Investigation indicates “Organic Vapor Analysis of any conditions that would warrant this type of testing where there appears to be the presence of potentially hazardous materials should be performed.”

i. Is the Department specifying this as part of Phase I ESA or will it be assigned as a Task in Phase II ESA, where testing and sampling would typically be accomplished?

Sampling would be conducted in the field with a handheld unit only to determine what organic vapor is present for determination of the necessity of a Phase II ESA.

5. In the References Form F:

a. Does the Department want Form F in Volume I: Forms and Price Proposal or

Volume II: Technical Response/Relevant Experience?

ATTACHMENT F – REFERENCES/PAST PERFORMANCE should be included in Volume II: Technical Response/Relevant Experience.

b. Can current FDACS RFLPP project staff be used as a reference?

Volume II, B(a) specifies that references must be current or former clients of the Respondent.

c. Can former FDACS RFLPP staff be used as a reference?

Respondent.

d. Form F has space for four (4) references. Volume II Section B.a. specifies a minimum of three projects utilized as examples of relevant experience.

i. The following paragraph implies only three examples with contact information for the related clients entered on Form F.

ii. Does the Department desire the detailed examples to be limited to three?

Respondents must provide a detailed narrative of prior relevant experience…… To support this narrative, Respondents must provide contact information of clients listed in the detailed narrative on Attachment A – REFERENCES/PAST PERFORMANCE.

iii. If we provide greater than three project examples, does the Department desire contact information for each project’s client (multiple copies of Form F)?

Volume II, B(a) specifies that a “minimum” of three (3) projects must be included in the proposal.

6. Section 5.5 indicates rates may be increased annually after the first year, including any renewal year. This appears to conflict with Attachment A, the price sheet, which indicates the pricing for the 5-year term is fixed as is the 3-year renewal pricing. Please clarify if pricing can be increased annually.

Firms are required to submit a fixed price for the initial five (5) year term, and fixed price for the three (3) renewal years. Vendors are advised to anticipate all necessary costs for the initial term, and all term renewal(s), at the time of proposal submission. If, due to unforeseeable circumstances, there is a market price increase not anticipated at the time of proposal submission, the contractor may request an increase subject to Section 5.5 of the original RFP.

7. Volume II, Tab B: Relevant Experience, item a. second paragraph requests 3 customer references. Attachment F, References form requires 4 customer references. Please clarify whether 3 or 4 references are required.

Volume II, B(a) specifies that a “minimum” of three (3) projects must be included in the proposal.

8. Volume II, Tab B: Attachment F, References Form. Can FDACS be listed as a client reference?

Respondent. If the FDACS is a current or former client, it may be listed as a reference.

9. Pricing for chain-of-title and lien/AUL reports are calculated per parcel/deed. Since many properties may include multiple parcels/deeds, will the cost for extra parcel/deeds be billed separately? If not, is there a specific number of parcels/deeds FDACS believes should be assumed per acreage category in order to ensure the respondents pricing is comparable?

See answer to question 3.

10. Section 2.2.2, Subsection 10, item a, last sentence. This sentence states “all roadways and trails leading into the property” must be ground inspected. This appears to imply that internal roads and trails, i.e. those not leading into the property, do not require ground inspection. Is that interpretation accurate?

Internal roads will require an inspection conducted in a way to ensure coverage of the road network for the presence or likely presence of contaminants.

11. Please define subcontractors. Are they firms with which we might team with to submit a proposal? Or, are they firms to whom we might hire to perform services on sites?

One firm shall be listed on ATTACHMENT B – ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM as the primary respondent. All other firms, either partnered with or employed by, shall be considered subcontractors.

12. Do you wish to have the price sheet submitted in Excel or in PDF?

The Department will accept either the signed Excel sheet or PDF.

13. Please confirm that FDACS does not require a hard copy of Volume II.

Confirmed. USB Flash Drives are acceptable for Volume II. Volume I must have one (1) original hard copy and one (1) USB Flash Drive.

14. Will the final, surveyed land boundaries be available at the start of mapping/ESA/BDR tasks?

Final surveyed boundaries will not be available at the start of the project. FDACS will provide shapefiles with close approximation of the project boundary.

15. In addition to larger than normal tracts of land, will the Department also take into consideration the complexity of sites with many SNA communities during the Task Assignment process?

There will be no consideration for additional pricing for complex sites.

16. How many assessments does the Department estimate will be conducted in the first 5 years?

The number of projects is dependent on legislative funding for the program.

17. Will firms be “limited” to a region of the state?

Firms will not be limited to a region of the state unless they specifically ask to be limited.

18. Please confirm that invasive soil samples are not required as part of the Phase I ESA, and the required organic vapor analysis.

Soil samples are not required as part of this solicitation.

19. Should our costing include the cost of 50-yr title searches, or will that information be provided by the owner or Department?

20. Will this be a new contract or was there a previous contract for these services, and who are the incumbent firms?

This is a new FDACS contract.

21. Are we required to provide the 50-year chain-of-title report for each project, or will the chain-of-title documentation be provided by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP)?

22. What is the estimated project value annually and overall?

There is no estimate of project value available.

This Addendum is hereby incorporated into and made a part of the above noted RFP. All other terms, conditions, and specifications of this RFP will remain the same. For questions regarding this Addendum, please contact the Purchasing Office at email at Bids@FDACS.gov.

Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

Protests must be filed with the Agency Clerk, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Holland Building, 600 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

mailto:Bids@FDACS.gov http://www.leg.state.fl.us/STATUTES/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0100-0199/0120/Sections/0120.57.html