RFQ_25-05._Addenda_2.pdf

PUTNAM COUNTY

PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT

2509 CRILL AVE, STE 200

PALATKA, FL 32177

RFQ 25-05

Continuing Professional Services

Addenda # 2 January 27, 2025

TO ALL BIDDERS SUBMITTING A RESPONSE ON THIS PROJECT

The changes, additions, substitutions, and/or deletions contained in Addenda #2 are hereby made part of the Contract Documents fully and completely for this Bid.

1. Question:

One of the services listed under 1b is referred to as ‘Site Evaluations’. Could the County be more specific regarding what types of evaluations are being requested (i.e., threatened and endangered species, desktop surveys/evaluations, habitat evaluations, etc.)?

Answer:

Site evaluation could include wetland delineation, T&E studies, contamination plume plotting, or other studies that relate to analyzing the impact to improvements that may be proposed on a particular site.

2. Question:

Are there any minimum DBE participation percentages or goals that responding firms need to meet?

Answer:

DBE participation in not being considered in the grading of the RFQ responses.

3. Question:

Should DBE participation be documented solely through FDOT Form 375-030-83, or are there additional forms or certifications required?

Yes, through FDOT Form 375-030-83. No other forms are required.

4. Question:

Are there specific requirements for documenting subcontractor DBE commitments or ongoing compliance during the contract term?

No.

5. Question:

For this RFQ, should we include subconsultants or just show the qualifications we have in-house?

All subs should be listed in the RFQ. The intent is to have a complete services package for each discipline.

6. Question:

After attending the pre-submittal meeting on Thursday, it is our understanding that multiple disciplines can be included in one proposal rather than separate proposals for each discipline. Will each discipline require its own separate section or can multiple disciplines be included in one section divided by a header?

Answer:

If submitting for multiple disciplines, the firm may submit one RFQ response and identify which categories they are submitting for. It must be made clear to the County which disciplines are being submitted. Firms will only be considered for the disciplines they submit for.

7. Question:

Do you have an examples of Mitigation Planning and Designing as well as any examples of Environmental Sample Collection, and Evaluation projects that are usually requested?

Answer:

Mitigation Plan and Design would include work needed to support permitted impact of wetlands that may be present on a site or possibly for wildlife impacted by development. This may include onsite or offsite mitigation if purchasing of bank credits is not an option. Example projects may include boat ramps, docks, and roadway construction. Environmental sample collection, analysis, and evaluation may be required for projects on sites with contamination from chemical spills. Example projects may include development or expansions on County industrial properties or areas that may require cleanup or monitoring.

8. Question:

As currently worded, we believe that the indemnity provision located on page 33, Section 4 of the Hold Harmless and Indemnification Agreement, and Article 10 of the Sample Agreement on the RFQ is not in compliance with FL Statute 725.08 and is unenforceable. Would the County consider rewording same to conform with the statute and provide an updated form for signature in the issued addenda? Suggested language per FL Statutes 725.08: “The design professional shall indemnify and hold harmless the County, and its officers and employees, from liabilities, damages, losses, and costs, including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees, to the extent caused by the negligence, recklessness, or intentionally wrongful conduct of the design professional and other persons employed or utilized by the design professional in the performance of the contract.”

Answer:

See highlighted changes below:

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

The consultant, contractor, lessee, or vendor agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Putnam County BOCC, its officers, employees, agents and other representatives, individually and collectively from an against any and all claims, losses, etc. arising from injury to persons or damage to property as a result of any negligent act or omission of the consultant, contractor, lessee, or vendor. For purposes hereof, claims / liabilities shall mean, but are not limited to, any losses, damages (including loss of use), expenses, demands, claims, suits, proceedings, liabilities, judgments, deficiencies, assessments, actions, investigations, penalties, interest or obligations (including court costs, costs of preparation and investigation, reasonable attorneys’, accountants’ and other professional advisors’ fees and associated expenses), whether suit is instituted or not and, if instituted, at all tribunal levels and whether raised by the Parties hereto or a third party, incurred or suffered by the County Indemnities or any of them arising directly or indirectly from, in connection with, or as a result of (a) any false or inaccurate representation or warranty made by or on behalf of the Contractor in or pursuant to this RFQ and the Agreement; (b) any disputes, actions, or other Liabilities arising with respect to, or in connection with, compliance by the County with any Public Records laws (as hereinafter defined) with respect to the Contractor’s documents and materials; (c) any dispute, actions, or other liabilities arising in connection with the Contractor, the Contractor’s subcontractors, or their respective agents or employees or representatives otherwise sustained or incurred on or about the Premises; (d) any negligent act or omission of, or default or breach in the performance of any of the covenants or agreements made by the Contractor in or pursuant to this RFQ or the Contract executed in connection with this RFQ; and (e) any services provided by the Contractor, its employees, agents, or authorized representatives in connection with the performance of the Contract executed for this RFQ. This indemnification shall survive termination of the RFP and the contract executed in connection with the RFQ. The Contractor must acknowledge acceptance of the entire Indemnification Agreement.

ARTICLE 10 - INDEMNIFICATION

The CONSULTANT shall indemnify and save harmless and defend the COUNTY, its agents, servants, and employees from and against any claims, liability, losses, and/or causes of action which may arise from any negligent act or omission of the CONSULTANT, it agents, servants, or employees, or which otherwise arises in connection with, the performance of this Agreement.

The CONSULTANT further agrees to indemnify, save harmless and defend the COUNTY, its agents, servants and employees from and against any claim, demand, or cause of action included in the paragraph above and for which the COUNTY, its agents, servants, or employees are alleged to be liable

9. Question:

As currently worded in Article 5 of the Sample Agreement, the County is asking the Consultant to assume the highest professional standards in performing its work. While the Consultant is committed to serving its clients, we are only required to do so in accordance with the professional standard of care, which is the degree of care and skill ordinarily exercised by consultants performing the same or similar services in the same locality at the time the services are provided. The relationship currently described in the proposal exceeds the Standard of Care to be provided by Design Professionals.

Would the County consider modifying this language to comply with the foregoing language?

Answer:

See highlighted changes below:

ARTICLE 5 – PERSONNEL

The CONSULTANT represents that it has or will secure at its own expense all necessary personnel required to perform the services under this Agreement. Such personnel shall not be employees of or have any contractual relationship with the COUNTY.

All of the services required herein under shall be performed by the CONSULTANT or under its supervision, and all personnel engaged in performing the services shall be fully qualified and, if required, authorized or permitted under state and local law to perform such services.

The CONSULTANT warrants that all services shall be performed by skilled and competent personnel to the highest generally accepted professional standards in the field.

10. Question:

Can the County provide the Financial Project Number to complete FDOT Form 375-030-50 – Conflict of Interest Certification?

Answer:

There is no Financial Project Number since this is not for a specific project. The FPN can be left blank.

11. Question:

If we are submitting on more than one discipline, which sections should be duplicated in the RFQ?

Sections 3-6?

Answer:

If submitting for multiple disciplines, the firm may submit one RFQ response and identify which categories they are submitting for. It must be made clear to the County which disciplines are being submitted. Firms will only be considered for the disciplines they submit for.

12. Question:

Can we obtain copies of the previous winning submittals?

Answers:

The submittals from the previous RFQ can be found using the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jeiabg69q4w9cq7niijhr/AFXBq_wTQhlpaxbXLqLuO4w?rlkey=w8 p0fkh2t29y0h1ubpgkm4x7a&st=mva9borf&dl=0

13. Question:

For Section 4, can we give a minimum of three references for each discipline or are you looking for a total three references for all disciplines we pursue?

The County is requesting a minimum of three references specific to each discipline.

14. Question:

Is this RFQ inclusive of Land Surveying and Subsurface Utility?

Yes, discipline 1(d) should include land survey and subsurface if the company offers it.

15. Question:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jeiabg69q4w9cq7niijhr/AFXBq_wTQhlpaxbXLqLuO4w?rlkey=w8p0fkh2t29y0h1ubpgkm4x7a&st=mva9borf&dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jeiabg69q4w9cq7niijhr/AFXBq_wTQhlpaxbXLqLuO4w?rlkey=w8p0fkh2t29y0h1ubpgkm4x7a&st=mva9borf&dl=0

If a firm submits qualifications for multiple work categories and presentations are requested, will the firm be required to give a separate presentation for each work category?

If presentations are requested for each work category, will all the presentations be held on Friday, March 14th? Would the final evaluation also be held on March 14th?

Answer:

Firms submitting for more than one work category and selected for a presentation will only be required to present once and for the work category specified for the presentation. The County will not ask a firm to present for more than one work category.

All presentations, if requested, will be scheduled for Friday, March 14th with a Final Evaluation Meeting following all presentations on the same day.

16. Question:

What codes are you looking for in terms of Type of Work for this form?

Type of Work should be left blank since there is no particular project at this time.

17. Question:

Are we required to fill out the FDOT EOC website for this pursuit? If so, what would the number/ID be in the EOC system?

No.