RFQ REDM2627-01 - AE for FL 6th DCA.pdf

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 1 RFQ REDM2627-01 (Rev. 07/2026)

Division of Real Estate Development and Management 4050 Esplanade Way

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0950 850-488-2786

Ron DeSantis, Governor Tom Berger, Secretary

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

ARCHITECTURAL-ENGINEERING SERVICES

DATE: October 19, 2026

RFQ NUMBER: RFQ REDM2627-01

PROJECT NUMBER: JB-02505000

PROJECT NAME: Architect-Engineering Services for the State of Florida Sixth District Court of Appeals – New Courthouse

LOCATION: 4165 Lakeland Hills Boulevard, Lakeland, Florida 33805

Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes (F.S.), or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, F.S. Any protest concerning an agency decision or intended decision must be timely filed with the Agency Clerk. Protests may be filed by courier, hand delivery, or regular mail at: Department of Management Services, Office of the General Counsel, Attention: Agency Clerk, 4050 Esplanade Way, Suite 160, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0950. Protests may also be filed by fax at 850-922- 6312, or by email at agencyclerk@dms.fl.gov. It is the filing party's responsibility to meet all filing deadlines.

mailto:agencyclerk@dms.fl.gov

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 2 RFQ REDM2627-01 (Rev. 09/2026)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS

SECTION 2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION & PROJECT SCOPE

SECTION 3 TIMELINE OF EVENTS

SECTION 4 PROCUREMENT LIASON

SECTION 5 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

SECTION 6 ADDENDA TO THE RFQ

SECTION 7 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

7.1 Timeliness

7.2 Response Package

7.3 Response Contents

7.4 Confidential Information

SECTION 8 DEPARTMENT’S RIGHTS TO REJECT RESPONSES

SECTION 9 MANDATORY RESPONSIVENESS

SECTION 10 PRELIMINARY SCREENING

10.1 Preliminary Screening by Procurement Liaison

10.2 Preliminary Evaluation by Selection Committee

10.3 Preliminary Evaluation Scoring

10.4 Preliminary Ranking

SECTION 11 INTERVIEWS & PRESENTATIONS

11.1 Presentation and Interview Process

11.2 Presentation and Interview Evaluation by the Selection Committee

11.3 Scoring Post-Presentation/Interview

SECTION 12 SELECTION POSTING

SECTION 13 ARCHITECT-ENGINEER AGREEMENT

SECTION 14 DISABILITY ACCESS

SECTION 15 OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 3 RFQ REDM2627-01

SECTION 1 DEFINITIONS

Capitalized terms used herein have the following meanings:

AE Firm: An individual, partnership, corporation, company, or other legal entity that submits a Response to an RFQ and that is authorized under Florida law to practice one or more of the following: engineering pursuant to section 471.023, F.S.; architecture pursuant to section 481.219, F.S.; or landscape architecture pursuant to section 481.319, F.S.

Architect-Engineer Agreement: The draft agreement attached to this RFQ as Attachment C in substantially similar form to the agreement expected to be executed between the Department and the awarded Respondent.

Architect-Engineer Qualification Statement Form: The Architect-Engineer Qualification Statement form attached to this RFQ as Attachment B.

Contract: The Architect-Engineer Agreement between the Department and the awarded Respondent that results from this RFQ for the Project identified on the title page of this RFQ.

Department: The Florida Department of Management Services.

Division: The Department’s Division of Real Estate Development and Management.

Project: The specific project identified on the title page and further described in Section 2, below.

Respondent: See definition above for AE Firm.

Response: The document(s) submitted by a Respondent in response to this RFQ.

RFQ: This Request for Qualifications, which includes any addenda issued by the Department and all of the following attachments:

• Attachment A, Mandatory Responsive Requirements

• Attachment B, Architect-Engineer Qualifications Statement Form

• Attachment C, Example Architect-Engineer Agreement

• Attachment D, Form PUR 2024, Use of Coercion for Forced Labor or Services

State: The State of Florida.

VIP: The Vendor Information Portal, available here: https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/.

SECTION 2 GENERAL DESCRIPTION & PROJECT SCOPE

The Department is issuing this RFQ to obtain an AE Firm for the Project identified on the title page and further described below.

AE Firms responding to this RFQ should have relevant successful experience with projects of similar size, scope, and complexity to the Project. Relevant experience may include the design and construction administration for new construction, remodeling and/or repair of existing occupied buildings including tenant improvements, building system upgrades, re-glazing, waterproofing exterior building envelopes, and other services relevant to the Project.

The Project consists of architectural, engineering, site development, permitting, bidding/GMP support and construction administration services for a new State of Florida Sixth District Court of Appeal courthouse on the approximately 5.30-acre State-owned parcel at 4165 Lakeland Hills Boulevard in Lakeland, Florida.

https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 4 RFQ REDM2627-01

Grace Design Studios’ September 30, 2026 Programming & Pre-Design Report—including its Preliminary Site Concept Plan, Test Fit Plans (including identified square footage), and Image Concepts—anticipates appellate courtroom and support space; judicial chambers and staff offices; a Clerk’s Office, a Marshal’s Office, and related functions; secured and public circulation; technology/security systems; and approximately 120 total parking spaces (20 secure covered judicial, 50 staff and 50 public).

However, Grace Design Studios’ September 30, 2026 Programming & Pre-Design Report—including its Preliminary Site Concept Plan, Test Fit Plans (including identified square footage), and Image Concepts— is FOR REFERENCE ONLY. The selected AE Firm will be responsible for designing an innovative courthouse, including the security, technological, operational, and other needs for a modern state appellate court, as well as designing for the anticipated court’s future needs to promote flexibility in the design and use of space to accommodate those needs as they change. The selected AE Firm will be required to interface with the Department and the Court Appointed Construction Committee for all aspects of the design, which shall remain subject to the Department’s and the Construction Committee’s approval.

AE Firms responding to this RFQ should be aware that section 35.05, Florida Statutes, provides for district courts to “operate as efficiently as possible through the use of leading technologies and by adopting policies and practices that encourage innovation and workforce flexibility.” Thus, an innovative courthouse may not require, for example, a traditional judicial chambers model where a judge's office is connected to the offices of their staff attorneys/judicial assistant. Instead, a judge and their staff attorneys/judicial assistant may work in person, remote, or hybrid, and the central staff attorneys may work in person, remote, or hybrid. The Sixth District Court of Appeal’s judges are currently accustomed to working out of office space that does not reflect a traditional appellate judge chambers model. The Clerk’s office staff and the Marshal’s office staff ordinarily work in person at the courthouse.

The requested work will encompass, but is not limited to:

• Schematic Design;

• Design Development;

• Construction Documents;

• Bidding Support for the Construction Manager At Risk (CMAR); and

• Construction Administration.

The selected AE Firm will work closely with the CMAR to establish a constructible design that is within the State’s allocated budget. The CMAR will be responsible for preparing estimates for the three design phases.

The selected AE Firm Architect-Engineer will be required to prepare documents to support at least three Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) submittals:

• Site and Foundation;

• Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) and Envelope;

• Remaining Exterior and Interior.

The selected AE Firm will be expected to include site analysis costs during early design, including, but not limited to, advanced site-specific geotechnical investigation, floodplain validation, wetlands delineation and mitigation review, stormwater and drainage validation, and necessary land and environmental surveys.

The selected AE Firm shall initiate early coordination with the Southwest Florida Water Management District regarding Environmental Resource Permitting and related site constraints, and support reviews by the State Fire Marshal, City of Lakeland, and other applicable Authorities Having Jurisdiction. The existing completed Programming & Pre-Design Report will be used as the reference basis; new programming is excluded.

The Construction Budget for this Project is $53,500,000.00.

Note: The desired building areas may change based on estimates and site constraints.

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Using the evaluation criteria set forth in Sections 10 and 11 of this RFQ, the Department will assess the qualifications of each Respondent based on the scoring categories identified in this RFQ considering all factors set forth in section 287.055, F.S.

AE Firms are advised that plans and specifications for architectural projects may be reused when updated in accordance with all applicable codes and standards pursuant to section 287.055(10), F.S.

In the event of a conflict between the documents comprising this RFQ, the conflict will be resolved in the following order of priority (highest to lowest):

1. Any addenda to this RFQ issued by the Department (in reverse order of issuance)

2. This RFQ document

3. All other attachments to this RFQ

SECTION 3 TIMELINE OF EVENTS

The table below contains the Timeline of Events for this RFQ. AE Firms responding to this RFQ shall become familiar with the Timeline of Events.

The dates and times within the Timeline of Events are subject to change. All changes to the Timeline of Events will be made through an addendum to this RFQ on the VIP website. It is the AE Firm’s responsibility to check for any changes.

AE Firms are responsible for submitting all required documentation by the dates and times (Eastern Time) specified below (or as revised by addenda.)

EVENT EVENT DATE EVENT TIME

RFQ posted to the VIP website. October 20, 2026

Deadline to submit questions to the Procurement Liaison.

October 27, 2026 By 5:00 PM

Anticipated posting of answers to questions to the VIP website.

November 3, 2026 By 5:00 PM

Deadline to submit a Response to the Department. December 3, 2026 By 5:00 PM

Anticipated posting of the list of Respondents selected for an interview and presentation to the VIP website.

January 12, 2027

Respondent interviews and presentations. January 28, 2027 Anticipated posting of selection committee’s recommended selection to the VIP website.

February 2, 2027

Anticipated Contract start date. March 2, 2027

SECTION 4 PROCUREMENT LIAISON

The following Procurement Liaison is the sole point of contact for this RFQ:

Procurement Liaison Department of Management Services Division of Real Estate Development and Management 4050 Esplanade Way, Suite 315.5Y Tallahassee, Florida 32399 REDMProcurement@dms.fl.gov mailto:REDMProcurement@dms.fl.gov

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 6 RFQ REDM2627-01

***ALL EMAILS TO THE PROCUREMENT LIAISON SHOULD CONTAIN THE RFQ

NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE EMAIL.***

RESPONDENTS TO THIS RFQ OR PERSONS ACTING ON THEIR BEHALF MAY NOT

CONTACT, BETWEEN THE RELEASE OF THE RFQ AND THE END OF THE 72-

HOUR PROTEST PERIOD FOLLOWING THE DEPARTMENT POSTING THE

NOTICE OF INTENDED AWARD, EXCLUDING SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS AND STATE

HOLIDAYS, ANY EMPLOYEE OR OFFICER OF THE EXECUTIVE OR LEGISLATIVE

BRANCH CONCERNING ANY ASPECT OF THIS RFQ, EXCEPT IN WRITING TO THE

PROCUREMENT LIAISON OR AS PROVIDED IN THIS RFQ. VIOLATION OF THIS

PROVISION MAY BE GROUNDS FOR REJECTING A RESPONSE.

The Procurement Liaison is the SOLE POINT OF CONTACT for this RFQ, and violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a response. Contact shall be in writing and if submitted by email shall be addressed to REDMProcurement@dms.fl.gov.

If an AE Firm or prospective AE Firm claims that any portion of an email is trade secret under section 688.002, F.S. or otherwise confidential under Florida or federal Law, such AE Firm shall place the word “confidential” in the subject line and otherwise comply with Section 7.4 below.

SECTION 5 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Any questions from prospective AE Firms concerning the RFQ shall be submitted in writing, identifying the AE Firm and RFQ number, to the Procurement Liaison by email at REDMProcurement@dms.fl.gov no later than the date and time specified in section 3, Timeline of Events, above. The Department’s answers to written questions will be posted on the VIP website. Questions will not constitute a formal protest of the specifications of the solicitation. Answers to questions do not themselves constitute addenda to this RFQ.

Information will not be available by phone. The Department will not be bound by, and Respondents shall not rely on, any representations made outside of this RFQ and any written answers posted to the VIP website by the Department.

SECTION 6 ADDENDA TO THE RFQ

The Department reserves the right to modify this RFQ by issuing addenda posted on the VIP website.

Addenda may modify any aspect of this RFQ. It is the AE Firm’s responsibility to check the VIP website for information and updates to the RFQ. The Department bears no responsibility for any delays or resulting impacts, associated with an AE Firm’s failure to obtain the information made available through the VIP website.

SECTION 7 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

7.1 Timeliness

Responses must be delivered to the Department’s mailing address listed in Section 4, Procurement Liaison, by the date and time listed in Section 3, Timeline of Events.

The Department’s time/date stamp will serve as the official authority to determine timeliness of the Responses. Responses which, for any reason, are not timely received will not be considered. Late Responses will be declared non-responsive and will not be further evaluated. Responses received by e-mail, facsimile transmission, or other similar means not in conformance with the instructions of this RFQ are not acceptable and will be declared non-responsive and will not be further evaluated.

Respondents are responsible for the content and accuracy of their Responses. A Respondent may submit a written request to the Procurement Liaison to withdraw its Response at any time prior to the Response due date and time set forth in Section 3 (Timeline of Events) of this RFQ.

mailto:REDMProcurement@dms.fl.gov

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 7 RFQ REDM2627-01

7.2 Response Package

The Respondent shall provide the following on a USB flash drive:

a. One (1) electronic copy of the entire Response in .pdf format; and

b. If applicable, one (1) electronic redacted copy (redacted in accordance with Section 7.4, below) of the entire Response in .pdf format.

Electronic copies must be non-restricted, meaning they can be saved and shared for retention and evaluation purposes. If an electronic copy is restricted, and therefore unable to be saved or shared with selection committee members, the Respondent may be deemed non-responsive.

7.3 Response Contents

Respondent shall include all of the following in its Response. To ensure the Department is able to verify that all required documents have been submitted, it is recommended that the Response’s table of contents and tabbed sections be in the order set forth below.

(1) Letter of Interest. A letter of interest detailing the Respondent’s qualifications including but not limited to related experience, the Respondent’s ability to do the work, and the Respondent’s ability to meet the evaluation criteria set forth herein. The letter of interest should include the Respondent’s:

a. Name;

b. Main Office Address;

c. Contact person;

d. Telephone number; and

e. Email address

The Respondent must provide a verifiable address for an established office location where employees regularly work. P.O. boxes, mail drops, storage units, virtual offices and similar locations do not constitute an office location for purposes of this RFQ. The Department reserves the right to request additional information or documentation to verify the Respondent’s office location and the presence of employees at that location. Failure to provide a verifiable address or requested information may result in a finding of non-responsive.

(2) Professional License. Proof of Respondent’s current architecture license issued under Chapter 481, F.S., and/or engineering license issued under Chapter 471, F.S.

(3) Department of State Registration. The Respondent must be properly registered with the Florida Department of State and must provide proof of its current Florida registration.

(4) Architecture-Engineer Qualification Statement. The Respondent shall complete and submit

Attachment B, Architect-Engineer Qualification Statement Form, attached to this RFQ.

(5) Photos of Example Projects. The Respondent shall include one or more photographs of each example project listed in Section F, Part I of the Architectural-Engineer Qualification Statement Form. Photographs shall be actual photographs of the completed projects and shall accurately depict the Respondent’s work on the projects. AI-generated images, AI-enhanced images that materially alter the design or appearance of the project, or other images that do not represent the actual completed project shall not be submitted as photographs of the projects.

(6) SIGNED Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements Form. The Respondent shall complete and sign Attachment A, Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements.

Respondents must submit all of the above requested information and documentation to be considered responsive. The Department will perform the initial responsiveness check. Responses found to be non-responsive will not be evaluated.

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 8 RFQ REDM2627-01

The Department reserves the right to redact, omit, or instruct members of the selection committee to disregard any portions of a Response which the Department determines are outside of the scope of this RFQ. The Respondent’s Response may not contain any conditions or exceptions to any aspect of this RFQ.

Further information on how the Department will evaluate the information provided by the Respondent in its Response is set forth below in Section 10.

7.4 Confidential Information

All materials submitted in response to this RFQ will be a public record subject to the provisions of Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, unless exempt from disclosure by law. If a Respondent considers any portion of the documents, data or records submitted in response to this RFQ to be confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, the Florida Constitution, or other authority (“Confidential Information”), an AE Firm must mark the applicable portion of the document as “Confidential” and simultaneously provide the Department with a separate .pdf redacted copy of its response to this RFQ. For each portion redacted, the AE Firm must briefly describe in writing the grounds for claiming exemption from the public records law, including the specific statutory citation(s) for such exemption(s). This redacted copy shall contain the Department’s RFQ number and the AE Firm’s name on the cover and shall be clearly titled “Redacted Copy.” The redacted copy must only redact those portions of material that the AE Firm claims are Confidential Information. In the event of a request for public records pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, the Florida Constitution or other authority, to which documents that are marked as confidential are responsive, the Department will provide the redacted copy to the requestor. If the AE Firm fails to submit a redacted copy of information it claims is confidential, the Department is authorized to produce the entire documents, data, or records submitted to the Department in answer to a public records request for these records.

If a requestor asserts a right to the redacted Confidential Information, the Department will notify the AE Firm that such an assertion has been made. It is the AE Firm’s responsibility to take the appropriate legal action to assert that the information in question is exempt from disclosure under Chapter 119, F.S., or other applicable law. If the Department becomes subject to a demand for discovery or disclosure of documents that are marked as “confidential” in a legal proceeding, the Department will give the AE Firm notice of the demand or request. It will be the AE Firm’s responsibility to take the appropriate legal action in response to the demand and to defend its claims of confidentiality. If the AE Firm fails to take appropriate and timely action to protect the materials it has designated as Confidential Information, the Department will provide the unredacted materials to the requester. By submitting a response, the AE Firm agrees to protect, defend, and indemnify the Department for all claims arising from or relating to the AE Firm’s determination that the redacted portions of its response are Confidential Information. If an AE Firm fails to submit a redacted copy in accordance with this section of information it claims is Confidential Information the Department is authorized to produce the entirety of the material submitted to the Department in response to a public records request for, or demand for discovery or disclosure of, these records.

7.5 Independent Preparation

A Respondent shall not, directly, or indirectly, collude, consult, communicate, or agree with any other Respondent as to any matter related to the Response each is submitting. Additionally, a Respondent shall not induce any other Respondent to modify, withdraw, submit, or not submit a Response.

7.6 False or Erroneous Information

A Respondent who submits false or erroneous information may be deemed non-responsible, non-responsive, and/or not awarded a Contract. If the Respondent’s Response is found to contain false or erroneous information after Contract award, the Contract may be terminated, and the Department may pursue any other legal action available.

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 9 RFQ REDM2627-01

SECTION 8 DEPARTMENT’S RIGHTS TO REJECT RESPONSES

The Department may reject any Response not submitted in the manner specified by this RFQ.

Responses that do not meet all requirements, specifications, terms, and conditions of the RFQ or fail to provide all required information, documents, or materials may be rejected as non-responsive. AE Firms whose responses, references, or current status do not reflect the capability, integrity, or reliability to fully and in good faith perform the requirements of the Contract may be rejected as non-responsible.

The Department reserves the right to determine which AE Firms are responsive and responsible. If an AE Firm selected for an interview and presentation fails to attend the scheduled interview and presentation without providing at least 24-hour advance written notification to the Procurement Liaison, the AE Firm may be deemed non-responsive.

In this RFQ, the words “shall” and “must” indicate mandatory requirements. The words “should” or “may” indicate desirable attributes or conditions but are permissive in nature. Where language indicates that the attribute or condition is mandatory, the Department still reserves the right to waive any minor irregularity if the Department determines that it is in the best interest of the State to do so.

A deviation from a requirement or condition is material if, in the Department’s discretion, it provides a substantial advantage to one AE Firm over another or has a potentially significant effect on the quality of the Response or on the cost to the State.

At any time before selection, the Department reserves the right to seek clarifications or request any information deemed necessary for proper evaluation of submissions. Failure to provide requested information may result in rejection of the Response.

SECTION 9 MANDATORY RESPONSIVENESS

The Department will not evaluate Responses from Respondents that do not meet all mandatory responsiveness requirements listed in Attachment A to this RFQ.

The Department will perform an initial responsiveness check. Responses found to be non-responsive will not be evaluated or considered for award. The Department reserves the right to act upon information discovered during and after the initial responsiveness check impacting the responsibility or responsiveness of the AE Firm, including revising such AE Firm’s responsible or responsive designation, rejection of such AE Firm’s Response, or terminating any executed Contract with such AE Firm.

Non-Responsive AE Firms will be notified by posting on VIP, along with the list of AE Firms selected for an interview/presentation.

SECTION 10 PRELIMINARY SCREENING

The Department shall evaluate all Responses submitted by responsive Respondents. Selection of Respondents for interview and presentation will be made based on the AE Firm’s Response to this RFQ which will be evaluated and assessed using the evaluation criteria and point values set forth below in accordance with section 287.055, F.S.

10.1 Preliminary Screening by Procurement Liaison

a. Location to Proposed Project: The Procurement Liaison will review the address of the AE Firm’s Main Office listed in the Letter of Interest required in Section 7.3 of this RFQ. The distance will be calculated in highway miles between AE’s Firms Main Office address listed in Section 7.3 and the Project Location as listed on page 1 of this RFQ. Points will be assigned based on the Miles from Project Site using the following point scale:

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 10 RFQ REDM2627-01

Location Table Miles from the Project Rating 000-100 10 101-200 9 201-300 8 301-400 7 401-500 6 501-600 5 601-700 4 701-800 3 801-900 2 901-1,000 1 1,001 + 0

10.2 Preliminary Evaluation by Selection Committee

Independently, the selection committee members will review the information contained in each responsive Response. For each responsive AE Firm, the selection committee members will individually review and assign a score from zero (0) to twenty-five (25) points for each of the following categories:

a. Relevant Design Experience (25 points)

b. Ability to Perform Contract Delivery (25 points)

10.3 Preliminary Evaluation Scoring

The following scoring scale shall be used by each selection committee member when reviewing and evaluating each category of an AE Firm’s Response:

25 = A+

ABOVE EXPECTATION 23 = A

21 = A- 19 = B+

MEETS EXPECTATION 17 = B

15 = B- 14 = C+

BELOW EXPECTATION 13 = C

12 = C-

0 (ZERO) NON-COMPLIANT

10.4 Preliminary Ranking

Upon performing the preliminary evaluation scoring for each responsive AE Firm, each selection committee member will submit their individual scores to the Procurement Liaison. The Procurement Liaison will average each AE Firm’s points from all selection committee members for each criterion and total such averages to obtain the AE Firm’s total preliminary screening score. Pursuant to section 287.055, F.S., at least three AE Firms, or all AE Firms if fewer than three submit Responses, shall be selected for an interview and presentation based on the firms’ total preliminary scores.

The preliminary screening score will be used solely to determine which AE Firms advance to the interview and presentation stage. Preliminary screening scores will not be added to or otherwise combined with interview and presentation scores for purposes of the final ranking, unless expressly stated otherwise in this

RFQ.

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Official notice of the list of AE Firms selected for an interview and presentation, along with the Department’s finding of AE Firm(s) non-responsive, will be posted electronically on the VIP website. The Department reserves the right to amend, after posting on the VIP website, the notice containing the list of selected AE Firms and determinations of non-responsiveness.

SECTION 11 INTERVIEWS & PRESENTATIONS

11.1 Presentation and Interview Process

The list of Respondents selected for an interview and presentation based on the total preliminary screening scores will be posted on the VIP website. The selection committee will conduct recorded interviews and presentations with the selected AE Firms regarding their past performance, approach and methodology to the Project, and understanding of program and requirements including the RFQ, Scope, and Contract requirements . The selection committee will not consider or be bound by the preliminary screening scores during the interviews/presentations.

Each invitee will be notified by the Procurement Liaison via email of the date and time of the scheduled interview and presentation. Interviews and presentations may be held by virtual meeting or in person. Each AE Firm shall identify, in real time, any portions of the interview and presentation that contain references to materials and/or information the AE Firm considers confidential, proprietary, trade secret, or otherwise not subject to disclosure to the public. The AE Firm is responsible for defending its determination that the portions of the interview and presentation are exempt and not subject to disclosure. The AE Firm must provide the Procurement Liaison with a copy of the AE Firm’s presentation no later than twenty-four (24) hours following scheduled the interview and presentation.

11.2 Presentation and Interview Evaluation by the Selection Committee The factors to be considered in the determination of whether an AE Firm is qualified under section 287.055, F.S., are set forth below and the selection committee’s assigned scores of an AE Firm’s interview and presentation will be utilized to select AE Firms deemed to be most highly qualified to perform the required services in order of preference. The evaluation criteria for the interview and presentations are as follows:

a. Past Performance (20 points)

b. Understanding Program & Requirements (20 points)

c. Approach & Methodology (20 points)

Each Selection Committee member will independently evaluate and score each AE Firm based upon the information presented and discussed during the interview and presentation.

Due to the complexity of certain procurements, selection committee members are authorized to consult with subject matter experts for the purpose of gathering information.

11.3 Scoring Post-Presentation/Interview

The Selection Committee members will independently review and rate the information presented during the AE Firm’s presentation and interview using the following point scale(s):

20 = A+ ABOVE

EXPECTATION 19 = A

18 = A

17 = B+ MEETS

EXPECTATION 16 = B

15 = B

14 = C+ BELOW

EXPECTATION 13 = C

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12 = C-

0 (ZERO) NON-COMPLIANT

The Procurement Liaison will average each AE Firm’s points from all selection committee members for each criterion and add the averages of each criterion to obtain the AE Firm’s total presentation and interview score. The order of preference of AE Firms deemed most highly qualified to perform the services will be based on the AE Firm’s total presentation and interview score.

SECTION 12 SELECTION POSTING

Official notice of the recommended selection of the AE Firm(s) deemed to be the most highly qualified to perform the required services will be posted electronically on the VIP website.

The Department reserves the right to:

1. Execute a Contract with the AE Firm determined to be the most highly qualified upon completion of negotiations pursuant to section 287.055(5), F.S.;

2. Execute a Contract with the next most highly qualified AE Firm upon completion of negotiations pursuant to section 287.055(5), F.S., in the event that the Department is unable to contract with the initially awarded AE Firm;

3. Amend, after posting on the VIP website, the notice containing the recommended selection of AE Firms;

4. Reject all Responses and determine whether to reissue a competitive solicitation; and

5. Withdraw or cancel the RFQ and not execute a Contract.

Following the posting of the recommended selection and completion of any applicable protest period, the Department will negotiate with the AE Firm determined to be the most highly qualified in accordance with section 287.055(5), F.S. Following negotiations, the selected AE Firm will be asked to execute a Contract in the form of Attachment C, Architect-Engineer Agreement.

If the Department is unable to successfully negotiate a Contract with the selected AE Firm, the Department may terminate negotiations and proceed to negotiate with the next-ranked AE Firm in the order of preference in accordance with section 287.055(5), F.S.

SECTION 13 ARCHITECT-ENGINEER AGREEMENT

Upon successful completion of negotiations, the selected AE Firm shall execute a Contract. By submitting a Response, the AE Firm acknowledges and agrees that it has read and understands all terms and conditions in the Architect-Engineer Agreement and that, if selected, it will execute the Architect-Engineer Agreement without exception or modification unless otherwise allowed at the Department’s discretion.

Prior to executing a Contract, the selected AE Firm will be required to submit its overhead multiplier as directed by the Procurement Liaison and a signed copy of Attachment D, Form PUR2024, Use of Coercion for Forced Labor or Services. The approved overhead multiplier will be incorporated in the Contract.

No Contract shall be formed between a Respondent and the Department until both parties execute the Architect-Engineer Agreement. The Department shall not be liable for any costs incurred by a Respondent in preparing and producing a Response or for any work performed before the Architect-Engineer Agreement is effective.

The Department has the right to use any ideas or adaptations of the ideas presented in any Response;

selection or rejection of a Response will not affect this right.

SECTION 14 DISABILITY ACCESS

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and in accordance with section 286.26, F.S., any person requiring special accommodations to participate in a scheduled public meeting at which official acts are to be taken is asked to advise the Department at least 48 hours before the meeting by

RFQ – Architectural-Engineering Services 13 RFQ REDM2627-01 contacting the Procurement Liaison at 850-487-9929. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the Department using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

SECTION 15 OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The Respondent shall disclose with its Response the name of any officer, director, employee or other agent who is also an employee of the State. The Respondent shall also disclose the name of any State employee who owns, directly or indirectly, an interest of five percent (5%) or more in the Respondent or its affiliates.

Respondent understands and shall comply with section 20.055(5), F.S., regarding cooperating with the inspector general in any investigation, audit, inspection, review, or hearing pursuant to section 20.055, F.S.