State_Lobbying_Services.pdf

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,

WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

For

State Lobbying Services

RFQ NO: 25-28

Introduction

PURPOSE:

The County has issued this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) with the sole purpose and intent of obtaining Statements of Qualification (SOQ) from interested and qualified firms or individuals

(Consultants) offering to provide State Lobbying Services, in accordance with the specifications stated herein.

Scope of Services

Scope Overview

Responsibilities

The Consultant will represent the Walton County Board of County Commissioners (“County”) and the Walton County Tourist Development Council (“TDC”) before the Florida Legislature, including its committees, state agencies, the Governor’s Office, and the Florida Cabinet. The primary objectives are to advance the County’s legislative priorities, secure state funding for identified projects and programs, and protect the County’s interests in pending legislation and regulatory matters.

The Consultant shall:

• Advocate for County/TDC priorities – Promote legislative and funding initiatives that align with adopted priorities, while opposing measures that would negatively impact the

County.

• Provide timely legislative intelligence – Monitor proposed legislation, administrative actions, and funding opportunities, providing early alerts on matters that could impact the

County’s interests.

• Facilitate strategic engagement – Arrange and participate in meetings with legislators, state officials, and key stakeholders to advance County objectives.

• Coordinate with County staff and leadership – Maintain regular communication with the

County Administrator or designee to ensure alignment of efforts and messaging.

• Coordinate with other County consultants (e.g., federal lobbying firms, grant writers, or subject matter experts) to ensure a unified advocacy strategy.

• Support funding pursuits – Identify, track, and assist in securing state appropriations, grants, and other funding opportunities for County and TDC projects.

• Consultant must comply with all state lobbying registration and reporting requirements under Florida Statutes Chapter 11.045.

Revisions

The Consultant shall adapt strategies and priorities as directed by the County Administrator or designee who may revise or adjust lobbying priorities and strategies during the contract term as new information emerges, or legislative conditions change. The Consultant shall be flexible in adapting work plans accordingly.

Requirements (Included but Not Limited To)

The Consultant shall:

• Attend legislative committee meetings, state agency hearings, and other relevant proceedings, as necessary, to monitor and advocate for County/TDC positions.

• Provide weekly legislative updates during session, including bill tracking, hearing schedules, and key developments affecting the County/TDC.

• Provide monthly reports during the interim period summarizing lobbying activities, legislative trends, and emerging opportunities or threats.

• Prepare and deliver a comprehensive post-session report detailing legislative outcomes, funding secured, and recommendations for the next cycle.

• Pursue and assist in securing major funding opportunities, including legislative appropriations and competitive grant programs.

• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of County/TDC priorities, projects, and policy objectives to effectively represent these interests in Tallahassee.

• Coordinate and assist in scheduling meetings for County Commissioners, TDC representatives, and staff with legislators, agency heads, and other key decision-makers.

• Serve as a liaison with the County’s congressional delegation, as needed, to ensure alignment of state and federal advocacy efforts.

Qualifications

The selected Consultant shall be an established lobbying organization with:

• A proven track record representing Florida counties before the Legislature and state agencies.

• Established relationships with key policymakers and staff.

• Demonstrated success in securing funding and advancing legislative initiatives.

• No current or future representation of entities in direct competition with the County/TDC for state funding or legislative objectives during the term of the contract.

Technical Approach

Consultants shall describe their approach to representing the County/TDC, including:

• Methods for monitoring and analyzing legislative and regulatory developments.

• Strategies for advancing multiple priorities concurrently.

• Examples of past successes in securing funding or policy changes for local governments.

• Communication protocols to ensure timely, accurate updates to the County/TDC.

• An example work plan for a representative priority, showing steps from initial strategy through to legislative outcome.

Submittal Requirements

General Requirements

The purpose of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to evaluate the qualifications, competence, and capacity of Consultants seeking to provide the requested professional services in conformity with the requirements of this RFQ. The submission should highlight the combined qualifications and experience of the Consultant, as well as the expertise of key personnel who will be assigned to this engagement.

While the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) shall address all the points outlined in this RFQ, it should clearly demonstrate the Consultant's ability to meet the County’s needs through its experience, technical capabilities, and professional resources. Submissions should be clear, concise, and focused on qualifications, providing a straightforward demonstration of the

Consultant's ability to successfully perform the required services.

No pricing or cost proposals should be included in response to this RFQ, as selection will be based solely on qualifications in accordance with Florida Statute 287.055 (CCNA). Cost negotiations will take place with the highest-ranked Consultant following the evaluation process.

Format Requirements

The County requires a uniform format to ensure that all SOQs are fairly evaluated. SOQs shall be organized as outlined below and shall include the information specified.

Consultants shall include the following information in their submittal responses to this RFQ. The following format and sequence should be followed in order to provide consistency in responses and to ensure each SOQ receives full consideration.

Tab 1: INTRODUCTION LETTER

Provide an introduction letter introducing Consultant, including corporate name (if applicable), address, telephone number, name and email address of principal officer, number of years in business, and size of staff. Briefly state that Consultant fully understands the scope of services, possesses the capacity and ability to perform said services, and will make a positive commitment to perform the services as described herein. The introduction letter shall be signed by an individual authorized to bind Consultant.

Tab 2: QUALIFICATIONS OF CONSULTANT/RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Consultants shall clearly demonstrate their firm’s and key personnel’s qualifications and relevant experience in providing state-level lobbying services for public sector clients, preferably Florida counties or similar governmental entities. Responses should include specific examples of legislative, appropriations, or policy successes; familiarity with Florida’s legislative process, key agencies, and decision-makers; and any unique expertise related to Walton County’s priorities

(e.g., tourism, infrastructure, environmental policy). Identify the individuals who will be assigned to this engagement, their roles, and the extent of their availability during and outside of legislative session. Provide at least three recent references from comparable clients, including the scope of work performed and measurable outcomes achieved. Responses should be concise, factual, and supported by verifiable information.

Tab 3: REFERENCES

Provide references for which you provided similar services within the 5 years of the scope and nature required by this RFQ, similar to the services sought by the County. These references must include, at a minimum: name of company or entity, contact person, address, email, and telephone number. References shall include the general description of the services and contract dates.

Letters of commendation or recommendation may be included in this section.

Tab 4: REQUIRED SUBMITTAL FORMS: Consultants shall submit the required forms listed on the Vendor Questionnaire. Copies of Consultants support documentation such as licenses, resumes, or certifications may be provided here.

Evaluation Criteria

SOQs will be evaluated by an evaluation committee using criteria listed below. The following represent the principal selection criteria, which will be considered during the evaluation process.

The committee may short list no less than three Consultants assuming that three SOQs have been received, that it deems to best satisfy the selection criteria. The committee and/or the Walton

County Board of County Commissioners may then conduct interviews and/or require oral presentations from the short-listed Consultants.

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Qualification of Consultant and Assigned

Personnel Examples bidders might provide:

Professional bios for each team member assigned to Walton County, including education, certifications, and years of lobbying experience.

Demonstrated familiarity with Florida’s legislative process and key state agencies.

Membership in relevant professional organizations (e.g., Florida Association of

Professional Lobbyists).

Clear description of each team member’s role in the County’s account.

Availability and responsiveness of assigned personnel during and outside of legislative session.

Points Based 50 (50% of Total)

2. Relevant Experience Examples bidders might provide:

List of similar public sector clients served in the past five years, especially Florida counties or coastal/rural communities.

Legislative or budgetary wins achieved for clients, including appropriations, policy changes, or grant funding.

Experience working with committees, legislative leadership, and state agency heads.

Examples of monitoring and influencing legislation directly affecting local government operations.

Familiarity with state issues that align with

Walton County’s priorities (e.g., tourism, infrastructure, environmental policy).

Points Based 30 (30% of Total) https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/190634/document?section=1770481

3. Approach to Project and Methodology Examples bidders might provide:

Proposed plan for identifying, tracking, and advancing the County’s legislative agenda.

Strategy for proactive engagement with lawmakers, agencies, and stakeholders.

Approach for rapid response to emerging issues during the legislative session.

Plan for coordination with County leadership before, during, and after each session.

Proposed methods for reporting and communication (e.g., frequency, format, and content of legislative updates).

Points Based 20 (20% of Total)

Procurement Rules and Information

Contact Person

Jason Cutshaw

Purchasing Director

176 Montgomery Circle

DeFuniak Springs, FL, 32435

(850) 892-8176 email: cutjason@co.walton.fl.us

All questions regarding this RFQ should be directed to the County's e-Procurement Portal

Question & Answer feature. Questions shall be submitted no later than 12:00 pm Wednesday, October 8, 2025 . Questions submitted after that date and time will not be answered.

DIRECTING QUESTIONS TO ANY OTHER STAFF, AGENT, REPRESENTATIVE, OR

EMPLOYEE OF THE COUNTY IS PROHIBITED AND WILL RESULT IN

SUBMITTAL BEING DISQUALIFIED. The Purchasing Director and County staff will review and answer questions. If applicable, answers citing the question(s) asked but not identifying the questioner will be published on the Walton County, Florida e-Procurement Portal.

Failure to submit requests in writing by the specified time shall not be grounds for a protest.

Note: Written requirements in the RFQ or its amendments are binding, but any oral communications between you and us are not.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Listed below are the important actions and dates/times by which the actions must be taken or completed. If the County finds it necessary to change any of these dates/times, it will be accomplished by addendum. All listed times are local time in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

Advertised: September 18, 2025

Last Day for Questions: October 8, 2025, 12:00pm

RFQ Close Date: October 15, 2025, 3:00pm

Review of Submittals: October 16, 2025

Review Committee Ranking: October 23, 2025, 3:00pm

Interviews (If Required): October 27, 2025, 9:00am

BCC Award: November 18, 2025 https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/190634 https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/190634

Submission of Statements of Qualifications

All SOQs must be submitted electronically through the designated submission portal. No hard copies, emailed, or faxed submissions will be accepted. Please limit SOQ to 30 pages, excluding required forms and resumes.

Submissions should be clear, concise, and focused on qualifications, providing a straightforward delineation of the Consultant’s ability to meet the requirements outlined in this

RFQ. Extraneous materials such as fancy bindings, colored displays, or promotional materials are not necessary or desired. The emphasis should be on completeness, clarity, and the Consultant’s relevant experience and qualifications.

RFQ Opening

SOQs will be accepted until Wednesday, October 15, 2025, no later than 3:00 pm, and will be opened immediately thereafter.

SOQs are due at the time and date specified. SOQs received late will not be considered and will be marked as LATE.

SOQ Evaluation

The County will assemble an evaluation committee to review and rank the SOQs submitted in response to this RFQ. The committee will assess each submission based on the evaluation criteria outlined in this RFQ, considering the experience, technical capabilities, and qualifications of each Consultant.

Each submission will be evaluated individually and in comparison to all other SOQs received.

Submissions must be fully responsive to the requirements set forth in this RFQ, as well as to any subsequent requests for clarification or additional information made by the County through written addenda.

The County will select the most highly qualified Consultant in accordance with Florida Statute

287.055 (CCNA). The selection will be qualification-based, and contract negotiations will be conducted only with the highest-ranked Consultant(s).

As part of the evaluation process, the County may conduct an investigation of references to verify past performance and qualifications. Submission of an SOQ in response to this RFQ constitutes acknowledgment and consent to the County’s investigation process. The County reserves the right to determine, at its sole discretion, whether a Consultant meets the required qualifications and experience to perform the services outlined in this RFQ.

Insurance Requirements

The Consultant shall purchase and maintain, through the contract period, insurance coverage appropriate for professional lobbying services. All insurance shall be issued by a company authorized to conduct business in the State of Florida with an A.M. Best Financial Strength

Rating of A- Class VII or better.

The following minimum coverage shall be required:

• Workers’ Compensation

Coverage must apply for all employees in compliance with applicable state and federal laws, unless the Consultant provides a current Florida Workers Compensation exemption certificate.

o Employer’s Liability with a minimum limit per accident in accordance with statutory requirements.

o Policy must include a provision for thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of cancellation or restriction to the County.

• Commercial General Liability

Coverage must include:

o $1,000,000 combined single limit per occurrence for bodily injury, personal injury, and property damage.

o Contractual liability coverage applicable to this contract, including any hold harmless and/or indemnification agreements.

o County named as Additional Insured.

o Policy must provide thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of cancellation or restriction.

• Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions)

Coverage must include:

o Minimum limits of $1,000,000 per claim and in the aggregate.

o Coverage for negligence, malpractice, errors, or omissions in the performance of lobbying or professional services.

o Policy must provide thirty (30) days’ prior written notice of cancellation or restriction.

• Automobile Liability (if vehicles are used in the performance of services) o $300,000 combined single limit per accident for bodily injury and property damage.

o Coverage must include owned, hired, and non-owned vehicles.

o County named as Additional Insured.

Certificates of Insurance evidencing the above coverage shall be provided to the County prior to execution of the contract and maintained throughout the term of the agreement. Renewal certificates must be furnished at least thirty (30) days prior to policy expiration.

The purchase of any insurance coverage required herein shall not relieve the Consultant of any liability, warranty, or guarantee provided under this agreement.

Cost for Preparing SOQs

The County is not liable for any costs incurred by the Consultant in responding to this RFQ, including those for oral presentations.

Disposal of SOQs

All SOQs become the property of the County and will be a matter of record.

Rules for Withdrawal

SOQs may be modified or withdrawn prior to the submission deadline. Modifications and withdrawals shall be made via the County's e-Procurement Portal. To modify an SOQ, log in to your vendor account at https://procurement.opengov.com/login, and go to your submitted SOQ.

Click on “Unsubmit Proposal”, make the required changes, and submit the SOQ again. To withdraw a SOQ, log in to your vendor account at https://procurement.opengov.com/login, and go to your submitted SOQ. Click on “Unsubmit Proposal”.

Any submitted SOQ shall remain valid for 60 days after the submission date, but the County at its sole discretion may release any SOQ.

Rejection of SOQ

The County reserves the right to accept or reject any SOQ as may be deemed necessary by the

County to be in its best interest. The County further reserves the right to waive any and all formalities, and reserves the right to reject all nonconforming, unresponsive SOQs. The County reserves the right to reject the SOQ of any Consultant if the County believes that it would not be in the best interest of the County to make an award to the Consultant, because the Consultant is not responsive or responsible, or the Consultant is unqualified or of doubtful financial ability, or fails to meet any other pertinent standard or criteria established by the County.

Verbal Instructions

No negotiations, decisions, or actions shall be initiated or executed by the Consultant as a result of any discussion with any County employee. Only those communications from Consultant which are signed and in writing, will be recognized by the County as duly authorized expressions on behalf of the Consultant. Any and all communication with County Commissioners or County staff other than the Office of Central Purchasing is prohibited during the time of the RFQ advertising. Consultants directing questions or communications to anyone other than staff at the

Office of Central Purchasing shall be disqualified.

Sales and Use Tax

The Consultant agrees that, if selected, all applicable federal, state, and local sales and use taxes that are incurred by the Consultant are included in negotiated price for the Project. The County is tax exempt from federal excise and state sales tax.

Public Entity Crimes

The Consultant must sign and complete a Public Entity Crime Sworn Statement as defined under

Section 287.133(3)(a), F.S. A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction of a public entity crime may not submit a proposal on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a proposal on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit proposals on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a consultant, supplier, or subcontractor, under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in Section

287.017, for Category Two for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list.

Drug Free Workplace

The Consultant must complete the County’s Drug Free Workplace Certification form, attached and made a part of the RFQ. According to Walton County policy, preference shall be given to

Consultants with drug-free workplace programs. Whenever two or more SOQs submitted by equally qualified Consultants are received by the state or by any political subdivision for the https://procurement.opengov.com/login https://procurement.opengov.com/login procurement of commodities or contractual services, a SOQ received from a Consultant that certified that it has implemented a drug-free work place program shall be given preference in the award process. Established procedures for processing tie submittals will be followed if none of the tied Consultants have a drug-free workplace program.

Addendums

The County may issue addendums to modify the RFQ as deemed appropriate. Addendums and clarification to this RFQ will be posted online on the County's e-Procurement portal. The

Addendum Acknowledgement shall be submitted via the County's e-Procurement portal with each Consultant's submittal responsive to this RFQ.

Notices

Any notices to be given under a contract shall be given by United States Mail, addressed to the

Consultant at its address stated therein, and to the County at its address stated therein. Additional notice may also be given by email in which case it shall be deemed that notice was provided on the date said email was received. The party providing notice by email shall confirm that the email was received by the other party.

Protest

Any Consultant whose SOQ is rejected, in whole or in part, or who submits an SOQ but is not awarded the contract, may protest such decision. Written notice of intent to file a protest must be submitted to the Purchasing Director or Chief Financial Officer within twenty –four (24) hours after the Board’s declaration of its intention with regard to an award. Written protest must be submitted to the Purchasing Director or Chief Financial Officer within ten calendar days after filing written notice of intent. Each written protest must be accompanied by a protest bond in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check or money order made payable to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners, in the amount of $500.00. The condition of the protest bond shall be that, should the protest be determined to be without merit and non-valid, the bond shall be forfeited to the County in its entirety.

Local Vendor Preference

Award of the contract for this Project shall be subject to local preference in accordance with the

Walton County Purchasing Policies and Procedures (PP017). Application for Local Preference is attached to this RFQ.

Blackout Period

The period between the beginning of the advertisement for the RFQ and the contract award, or any resulting protest is resolved, or the solicitation is otherwise canceled is referred to as the

Blackout Period. During the Blackout Period, any communication regarding this RFQ is prohibited between the Consultant (or its agents or representatives) or other entity with the potential for a financial interest in the award (or their respective agents or representatives) regarding such competitive solicitation, and any County Commissioner or County employee, selection committee member or other persons authorized to act on behalf of the County including the County’s architect, engineer or their subconsultants, or anyone designated to provide a recommendation to award a particular contract, other than Purchasing Division staff. Each competitive solicitation shall provide notice of the Blackout Period.

Exceptions to the Blackout Period

The Blackout Period shall not apply to:

A. Communications at any public proceeding or meeting, including pre-SOQ submittal conferences, selection committee presentations, or pre-award meetings.

B. Communications during contract negotiations between designated County employees and the intended contract awardee.

C. Communication with the Consultant initiated by a Purchasing Division employee following the opening of the solicitation submittals to clarify the Consultant's SOQ.

D. Communication following the filing of a protest between the protesting party and the

Purchasing Division, County Administrator’s Office, and County Attorney’s Office, during the dispute resolution process.

E. Purchases exempt from competitive selection, sole source procurements, single source procurements, and emergency procurements, as defined in Walton County Purchasing

Policy and Procedure manual.

F. Communications with existing Consultants in the performance of existing contracts.

Indemnifications

The Consultant shall indemnify and save harmless the County, its officers, agents, and employees, from all claims, suits, or actions at law or equity, damages, losses, and expenses, whether direct or indirect, or consequential, including but not limited to, charges of engineers, attorneys, and other professionals and costs of both defense and appeal, in a court of law or other tribunal, for any reason whatsoever, including but not limited to bodily injury, sickness, disease, or death of any person, including employees of the Consultant or any subcontractor, or injury to or destruction of property, including loss of use, which claims are arising out of, related to, connected with, or caused by (a) the Consultant or any subcontractor or supplier of the

Consultant's negligent performance or non-performance of the project; (b) noncompliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations by Consultant, or any subcontractor of Consultant;

or (c) the failure of Consultant, or any subcontractor of Consultant, to obtain or renew the insurance coverage's required by the Contract Documents. The provisions of this indemnification agreement shall include all claims made, whether or not caused in part, by any act or omission of the County, its respective officers, agents, or employees, provided the Consultants shall not be required to indemnify the County for the County’s own negligence.

Public Access

A request to inspect or copy public records relating to this Contract must be made directly to the

County. If the County does not possess the requested records, it shall immediately notify the

Consultant of the request, and the Consultant must provide the records to the County or allow the records to be inspected or copied within a reasonable time (§119.0701(3)). If the Consultant fails to provide the public records within a reasonable time, the Consultant may be subject to penalties under §119.10, F.S.

The Consultant shall comply with the requirements of Florida’s Public Records law in accordance with Section 119.0701, Florida Statutes, the Consultant shall (1) Keep and maintain public records required by the public agency to perform the service; (2) Upon request from the public agency’s custodian of public records, provide the public agency with a copy of the requested records or allow the records to be inspected or copied within a reasonable time at a cost that does not exceed the cost provided under Florida’s Public Records law or as otherwise provided by law; (3) Ensure that public records that are exempt or confidential and exempt from public records disclosure requirements are not disclosed except as authorized by law for the duration of the contract term and following completion of this contract if the Consultant does not transfer the records to the public agency; and (4) Upon completion of the contract, transfer, at no cost, to the public agency all public records in possession of the Consultant or keep and maintain public records required by the public agency to perform the service. If the Consultant transfers all public records to the public agency upon completion of the contract, the Consultant shall destroy any duplicate public records that are exempt or confidential and exempt from public records disclosure requirements. If the Consultant keeps and maintains public records upon completion of this contract, the Consultant shall meet all applicable requirements for retaining public records. All records stored electronically must be provided to the public agency, upon request from public agency’s custodian of public records, in a format that is compatible with the information technology system of the public agency.

IF THE CONSULTANT HAS QUESTIONS REGARDING THE

APPLICATION OF CHAPTER 119, FLORIDA STATUTES, TO THE

CONSULTANT’S DUTY TO PROVIDE PUBLIC RECORDS RELATING TO

THIS AGREEMENT, CONSULTANT SHALL CONTACT THE CUSTODIAN

OF PUBLIC RECORDS AT:

Genara Roop, Records Management Liaison Officer

161 E. Sloss Avenue

DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32433

850-892-8110 publicrecords@co.walton.fl.us

Representation

The Consultant represents to the County that:

A. The Consultant is properly certified and licensed, is solvent financially, and is experienced in and competent to complete the scope of the SOQ.

B. The Consultant is familiar with all federal, state, local, or other regulatory laws, ordinances, and regulations, which in any manner whatsoever, may affect the performance of the project or service requested.

Unauthorized Aliens

The County prohibits contracting with Consultants that knowingly utilize services of unauthorized aliens in the performance of contracts for goods or services with the County.

Consultants shall complete and submit the attached Unauthorized Aliens Form with their

Consultants.

Tie Submittals

In the event of a tie between SOQs responsive to this RFQ from equally qualified consultants, the County shall make the final determination of the award.

E-Verify

The Consultant shall utilize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of (a) all persons employed by the Consultant during the term of any contract resulting from award of this RFQ to perform employment duties within Florida;

and (b) all persons (including subcontractors) assigned by the Consultant to perform work pursuant to the contract.

Prohibition Against Considering Social, Political, or Ideological Interests in Government

Contracting

Pursuant to §287.05701, Florida Statutes, the County may not request documentation of or consider a Consultant's social, political, or ideological interests when determining if the

Consultant is a responsible Consultant. Further, the County may not give preference to a

Consultant based on the Consultant's social, political, or ideological interests.

Contents of RFQ

This section contains instruction regarding the format of the RFQs that are to be submitted.

Contact for Contract Administration

Consultants shall return the Contact for Contract Administration Form. This shall be the

Consultant's representative for the day-to-day activities of this contract. The signer shall have the authority to bind the Consultant to the submittal.

Forms

It is MANDATORY that Consultants shall submit the required forms listed on the Vendor

Questionnaire.

Term of Contract

The County anticipates awarding a contract with an initial term of three (3) years, beginning on the effective date of the agreement.

At the sole discretion of the County, the agreement may be renewed for up to two (2) additional one-year periods (3+1+1), subject to the following conditions:

• Satisfactory performance as determined by the County;

• Mutual written agreement of both parties; and

• Approval by the Walton County Board of County Commissioners.

Any renewal shall be on the same terms and conditions as the original agreement, unless otherwise modified by mutual written agreement and approved by the County.

The County reserves the right to terminate the agreement at any time, with or without cause, and with or without prior notice, when it is determined to be in the best interest of the County.

Award of Contract

The County will award this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in accordance with Florida Statute

287.055 (CCNA) and the County’s procurement policies. The most highly qualified Consultants will be ranked in order of preference by the evaluation committee, and contract negotiations will begin with the highest-ranked Consultant.

If the County is unable to reach an agreement with the top-ranked Consultant, negotiations may proceed with the next highest-ranked Consultant and continue in order of ranking until an agreement is successfully reached.

The final contract award is subject to approval by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC).

The County reserves the right to reject any or all submissions, waive minor irregularities, and make an award that is in the best interest of the County.

Vendor Questionnaire

SOQ Submittal*

Upload your SOQ in accordance with Submittal Requirements.

*Response required

Information Sheet For Transactions and Conveyances / Corporate Identification

The following information will be provided to the Office of the County Attorney for incorporation in legal documents. It is, therefore, vital all information is accurate and complete.

Please be certain all spelling, capitalization, etc. is exactly as registered with the state or federal government.

Was this entity created in the State of Florida?* ☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

When equals "No"

In what State was it created?* *Response required

When equals "No"

Name as spelled in that State:* *Response required

What kind of entity is it?* ☐ "For Profit"

☐ "Not for Profit"

*Response required

Is the entity in good standing?* ☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

Is the entity authorized to transact business in Florida?* ☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

Florida Department of State Certificate of Authority Document Number* *Response required

Does it use a registered fictitious name?* ☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

Name of Officers:*

• President

• Vice President https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/190634/document?section=1770484

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Director

• Other

*Response required

Name of entity (as used in Florida)* Spelled exactly as it is registered with the state or federal government.

*Response required

Principal Address* Please provide post office box and street address for mail and/or express delivery; also for recorded instruments involving land.

*Response required

FEI/EIN Number* For all instruments to be recorded, taxpayer’s identification is needed.

*Response required

Name and Title of individual who will sign the instrument on behalf of the entity.* (Upon issuance of the Notice of Award, contract shall be signed by the President or Vice-

President. Any other officer shall have permission to sign via a resolution approved by the

Board of Directors on behalf of the company. Awarded contractor shall submit a copy of the resolution together with the executed contract to the Office of Central Purchasing)

(Spelled exactly as it would appear on the instrument)

*Response required

Vendor Certifications and Forms

Drug-Free Workplace Certification* Tie submittals: preference shall be given to Consultants with drug-free workplace programs.

Whenever two or more SOQs from equally qualified Consultants are received by the state or by any political subdivision for the procurement of commodities or contractual services, an SOQ received from a Consultant that certified it has implemented a drug-free work place program shall be given preference in the award process. Established procedures for processing tie submittals will be followed in none of the tied Consultants have a drug-free workplace program.

In order to have a drug-free workplace program, a business shall:

A. Publish a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the workplace specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of such prohibition.

B. Inform employees about the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace, the business’s policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace, available drug counseling, rehabilitation providing employee assistance programs, and the penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations.

C. Give each employee engaged in providing the commodities of contractual services that are under bid a copy of the statement specified in paragraph #A.

D. In the statement specified in paragraph #1, notify the employees that, as a condition of working on the commodities or contractual services that are under bid, the employee will abide by the terms of the statement and will notify the employer of any conviction of or pleas of guilty or no contest to, and violation of Chapter 893 or of any controlled substance law of the United States or any state, for a violation occurring in the work place no later than five (5) days after such conviction.

E. Impose a sanction on or require the satisfactory participation in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program if such is available in the employee’s community, by any employee who is so convicted.

F. Make a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of this section.

As the person authorized to sign this statement, I certify that this firm complies fully with the above requirements.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

Contact for Contract Administration* Please provide the following information for the contact:

• Name

• Title

• Company Name

• Address

• Telephone Numbers

• Fax Number

• Email

*Response required

Public Entity Crimes* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• PUBLIC_ENTITY_CRIMES.docx

*Response required

Unauthorized Aliens* Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Unauthorized_Aliens.pdf https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/70274/423fc7d5-a24a-4d15-bde4-e66f0c61072e_PUBLIC_ENTITY_CRIMES.docx?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA47RIURE4LY2NRQM5%2F20250918%2Fus-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250918T120956Z&X-Amz-Expires=72000&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEMaCXVzLXdlc3QtMiJHMEUCIQDfTUWzhSI5Qp4e6FhIdnXElw8FoX%2FXsQMBG64jTLuaaAIgahKhdslR9fGTvX4DBDpn7NpACoCQbGvinusccpsmKrsqjAUIvP%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARACGgw4OTIzNjQ2ODc2NzIiDGMwOZhH1hO4xg9kNirgBPRC2k%2BE0eouZFurLFcTVb9xA2zy1DB6TLOM5gNWeBxFp2D31DUcsuk4gerNfFQzVZLntEASN73VX%2BgPSYSn286SSURjS5joYeNbQqh0VidUXXcpv7DAQZRC7hJ98B1OT60HoaTUO4H3HUTkRtnqDAnwUimruYoO9d2K43XfKQkh8IOCwQJTSjAE4CpB9cDiHJFqgtEhRXvcT935FgnrkdSe2AuHfBiLx3XjpmKJFARHDLeQ4X1yuOUhES9Op9xb382%2BYj1gfLoliD8dyAiOONjQhInzooLMZd%2BwyMEhgHORYjhVAT7ZSoJvvMPCnXpqiZXjD5q0Eyu6Zf585FRytuWdq4CuI7DYNILcTVlLSnqMImzlqyqgBLZB%2BjmGC3wlteJ2%2FU2c48IHtW3e8Gb%2FtkXfffv4q7nwdg7KBYx4G8M51Abc121SGpGVGRt7ZK7SWoka%2FTAbXBMrYE6BWtXwbMwoJOcxBnhwXr6%2B9Q3ojTJmxqfnogHo4REvA2f2nQzzuYmvCSsqoCDBJpUyWMPmrfZS5AfHTBQWvtFbLY0GGAamBtSP27aFE9Gdj%2Fh6U5iihFeRr4tosBrPasKAK%2FZMgbEU%2FBMPs18I%2B0K2CtCPbd4jOebastQKdmVxrxvacYDCJ7%2Fi2qryt21rMmSO8xhnw3P9BQlYpGq602VRqfqwHgu7mKFK8SDfS6pZZI%2BPZe%2BnYVor0FzQZ%2BlJ036qSiC4FxrtsOrnghU2jL4Vq%2FJb15dCsWlp%2BptyV6e8JprNFzYdlGqtOsf15wXOulS%2FcHEFXt%2BtraLymNdJTaCLKfZDwWrMMNvOr8YGOpsBrgmbd2D3zQQzFG4rVnhwQK1vZ6s2sT%2BJLNBzSgcTlSSSiv721S%2Bq%2Bo%2BKUISR7DTE5a8rX%2BUu0HRgor5Ge83SuS6w%2FdgELLs1K0rNogGikDY7JvJyeo98A09KMUxFvg2vb8qWDIWxUqfQ6vn4ypOYvTYeHRZKYCpFFEHpVCD6CMWQzKKQaVvn%2BX%2FdSZlNdt73QNnpXdInl2WBOeo%3D&X-Amz-Signature=099d2d2252df6c054ec03d5137de200e11e0e311d188e4ba2f5539f754fa08c4&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=attachment%3B%20filename%3D%22PUBLIC_ENTITY_CRIMES.docx%22&x-id=GetObject https://government-project.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/70274/c0a27443-ccbb-4c46-8d3c-7432bfe422d8_Unauthorized_Aliens.pdf?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=ASIA47RIURE4LY2NRQM5%2F20250918%2Fus-west-2%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20250918T120956Z&X-Amz-Expires=72000&X-Amz-Security-Token=IQoJb3JpZ2luX2VjEEMaCXVzLXdlc3QtMiJHMEUCIQDfTUWzhSI5Qp4e6FhIdnXElw8FoX%2FXsQMBG64jTLuaaAIgahKhdslR9fGTvX4DBDpn7NpACoCQbGvinusccpsmKrsqjAUIvP%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2F%2FARACGgw4OTIzNjQ2ODc2NzIiDGMwOZhH1hO4xg9kNirgBPRC2k%2BE0eouZFurLFcTVb9xA2zy1DB6TLOM5gNWeBxFp2D31DUcsuk4gerNfFQzVZLntEASN73VX%2BgPSYSn286SSURjS5joYeNbQqh0VidUXXcpv7DAQZRC7hJ98B1OT60HoaTUO4H3HUTkRtnqDAnwUimruYoO9d2K43XfKQkh8IOCwQJTSjAE4CpB9cDiHJFqgtEhRXvcT935FgnrkdSe2AuHfBiLx3XjpmKJFARHDLeQ4X1yuOUhES9Op9xb382%2BYj1gfLoliD8dyAiOONjQhInzooLMZd%2BwyMEhgHORYjhVAT7ZSoJvvMPCnXpqiZXjD5q0Eyu6Zf585FRytuWdq4CuI7DYNILcTVlLSnqMImzlqyqgBLZB%2BjmGC3wlteJ2%2FU2c48IHtW3e8Gb%2FtkXfffv4q7nwdg7KBYx4G8M51Abc121SGpGVGRt7ZK7SWoka%2FTAbXBMrYE6BWtXwbMwoJOcxBnhwXr6%2B9Q3ojTJmxqfnogHo4REvA2f2nQzzuYmvCSsqoCDBJpUyWMPmrfZS5AfHTBQWvtFbLY0GGAamBtSP27aFE9Gdj%2Fh6U5iihFeRr4tosBrPasKAK%2FZMgbEU%2FBMPs18I%2B0K2CtCPbd4jOebastQKdmVxrxvacYDCJ7%2Fi2qryt21rMmSO8xhnw3P9BQlYpGq602VRqfqwHgu7mKFK8SDfS6pZZI%2BPZe%2BnYVor0FzQZ%2BlJ036qSiC4FxrtsOrnghU2jL4Vq%2FJb15dCsWlp%2BptyV6e8JprNFzYdlGqtOsf15wXOulS%2FcHEFXt%2BtraLymNdJTaCLKfZDwWrMMNvOr8YGOpsBrgmbd2D3zQQzFG4rVnhwQK1vZ6s2sT%2BJLNBzSgcTlSSSiv721S%2Bq%2Bo%2BKUISR7DTE5a8rX%2BUu0HRgor5Ge83SuS6w%2FdgELLs1K0rNogGikDY7JvJyeo98A09KMUxFvg2vb8qWDIWxUqfQ6vn4ypOYvTYeHRZKYCpFFEHpVCD6CMWQzKKQaVvn%2BX%2FdSZlNdt73QNnpXdInl2WBOeo%3D&X-Amz-Signature=b29912824e21f03bad3cdd47843df5d12e1a07f79b044809475274e2bbf831a9&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&response-content-disposition=attachment%3B%20filename%3D%22Unauthorized_Aliens.pdf%22&x-id=GetObject

*Response required

Proof of Registration with State of Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz.org) * *Response required

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

For purposes of determining any possible conflict of interest, all Consultants must disclose if any

Walton County employee(s), elected official(s), or if any of its agencies is also an owner, corporate officer, agency, employee, etc., of their business.

Indicate either “YES” (a County employee, elected official, or agency is also associated with your business), or “NO”.* ☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

When equals "Yes"

Give person(s) name(s) and position(s) with your business.* *Response required