White_Coral_Affordable_Housing_RFQ.pdf

RSQ 0038-24

White Coral Affordable Housing RFQ

The City of Fort Myers Procurement Services utilizes an electronic bidding system to streamline the solicitation process.

City of Fort Myers Procurement Services Website https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityftmyers

White Coral Affordable Housing RFQ, RSQ 0038-24

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

II. PROJECT DETAILS

III. EVALUATION CRITERIA

IV. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS

V. GENERAL CONDITIONS

VI. SPECIAL CONDTIONS FOR FEDERAL CONTRACTS

VII. INSURANCE

VIII. DEFINITIONS

IX. VENDOR SUBMISSIONS

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Summary

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is seeking builders, developers, or contractors with experience in construction of affordable housing to develop the property located at 2200 Jaylen Watkins Way, Fort Myers.

To maximize our families' success, organizations submitting proposals must demonstrate a proven track record in both residential construction and offering comprehensive housing counseling/education programs.

1.2. Background

The City of Fort Myers (the “City”), established in 1886, is located on the southern west coast of Florida. It is the cultural and trade center for Lee County and the surrounding area. The City was built on the site of Fort Harvie and was named for Colonel Abraham Charles Myers, then

Chief Quartermaster of Florida. The City has approximately 1,000 employees serving a population of approximately 96,755 full time permanent residents with a population growth of

12% between 2020 and 2022. According to the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, nearly 4.5 million people visit Fort Myers each year and spend over $4 billion dollars while in the area. Fort Myers has experienced unprecedented growth in its tax base, as the past (3), year over year percentage increases, were double digit. The City added a total of $5.0 billion to its tax base over the past five years, or 75.6%.

The City is situated between Tampa and Miami along scenic U.S. Highway 41, also known as

Tamiami Trail. Recent accolades for the City of Fort Myers include top ranking for best places to live, to retire, and to start a new business, safest cities in America, #4 college town in

Florida, and most recently the 3rd fastest growing place by U.S News and World Report.

The City of Fort Myers is committed to providing exceptional municipal services to residents, businesses and visitors in a fiscally responsible manner while preserving the City’s rich history, diverse culture, and charming lifestyle.

City of Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency

Under the provisions of Chapter 163, Part III, of the Florida Statutes, the Community

Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is an agency established by the City of Fort Myers with the dedicated purpose of revitalizing designated blighted areas. While it works closely with the city, the CRA operates under its own budget and governance, focusing exclusively on redevelopment efforts, economic stimulation, and community improvement within its designated districts. This structure allows for a targeted and specialized approach to revitalization efforts.

Since 1984, the CRA has managed redevelopment trusts to revitalize blighted areas in the City of Fort Myers. This often takes the form of infrastructure including streetscaping, residential and commercial façade improvements, placemaking initiatives, affordable housing development, historic preservation, and more.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Redevelopment Area

A palm-lined street full of neighborhood retail greets visitors to Fort Myers as they enter the city from I-75, heading westward along Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK). Monuments to the historical heroes of the area decorate the park-like areas along either side of the roadway, celebrating the heritage of a community that still exists along MLK. Industrial giants are set back from the road, hidden by the lush Florida vegetation that creates a sense of gentle tranquility and soften the sounds of a peak city business district. Along MLK’s intersections, safe pedestrian crosswalks unite the north and south business flanks, and invite a flow of local walkers and business workers to traverse between their favorite restaurants, markets, services, and offices.

On either side of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard are two residential neighborhoods where a tight-knit community has become a haven for cultivating a mixed-income, walkable and economically-viable family zone. Developing strategies to create above-average wage jobs that improve residents’ quality of life is an objective that not only benefits the immediate area, but the City of Fort Myers as a whole.

This is part of the vision for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard redevelopment area. Its commercial corridor will support its residents through an enhanced level of service, while those residents will support the local businesses.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard redevelopment area, comprised of four sub-areas, is positioned east of the Downtown redevelopment area and south of the East Fort Myers redevelopment area. It is located south of Billy’s Creek and north of Canal Street

1.3. OpenGov Portal

The City uses OPENGOV (https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityftmyers) to administer the competitive solicitation process, including but not limited to soliciting responses, issuing addenda, posting results and issuing notification of an intended decision. There is no charge to register and download the solicitation from OPENGOV. Proposers are strongly encouraged to read the various vendor Guides and Tutorials available in OPENGOV well in advance of their intention of submitting a response to ensure familiarity with the use of OPENGOV. The City shall not be responsible for an Offeror’s inability to submit a response by the end date and time for any reason, including issues arising from the use of OPENGOV.

1.4. Contact Information

Direct inquiries to the following:

Procurement Representative Name

Kirk Zimmerman

Senior Procurement Specialist

2200 Second Street

Fort Myers, FL 33901

Email: kzimmerman@cityftmyers.com

Phone: (239) 321-7241

Department:

Community Redevelopment Agency

1.5. Pre-Solicitation Conference

The purpose of a Pre-Solicitation Conference is to review and discuss the solicitation (and any addenda) as published. A representative from the Procurement and Contracts Division and a technical representative from the using department will be present to discuss the solicitation. The date, time, and location can be found in the timeline.

1.6. Advertising

INVITATION TO BID

CITY OF FORT MYERS

RSQ 0038-24White Coral Affordable Housing RFQ

The City of Fort Myers is seeking submittals for RSQ 0038-24White Coral Affordable Housing

RFQ which will be uploaded electronically on or before Monday, June 3, 2024 at 2:00 pm.

Interested participants are encouraged to download the solicitation documents. For more details visit

+https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityftmyers

CITY OF FORT MYERS

Marty K. Lawing, City Manager Legal Ad: News-Press/OpenGov

Mary Hagemann, City Clerk RUN DATES: Wednesday, May 1, 2024

2. PROJECT DETAILS

2.1. Important Instructions for Electronic Submittal

The City of Fort Myers is accepting electronic bid submissions. Bidders shall create a FREE account with OpenGov Procurement by signing up at https://procurement.opengov.com/signup.

Once you have completed account registration, browse back to this page, click on "Submit

Response", and follow the instructions to submit the electronic bid.

2.2. Minimum Qualifications of Respondents

A. The Respondent(s) shall hold a current license from the State of Florida as required for each discipline.

B. Respondent(s) shall have been in business under the current company/firm name for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years (verified through Sunbiz.org).

https://procurement.opengov.com/signup

C. Respondent shall have no record of judgments, bankruptcies, pending lawsuits against the City/CRA or criminal activities involving moral turpitude and not have any conflicts of interest that have not been waived by the City Council.

D. Neither Respondent nor any principal, officer, or stockholder shall be in arrears or in default of any debt or contract involving the City/CRA, (as a party to a contract, or otherwise); nor have failed to perform faithfully on any previous contract with the

City/CRA.

E. To demonstrate qualifications to perform the Work, each Bidder must be prepared to submit within five (5) days of Owner’s request written evidence, such as financial data, previous experience, present commitments and other such data as may be called for below (or in the Supplementary Instructions)

F. A successful track record in affordable housing development projects.

G. Project Management Expertise

H. Knowledge of and commitment to implementing sustainable construction practices.

I. A proven record of adhering to all local building codes and regulations.

Following the opening, Respondents that do not meet the Minimum Qualification Requirements as set forth in this solicitation will not be considered further.

2.3. Scope of Work

Key Objectives and Deliverables

1. Affordable Homeownership (26 Units):

o Construct high-quality, affordable single-family homes catering to individuals and families with incomes ranging from 30-80% AMI.

o Ensure inclusivity, allowing a diverse range of residents to become homeowners and stakeholders in their community's development.

o Successful organization will have the capacity to build the homes and provide housing counseling/education to ensure our families' success.

2. Wealth Creation for Homebuyers:

o Implement programs to empower residents to build and sustain wealth for generations to come. These include:

▪ HUD-certified housing counseling

▪ Financial literacy workshops

▪ Homeownership education

▪ Home maintenance classes

▪ Homeowners Association (HOA) training

3. Mortgage Affordability:

o Develop a financing plan ensuring mortgage payments do not exceed 30% of the homebuyers' income.

o Guarantee home closings comply with all state and federal lending regulations.

4. Fortified Construction:

o Construct homes to meet Gold Fortified Standards, established by the

Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS).

o Ensure homes meet strict safety and durability criteria.

Responsibilities of the Selected Entity

The chosen business/organization/not-for-profit will be responsible for:

1. Procurement:

• Secure vendors complying with CDBG-DR (Community Development Block Grant –

Disaster Recovery) standards.

2. Site Development:

• Manage site preparation and infrastructure development along the Edison Ave. corridor.

3. Construction:

• Oversee the construction of 26 residential units, prioritizing cost-effective and sustainable building practices.

4. Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to all local zoning and building regulations.

5. Community Outreach and Engagement:

• Implement a comprehensive community outreach and engagement plan, available in both English and Spanish, throughout construction and beyond.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. Demonstrable experience and expertise in affordable housing construction.

A. Specify the size and layout options available for the 26 homes.

B. Consider incorporating green spaces or community amenities into the project design to further enhance the neighborhood.

C. Outline a plan for ongoing maintenance of the infrastructure improvements along Edison

Ave.

2. The proposed approach and methodology for achieving project objectives.

3. Outline the process for selecting homebuyers, considering factors like income eligibility and creditworthiness.

Timeline

• Site work commencement: July 2025

• Project completion: December 2027

3. EVALUATION CRITERIA

1. Qualifications of Respondents

To demonstrate qualifications to perform the Work, each Respondent must be prepared to submit information pertaining to each criterion. Each Submittal must contain evidence of

Respondent's qualifications to do business in the State of Florida, or covenant to obtain such qualification, prior to award of the contract.

2. Responsiveness

The City/CRA will determine whether the respondent complies with the instructions for submitting proposals including completeness of proposal which encompasses the inclusion of all required attachments and submissions. Late proposals will not be accepted. Failure to meet other requirements may result in rejection.

3. Responsibility

The City/CRA will determine whether the respondent is one with whom it can or should do business. Factors that the City/CRA may evaluate to determine “responsibility” include, but are not limited to: excessively high or low priced proposals, past performance, references

(including those found outside the proposal), compliance with applicable laws, respondent’s record of performance and integrity – e.g. has the respondent been delinquent or unfaithful to any contract with the City/CRA, whether the respondent is qualified legally to contract with the

City/CRA, financial stability and the perceived ability to perform completely as specified. A respondent must always have financial resources sufficient, in the opinion of the City/CRA, to ensure performance of the contract and must provide proof upon request. The City/CRA reserves the right to inspect and review respondent’s facilities, equipment, and personnel and those of any identified subcontractors. The City/CRA will determine whether any failure to supply information, or the quality of the information, will result in rejection.

4. Technical/Qualification Proposal

The City/CRA will determine how well proposals meet the requirements in terms of the response to the specifications and how well the offer addresses the needs of the project. The

City of Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will rank offers using a point ranking system

(unless otherwise specified) to conduct the evaluation.

5. Best and Final Offers

The City/CRA may request best & final offers and will determine the scope and subject of any best & final request. The Respondent should not expect that the City/CRA will ask for best & finals. The Respondent should submit their best offer based on the terms and conditions set forth in this Solicitation.

6. Proposal Advisory Committee and Evaluation Process Initial Review of Responses

Procurement Services will perform an initial review of all submittals for preliminary qualification and documentation compliance. This review process may include, but is not limited to, forms verification, professional licensing, references, past performance, and other relevant criteria and review of the MBE and Local preference if applicable.

Advisory Committee

An Advisory Committee (hereinafter referred to as “the Committee”) consisting of at least three

(3) members will be established to review, discuss, and evaluate all responsive Proposals submitted in response to this Request for Proposals (RFP). The Committee may utilize City/CRA staff and/or consultants who are not members to advise and assist the Committee in its review of the Proposals.

Preliminary Evaluation; Short Listing

The Committee may conduct a preliminary evaluation of all Proposals on the basis of the information provided and, if the Committee deems desirable in its discretion, it may elect to short list two or more Proposers using the evaluation criteria set forth in this solicitation. Upon short listing by the Committee, only those Proposers short listed shall remain eligible for further evaluation and consideration by the Committee.

Presentations

The Committee reserves the right to require oral presentations from and conduct pre-award discussion and/or pre-Contract negotiations with any or all responsive and responsible

Proposers who submit Proposals determined to be acceptable of being selected for award.

Presentations and pre-award discussions and negotiations may be limited at the discretion of the Committee to short listed Proposers. Discussions may be conducted for the purpose of clarification and to assure full understanding of, and responsiveness to, the solicitation requirements. The City/CRA will not be liable for any costs incurred by the Proposer in connection with such interviews, presentations, or negotiations (i.e., travel, accommodations, etc.).

Optional Discussion

At the discretion and in the best interest of the City/CRA, the City or Committee may conduct discussions with Proposers (or the short-listed Proposers, as applicable) or seek revision of

Proposals from Proposers (or the short-listed Proposers, as applicable) deemed to be responsible and reasonably acceptable to be selected. Such Proposers (or short-listed

Proposers) will be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to discussion and revision of the Proposals. Revisions may be permitted after submission of Proposals and prior to award of a

Contract for the purpose of obtaining best and final offers.

Award Without Presentations

The City/CRA may evaluate and award a Contract based on responses to this Request for

Proposals without discussions or oral presentations. Therefore, each response to this RFP should contain the Proposer's best terms and conditions for consideration.

Scoring and Final Ranking

Each Advisory Committee member will evaluate the proposals based on the factors set forth in the Evaluation Criteria of the Solicitation and assign a score for each criterion ranging from zero

(0) points to the maximum points allowed for each rating criteria. The individual criteria scores will then be added to determine the total score. The maximum possible total score from the

Advisory Committee is one hundred (100), before the MBE and/or Local Preference is added.

In the event of a tie, the City’s Procurement Manager, or designee, may instruct the Advisory

Committee to conduct further deliberations, evaluations, and rescoring of the Respondents until a ranking, or total score, without a tie is achieved.

The Committee will evaluate and rank the responsive Proposers deemed acceptable to be selected (or the short-listed Respondents, as applicable) as set forth in the preceding section entitled “Evaluation Criteria”. In the event that the Committee previously elected to short list

Respondents, any rankings or scores assigned as part of the short listing process shall not be binding on the Committee or its members as part of final evaluation and Committee members may modify their scores for any and all Proposers and scoring categories as they deem appropriate in their sole discretion. The Committee shall submit the proposed rank order to the

Procurement Manager or designee after the conclusion of scheduled presentations, if any. Upon approval of the ranking by the Procurement Manager or designee, a notice of intended action shall be posted. The notice of intended action may be obtained by the Proposers as set forth in the section of this RFP titled “Request for Proposals Information”.

Authority to Award

Contracts shall be awarded in accordance with the provisions of the City’s Procurement

Ordinance and Policy.

Reserved Right

The City/CRA, at its sole and absolute discretion, reserves the right to reject any and all, or parts of any and all proposals, to re-advertise this solicitation, postpone or cancel, at any time, this solicitation process, or to waive minor irregularities and informalities in this RFP or in the proposals received as a result of this RFP. The City/CRA does not guarantee the award of any

Contract as a result of this solicitation process.

The City/CRA reserves the right to request that the Proposer provide additional information it deems necessary to evaluate, clarify, or substantiate any area contained in each submitted

Proposal and to best meet the needs of the City/CRA. This includes information which indicates financial resources as well as ability to provide and maintain the system and/or services.

Moreover, the City/CRA reserves the right to make investigations of the qualifications of the

Proposer as it deems appropriate, including but not be limited to, a background investigation conducted by the Fort Myers Police Department.

7. Contract Negotiations and Acceptance

Respondent must be prepared for the City/CRA to accept the Submittal as presented. If

Respondent fails to sign all documents necessary to successfully execute the final contract within a reasonable time, or negotiations do not result in an acceptable agreement, the

City/CRA may reject the Submittal or revoke the award and may begin negotiations with the next highest Respondent. Final contract terms must be approved or signed by the appropriately authorized Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) official(s). No binding contract will exist between the Respondent and the CRA until the CRA executes a written contract or purchase order.

No. Evaluation Criteria Scoring Method Weight (Points)

1. Demonstrate Experience and

Expertise in Affordable Housing

Construction o The approach the scope of services, including a comprehensive representation, demonstrating an understanding and a commitment of how you intend to implement and fulfill the requirements of the scope of services.

o Specify the size and layout options available for the 26 homes.

o Explain how you would incorporate green spaces or community amenities into the project design to further enhance the neighborhood.

o Outline a plan for ongoing maintenance of the infrastructure improvements along Edison Ave.

o Experience and capabilities to perform the scope of work.

o Required experience & capabilities in-house.

Points Based 40 (40% of Total)

2. Approach and Methodology for

Achieving Project Objectives.

• Experience and capabilities to perform the scope of work.

• Existing workload and ability to meet timeline(s) outlined in the project.

• Outline a plan for ongoing maintenance of the infrastructure improvements along Edison Ave.

• Describe how your organization will have the capacity to build the houses and provide housing counseling/education to ensure our families' success.

• Provide 2 examples of completed projects with similar scope within the last 5 years.

Points Based 30 (30% of Total)

3. Home Buyer Eligibility and

Creditworthiness

• Outline the process for selecting homebuyers, considering factors like income eligibility and creditworthiness.

Points Based 20 (20% of Total)

4. Adequate and Proficient Personnel

• Sufficient staff with the right skills to back up team members or speed up job if necessary.

• Academic, training, and licensed credentials provided in areas that relate to the project.

Points Based 10 (10% of Total)

4. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

Procurement Services is the official source to obtain information relating to City of Fort Myers solicitations. It is incumbent on the Respondent to obtain solicitation and current award information prior to and after the scheduled opening date of a Solicitation. Information is updated as it becomes available. An award, or recommendation of award, may be made at any time after the scheduled opening date.

APPLICABLE LAW AND APPEALS

This Solicitation is issued in accordance with and shall be governed by the provisions and procedures of Chapter 38, Article III and Article IV of the City of Fort Myers’s Code of

Ordinances which may be accessed online at:

https://library.municode.com/fl/fort_myers/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAADCO_CH38

FI_ARTIIIPU

or by contacting Procurement Services. Any appeal relating to this solicitation must be filed in accordance with the requirements of the City Code of Ordinances.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT

Persons with disabilities needing a special accommodation to participate in this proceeding should contact Procurement Services, at 2200 Second Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901, cfmpurchasing@cityftmyers.com or 239 321-7232, no later than seven (7) days prior to the date on which the accommodation is requested.

The portal will keep all files locked until the solicitation officially closes. The time clock in

OpenGov shall be the “Official Time” that shall be used in identifying the actual closing time. Submittals will not be accepted after the date and time specified. Electronic submissions are the responsibility of the Respondent.

The City will not be responsible for the distribution of addenda and/or other information regarding this request if the Respondent did not register in the City’s

Bid Portal, in OpenGov. All addenda will be provided via OpenGov.

4.1. Introduction

To be entitled for consideration, electronic submittals shall be submitted in accordance with the instructions of this solicitation within the time stated.

The portal will keep all files locked until the Solicitation closes.

The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all submittals and to waive minor irregularities and technicalities. The City’s decision in such matters is final.

4.2. Solicitation Documents

Visit the City of Fort Myers Procurement Services Website https://www.cityftmyers.com/1171/Procurement-Services, follow the link to Active Solicitations to obtain solicitation information. Correct registration information is the responsibility of the supplier. The City will not be responsible for incorrect contact information.

https://library.municode.com/fl/fort_myers/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAADCO_CH38FI_ARTIIIPU https://library.municode.com/fl/fort_myers/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=SPAADCO_CH38FI_ARTIIIPU mailto:cfmpurchasing@cityftmyers.com https://www.cityftmyers.com/1171/Procurement-Services

A. Solicitation documents must be used in preparing submittals; the City does not assume any responsibility for errors or misinterpretations resulting from the use of incomplete

Solicitation Documents.

B. The City provides solicitation documents for the purpose of obtaining submissions.

4.3. Examination of Solicitation Documents

It is the responsibility of each Respondent, before submitting an offer to

A. Download solicitation documents from OpenGov. Documents from other sources are not guaranteed to be accurate.

B. Examine the Documents thoroughly; it is the respondents responsibility to understand the requirements and to request additional information (via questions in OpenGov) if needed.

C. Consider Federal, State, and Local Laws, ordinances, codes, and Regulations that may affect cost, progress, performance or furnishing of the Work.

D. Study and carefully correlate Respondent’s observations with the Documents, and

E. Notify City of all conflicts, errors, or discrepancies in the Documents.

F. The Contract form that the City intends to use for the award is included as an attachment with this solicitation for reference. While this draft Contract contains standard legal language and is not routinely modified, any exceptions to this standard

Contract should be clearly indicated in the Vendor’s questionnaire and Respondent understands that such exceptions may affect the evaluation of the submittal.

Modification or alteration of this Contract shall only be valid if mutually agreed to in writing by the parties.

1. The City reserves the right to make minor modifications to this contract for specific solicitations, prior to execution of the contract.

4.4. Interpretations and Addenda

A. All questions about the meaning or intent of the solicitation document are to be submitted through the OpenGov Portal. Only questions received prior to the date and time specified in the timeline will be considered. Only questions answered by formal written Addenda will be binding. Oral and other interpretations or clarifications will be without legal effect.

Any addenda issued electronically during the time of solicitation shall be included in the solicitation, and each will be incorporated in the subsequent contract.

All answers to questions of substance will be publicly published. Revisions within the solicitation as well questions posed through the “Questions & Answer” feature are authoritative and shall be considered an addendum to the solicitation. All information in this Solicitation, including that provided through the 'Question and Answer' feature are incorporated into the Solicitation or any Contract resulting from this

Solicitation. Participants are required to review all addenda, revisions, and answers to questions published.

No oral interpretations will be made to Respondents as to the meaning of submittal documents. Requests for such interpretations are to be submitted through the OpenGov

Portal. Failure on the part of the Respondent to do so shall not relieve them of the obligation to execute such work in accordance with the latest interpretation by the

City. All interpretations made to the Respondent shall be made in the form of addenda to the submittal documents and posted to OpenGov. Respondents are strongly urged to attend the pre-submittal meeting.

B. Addenda may also be issued to modify the Solicitation Documents as required by the

City.

4.5. Omission from the Solicitation

The apparent silence of any addendum regarding any details or the omission from the

Solicitation of a detailed description concerning any point shall be regarded as meaning that only the best commercial practices are to prevail. All interpretations of this Solicitation shall be made upon the basis of this Contract.

4.6. Procurement Ordinance and Policy

The City’s Procurement Ordinance and Policy is incorporated into this solicitation (and, therefore, any contract awarded as the result of this solicitation) by reference. By participation in this solicitation a Respondent agrees to be bound by the City Procurement Ordinance and

Policy in any issue or action related to this solicitation or subsequent contract resulting from this solicitation.

4.7. Submittal Preparation

A. Preparation

Prepare your response in a clear and concise manner. Ensure that the content of your submittal is complete. Special attention should be given to the specific information, instructions and requirements of the Solicitation document to ensure responsiveness.

Responses that are incomplete or lack key information may be rejected. To help facilitate the review process, properly label each section or tab to correspond with your submittal information.

B. Incurred Expenses

The City is not responsible for any expenses which Respondents may incur in preparing and submitting Proposals including presentations or any other expenses incurred by the

Respondents.

C. Proprietary Information

1. In accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes (Public Records Law), and except as may be provided by other applicable State and Federal Law, all

Respondents should be aware the Solicitation and the responses are in the public domain after the intent to award notification or thirty (30) days after solicitation closing. Respondents are requested to identify specifically any information contained in their Proposals which they consider confidential and/or proprietary and which they believe to be exempt from disclosure to the public under applicable law, citing specifically the applicable exempting law; provided, however, that nothing shall be deemed to preclude the full disclosure without redaction of any and all information submitted by Respondents to Committee members, advisors to the Committee, and

City staff and officials administering this solicitation and evaluating the proposals. A generic notation that information is “confidential” is not sufficient. Failure to provide

Procurement Services with a detailed explanation and justification including statutory cites and specific reference to your response detailing what provisions, if any, you believe are exempt from disclosure, may result in your entire response being subject to disclosure in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.

2. In addition to the response submitted, a Respondent asserting any exemptions from public disclosure regarding any portions of its response shall also provide a redacted copy of its Proposal in electronic format suitable for public disclosure, redacting only such portions of its proposal identified on Attachment “E” as exempt from disclosure under an applicable law.

3. By submitting a response, a Respondent acknowledges and agrees that should it designate any materials submitted to the City as confidential or exempt from public disclosure, the Respondent will upon the request of City (at the City’s discretion) defend the City (and its employees, Committee members and advisors, agents, and elected and appointed officials) against all claims and actions (whether or not a lawsuit is commenced) related to the Respondent's designation of material as confidential or exempt from public disclosure. A Respondent shall indemnify and hold harmless the City (and its employees, Committee members and advisors, agents and elected and appointed officials) from any and all claims, actions, suits, judgements, fines, costs, fees (including attorneys' fees), related to the Respondent’s designation of material as confidential or exempt from public disclosure.

4. Nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude the City from exercising its own judgment regarding the disclosure of records and the City may take any action that the City in good faith believes is necessary for City to comply with federal and/or

Florida public records laws, including but not limited to filing a declaratory action.

5. All submittals received from Respondents in response to this Solicitation will become the property of the City of Fort Myers and will not be returned.

4.8. Submission Requirements (RFP/RSQ)

Respondents are responsible for uploading submittals directly into OpenGov.

Submit statements through the OpenGov portal at:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityftmyers. The representative who is authorized, to bind the Respondent to the submittal shall sign the qualification statement.

A submittal is timely only if received through the OpenGov portal no later than the precise date and time stated on the timeline. The official time used to determine such time, will be the time clock on the OpenGov portal. The portal will not accept submittals after the date and time set for closing.

A. A single PDF formatted document signed by an authorized representative must be submitted via the OpenGov portal:

B. Title Page – Introduction

Provide the name of Respondent's firm, address, e-mail address, telephone number, name of contact person, date, and the subject: Solicitation Number and Title

C. Table of contents including page numbers, bookmarked by section.

D. Letter of Transmittal

1. Limit to two (2) pages.

2. Briefly state the Respondent’s understanding of the services to be provided and make a positive commitment to perform the work.

3. Provide the names of anyone who is authorized to represent the Respondent, their titles, addresses and telephone numbers.

E. Mandatory Minimum Qualification Documentation

Provide documentation as necessary for the City to verify that the mandatory minimum qualifications in section titled "Mandatory Minimum Qualifications," have been met. Documentation must be clear and specific.

F. Required Documents – (see Vendor Submission section)

G. Respondents by corporation must be executed in the corporate name by the President or Vice-President (or other corporate officer accompanied by evidence of authority to sign), and the corporate seal must be affixed and attested by the secretary or an assistant secretary. The corporate address and state of incorporation must be shown below the signature.

H. Respondents by partnerships must be executed in the partnership name and signed by a partner whose title must appear under the signature and the official address of the partnership must be shown below the signature.

I. Litigation History

The Respondent shall describe whether Respondent is involved in any litigation, currently or within the last seven (7) years. Respondent shall also describe whether they have any outstanding judgments pending against Respondent.

J. Bankruptcy

The Respondent shall provide information on any bankruptcy proceedings for the firm or the primaries in the last seven (7) years.

K. Proprietary Information

In accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes (Public Records Law), and except as may be provided by other applicable State and Federal Law, all Respondents should be aware the Request for Proposals and the responses thereto are in the public domain and will be released upon notice of award or thirty (30) days from solicitation closing, whichever comes first. Respondents must specifically identify any information contained in their Proposals which they consider confidential and/or proprietary and which they believe to be exempt from disclosure to the public under applicable law, citing specifically the applicable exempting law; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude the full disclosure without redaction of any and all information submitted by Respondents to Committee members, advisors to the Committee, and City staff and officials administering this solicitation and evaluating the proposals. A generic notation that information is “confidential” is not sufficient. Failure to provide

Procurement Services with a detailed explanation and justification including statutory cites and specific reference to your Proposal detailing what provisions, if any, you believe are exempt from disclosure, may result in your entire Proposal being subject to disclosure in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.

Each Respondent must complete the “Confidential and/or Proprietary Information

Section of the Questionnaire”, included with this solicitation.

In addition to the Proposal submitted a Respondent asserting any exemptions from public disclosure regarding any portions of its Proposal shall also provide a redacted copy of its Proposal in electronic format suitable for public disclosure, redacting only such portions of its proposal as exempt from disclosure under an applicable law.

By submitting a proposal, a Respondent acknowledges and agrees that should it designate any materials submitted to the City as confidential or exempt from public disclosure, the Respondent will upon the request of City (at the City’s discretion) defend the City (and its employees, Committee members and advisors, agents, and elected and appointed officials) against all claims and actions (whether or not a lawsuit is commenced) related to the Respondent's designation of material as confidential or exempt from public disclosure. A Respondent shall indemnify and hold harmless the City

(and its employees, Committee members and advisors, agents and elected and appointed officials) from any and all claims, actions, suits, judgements, fines, costs, fees

(including attorneys' fees), related to the Respondent’s designation of material as confidential or exempt from public disclosure.

Nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude the City from exercising its own judgment regarding the disclosure of records and the City may take any action that the City in good faith believes is necessary for City to comply with federal and/or Florida public records laws, including but not limited to filing a declaratory action.

All Proposals received from Respondents in response to this Request for Proposals will become the property of the City of Fort Myers and will not be returned.

L. Electronic Pricing Form Instructions

Procurement Services has implemented an electronic e-procurement platform to streamline the solicitation process.

All responsive Respondents to this solicitation must submit electronic submittals/responses through OpenGov. Paper responses will be deemed non-responsive.

1. PRICING INSTRUCTIONS (if applicable)

a. Once you have logged into your OpenGov account, go to the solicitation in which you want to bid/participate on. Then click on “Draft Response,” complete the information requested, upload your bid/quote/submittal, along with all required attachments, and submit.

b. Unit prices for each item bid shall be shown (if applicable). A total shall be entered in the amount column for each item bid. In case of discrepancy between a unit price and extended price, the unit prices will prevail.

c. Although the City generally awards bids based on a "lump sum" basis to the responsive and responsible Bidder submitting the lowest total bid, the City may choose to award on a "per group" or "per item" basis. Therefore, Bidders must submit with their bids, all pricing pages on the forms provided clearly indicating which items are bid and which are not. Failure to submit these pages may render such bids non-responsive.

d. No additional charges, other than those listed on the price sheets, shall be made.

Prices quoted will include verification/coordination of order, all costs for shipping, delivery to all sites, unpacking, setup, installation, operation, testing, cleanup, training and travel charges.

4.9. Submission Requirements (ITB)

Respondents are responsible for uploading submittals directly into OpenGov.

Submit statements through the OpenGov portal at:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/cityftmyers. The representative who is authorized, to bind the Respondent to the submittal shall sign the qualification statement.

A submittal is timely only if received through the OpenGov portal no later than the precise date and time stated on the timeline. The official time used to determine such time, will be the time clock on the OpenGov portal. The portal will not accept submittals after the date and time set for closing.

A. Mandatory Minimum Qualification Documentation

Provide documentation as necessary for the City to verify that the mandatory minimum qualifications in section titled "Mandatory Minimum Qualifications," have been met. Documentation must be clear and specific.

B. Required Documents – (see Vendor Submission section)

C. Respondents by corporation must be executed in the corporate name by the President or Vice-President (or other corporate officer accompanied by evidence of authority to sign), and the corporate seal must be affixed and attested by the secretary or an assistant secretary. The corporate address and state of incorporation must be shown below the signature.

D. Respondents by partnerships must be executed in the partnership name and signed by a partner whose title must appear under the signature and the official address of the partnership must be shown below the signature.

E. Litigation History

The Respondent shall describe whether Respondent is involved in any litigation, currently or within the last seven (7) years. Respondent shall also describe whether they have any outstanding judgments pending against Respondent.

F. Bankruptcy

The Respondent shall provide information on any bankruptcy proceedings for the firm or the primaries in the last seven (7) years.

G. Proprietary Information

In accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes (Public Records Law), and except as may be provided by other applicable State and Federal Law, all Respondents should be aware the Request for Proposals and the responses thereto are in the public domain and will be released upon notice of award or thirty (30) days from solicitation closing, whichever comes first. Respondents must specifically identify any information contained in their Proposals which they consider confidential and/or proprietary and which they believe to be exempt from disclosure to the public under applicable law, citing specifically the applicable exempting law; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude the full disclosure without redaction of any and all information submitted by Respondents to Committee members, advisors to the Committee, and City staff and officials administering this solicitation and evaluating the proposals. A generic notation that information is “confidential” is not sufficient. Failure to provide

Procurement Services with a detailed explanation and justification including statutory cites and specific reference to your Proposal detailing what provisions, if any, you believe are exempt from disclosure, may result in your entire Proposal being subject to disclosure in accordance with Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes.

Each Respondent must complete the “Confidential and/or Proprietary Information

Section of the Questionnaire”, included with this solicitation.

In addition to the Proposal submitted a Respondent asserting any exemptions from public disclosure regarding any portions of its Proposal shall also provide a redacted copy of its Proposal in electronic format suitable for public disclosure, redacting only such portions of its proposal as exempt from disclosure under an applicable law.

By submitting a proposal, a Respondent acknowledges and agrees that should it designate any materials submitted to the City as confidential or exempt from public disclosure, the Respondent will upon the request of City (at the City’s discretion) defend the City (and its employees, Committee members and advisors, agents, and elected and appointed officials) against all claims and actions (whether or not a lawsuit is commenced) related to the Respondent's designation of material as confidential or exempt from public disclosure. A Respondent shall indemnify and hold harmless the City

(and its employees, Committee members and advisors, agents and elected and appointed officials) from any and all claims, actions, suits, judgements, fines, costs, fees

(including attorneys' fees), related to the Respondent’s designation of material as confidential or exempt from public disclosure.

Nothing herein shall be deemed to preclude the City from exercising its own judgment regarding the disclosure of records and the City may take any action that the City in good faith believes is necessary for City to comply with federal and/or Florida public records laws, including but not limited to filing a declaratory action.

All Proposals received from Respondents in response to this Request for Proposals will become the property of the City of Fort Myers and will not be returned.

H. Electronic Pricing Form Instructions

Procurement Services has implemented an electronic e-procurement platform to streamline the solicitation process.

All responsive Respondents to this solicitation must submit electronic submittals/responses through OpenGov. Paper responses will be deemed non-responsive.

1. PRICING INSTRUCTIONS (if applicable)

a. Once you have logged into your OpenGov account, go to the solicitation in which you want to bid/participate on. Then click on “Draft Response,” complete the information requested, upload your bid/quote/submittal, along with all required attachments, and submit.

b. Unit prices for each item bid shall be shown (if applicable). A total shall be entered in the amount column for each item bid. In case of discrepancy between a unit price and extended price, the unit prices will prevail.

c. No additional charges, other than those listed on the price sheets, shall be made.

Prices quoted will include verification/coordination of order, all costs for shipping, delivery to all sites, unpacking, setup, installation, operation, testing, cleanup, training and travel charges.

4.10. Delivery of Submittal

Except as provided in the "Americans with Disabilities Act," for people needing special accommodations, to be responsive proposals for this solicitation must be submitted electronically. Paper responses will be deemed non-responsive.

A. Instructions for submitting a response

1. Once you have logged into your OpenGov account, go to the solicitation in which you want to bid/participate on. Then click on “Draft Response,” complete the information requested, upload your submittal, along with all required attachments, and submit.

Respondents are solely responsible for ensuring that their submittals are complete, uploaded and submitted in the e-Procurement Portal by the due date and time. The

City shall not be responsible for any submission delays or failures caused by any occurrence.

B. Proposal Binding

All submissions submitted shall be binding for one hundred eighty (180) calendar days following opening.

C. Late Submissions

Late Submissions will not be accepted. Respondents shall assume full responsibility for timely upload of the Proposals.

4.11. Conformance to Solicitation

A. All submittals shall meet and conform to all material, mandatory requirements set forth in this Solicitation, provided that nothing shall be deemed to limit the City’s ability to waive minor irregularities without notice or the need to issue a written addendum.

If a Respondent desires to submit an Offer which, if selected by the City, would require the City to waive, alter or omit a material, mandatory requirement set forth in this

Solicitation, the Respondent must first submit a request to the City asking the City to amend the requirements of this Solicitation in the same manner provided for the submission of written questions by Respondents provided in the section of this

Solicitation entitled “Interpretations and Addenda.” If the City, in its discretion, agrees to amend, alter, or waive the requirement, the City shall issue notice to all prospective participants of the change in the form of a written addendum.

Any request to waive, alter, or amend a mandatory requirement of the Solicitation should be in the form of a written question that can be answered in an Addendum issued to all participants. Please note, the City is not asking the participant to send in their submittal prior to the submission date, but merely to request a waiver or amendment to a mandatory requirement necessary to allow submission of the intended

Proposal.

4.12. Modification and Withdrawal of Solicitations

A. Solicitations may be modified or withdrawn by through the Respondent’s account on

OpenGov any time prior to the opening of Solicitations.

B. If, within twenty-four hours after Solicitations are opened, any Respondent files a duly signed written notice with City and promptly thereafter demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of City that there was a material and substantial mistake in the preparation of its Solicitation, that Respondent may withdraw its Solicitation and the Solicitation security will be returned.