26Q-047 Prequalified Consulting Firms for Feasibility Analysis Services

Marion County, Florida is conducting a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to prequalify a pool of professional consulting firms to provide feasibility analysis services for tourism development initiatives throughout the county on an as-needed, task order basis. The procurement seeks firms capable of delivering market analysis, economic and financial feasibility studies, site and infrastructure evaluation, concept development, and implementation support services. Deliverables include individual feasibility reports, supporting data and maps, executive summaries, and presentation materials to County staff and the Board of County Commissioners. Key objectives include informing strategic planning, identifying funding opportunities, and supporting decision-making for projects designed to enhance Marion County's tourism assets, visitor experience, and overall economic impact. Evaluation criteria include Firm and Professional Personnel Qualifications and Capabilities (100 points), Similar Experience with a minimum of three comparable reference letters from similar demographic or regional markets (100 points), Project Approach demonstrating understanding of on-demand rotation and technical capabilities (50 points), Scheduling ability and current workload capacity (25 points), and Case Study evaluation based on relevant experience and proposed approach (75 points). Firms must demonstrate experience conducting tourism and recreation feasibility studies for public-sector clients, qualified key personnel with understanding of Florida tourism and outdoor recreation markets, ability to meet project schedules and budgets, and must submit one representative case study. The proposal due date is March 6, 2026, with proposals submitted electronically through the Marion County Procurement Services Bonfire portal at https://marionfl.bonfirehub.com, and all vendor communications must occur through the portal's designated features.

The solicitation documents do not identify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to disadvantaged enterprises or particular organization types; however, all responding vendors must comply with federal, state, and local laws, register with and utilize the E-Verify system for employment authorization verification, maintain a drug-free workplace, and comply with Florida Statutes regarding public records retention and disclosure. Contractors must maintain workers' compensation insurance, commercial general liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and business automobile liability of $500,000 combined single limit. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documents, and respondents must disclose any potential conflicts of interest involving Marion County employees, public officers, or advisory board members as required by Florida Statute 112.313. The initial contract term is three years with options to renew for up to two additional two-year periods contingent upon mutual agreement and satisfactory performance; however, the solicitation does not guarantee any minimum or maximum amount of work, and no specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the available documents. Payment terms default to NET 45 days following invoice receipt or final acceptance, though Marion County accepts Visa p-card payment within seventy-two hours of receipt and acceptance. The County reserves the right to conduct oral presentations with top-scoring proposers, request best and final offers, and negotiate with the most qualified firm sequentially if necessary.