Appraisal Services

The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), Division of Unclaimed Property, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for comprehensive appraisal services related to items from unclaimed safe deposit boxes and safekeeping repositories. The primary objectives include appraising rare, unusual, high-end, and potentially fraudulent items to establish minimum auction bids and replacement values for claimed items. Qualified vendors must be certified by a nationally recognized appraiser's association, possess a minimum of 5 years of general appraisal experience, and have certified gemological appraisers for gemological evaluations. The scope of services covers appraising a diverse range of items including coins, currency, jewelry, precious metals, sports memorabilia, historical documents, and collectibles, with an estimated annual volume of 350 pre-auction evaluations and 575 replacement value appraisals. The RFP will be evaluated on a 200-point scale, with 100 points allocated to technical response (100 points) and 100 points to pricing (50 points each for initial and renewal term pricing). Key procurement dates include questions due by January 8, 2025, responses due by January 31, 2025 at 3:30 PM ET, with an anticipated contract start date of March 3, 2025.

The contract will be awarded for a 5-year term with potential for up to 5 additional years of renewals, administered through the Vendor Information Portal (VIP). There are no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types mentioned in the documentation. Contractors must maintain professional liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and provide performance and fidelity bonds of $100,000 each. Services may be performed on-site at the Division of Unclaimed Property in Tallahassee or remotely for items that can be accurately evaluated by photograph, with a 5'x3' workspace provided for on-site appraisals. The contract funding is contingent upon annual legislative appropriation, and while no specific budget range is disclosed, historical data indicates significant volume fluctuations in gemological appraisals and claimed items. The Department anticipates making a single contract award, though multiple regional awards may be considered if deemed necessary. No direct compensation will be provided for expenses, including travel, and the contract will involve monthly invoicing on a fixed-rate basis.