Bond Counsel Services

The City of Winter Park, Florida, located in Orange County, is soliciting proposals through Request for Proposal 26-5 to retain qualified law firms to provide bond counsel services, disclosure counsel services, or both with separately staffed teams for the municipality's debt issuance and financing matters. The scope of services encompasses legal representation in connection with the authorization, issuance, and sale of municipal debt instruments, including preparation of ordinances, resolutions, legal opinions, validation pleadings, and post-issuance compliance support. The City anticipates potential bond financing in the $25,000,000 to $50,000,000 range for undergrounding power lines, with no other debt issuances currently contemplated in the five-year capital improvement plan, though the contract will support ongoing legal counsel for various financing matters. Respondents must propose tiered fee structures based on per-$1,000 bond pricing for four debt size categories (0-$10,000,000; $10,000,001-$25,000,000; $25,000,001-$50,000,000; and over $50,000,000), minimum and maximum debt transaction fees for both bond deals and bank loans, and hourly rates for partner and associate time on non-bond services. The deadline for submitting questions is February 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., with proposals due February 24, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., submitted electronically through the City's e-Procurement Portal; a non-mandatory selection committee meeting is scheduled for March 10, 2026, with oral presentations and interviews anticipated for April 1, 2026. Evaluation criteria consist of experience (20 points), key project personnel qualifications (15 points), professional contacts and references (15 points), technical approach to bond counsel services (25 points), and cost-effectiveness (25 points), with Phase 2 evaluation for shortlisted firms focusing on engagement quality, understanding of City needs, workload management capacity, and distinctive qualifications.

Respondents must demonstrate E-Verify compliance, provide sworn statements regarding public entity crimes and absence of coercion, submit drug-free workplace certifications, and provide background check verification compliance documentation. Professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 is required, along with W-9 forms and references from at least three prior clients. The RFP does not indicate specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on respondent types beyond standard legal and professional qualifications. No incumbent vendor information or existing technology integration requirements are specified in the available documentation. The resulting contract will have an initial term of sixty consecutive months from execution, with optional renewal periods of up to two additional 12-month terms, not to exceed eighty-four months total, subject to City Commission approval. The City maintains broad discretion to reject proposals, cancel the solicitation, waive minor irregularities, and award to the most advantageous responsive and responsible respondent, with a Cone of Silence period prohibiting respondent communications with City officials from issuance through City Commission award action.