Collection Agency Services

Sarasota County is seeking a collection agency through an Invitation for Quotes (IFQ) #242621MN to collect past due accounts across multiple county departments, including Emergency Medical Services, False Fire Alarm Fees, Inspection Fees, Utility Water & Sewer Bills, and Utility Capacity Loans. The selected contractor must process monthly collection files, maintain account status, send periodic statements, establish payment plans, and provide comprehensive monthly and annual reporting. Qualified vendors must demonstrate compliance with Florida Statutes, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and HIPAA regulations, with the ability to file with all three major credit bureaus and provide collection services across all 50 U.S. states, U.S. territories, and Canada. The contract has an anticipated initial term of three years, with quotes limited to $150,000 per project or contract year. The procurement will be conducted through OpenGov Procurement, with the due date for submissions set for October 2, 2024.

The solicitation does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions for specific enterprise types, and local or American business preferences do not apply due to grant funding requirements. The collection agency will operate on a no-fee collection model, meaning compensation will only be received for successfully collected accounts. Insurance requirements include Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability with $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate limits, and Business Automobile Liability. While no incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contractor must have robust technological capabilities to manage complex, multi-departmental debt collection processes. The total contract value is not explicitly stated, but the annual quote limit of $150,000 suggests a moderate-scale procurement focused on recovering delinquent municipal accounts across various Sarasota County departments and services.