Comprehensive Compensation and Benefit Study

The City of Palm Coast, Florida is issuing Request for Proposals (RFP-HR-26-41) seeking qualified consulting firms to conduct a comprehensive employee classification, compensation, and benefits study. The procurement requires consultants with demonstrated expertise and success in conducting compensation and benefits studies to evaluate the City's job classifications, pay structures, and employee benefits for internal equity, market competitiveness, and legal compliance. Key deliverables include updated job descriptions, revised pay grades and salary ranges, a comprehensive final report with implementation guidance, and a strategy to ensure employee compensation and benefits align with market competitiveness. The City employs approximately 557 full-time employees across approximately 150 job classifications, with one collective bargaining unit representing approximately 14% of the workforce. The scope of work encompasses job classification evaluations, compensation and classification analysis, benefits surveys, and recommendations for a fair, competitive, and financially sustainable compensation structure. Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Project Understanding and Proposal (20 points), Experience with Similar Projects and Technical Capability (20 points), Project Team (10 points), Project Methodology and Technical Approach (30 points), and Proposal Cost (20 points). The question deadline is February 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and proposals must be submitted electronically through the City's Procurement Portal (Bonfire Hub) by February 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST. The public opening will occur on February 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM at City Hall, 160 Lake Avenue, Palm Coast, Florida 32164. The contract term is one year with options for two additional annual renewals.

The City of Palm Coast maintains a Local Business Preference Policy that allows local vendors (those with headquarters or operations in Palm Coast for at least one year) to be awarded if their cost is within 3-5% of the lowest bid, up to a maximum of $20,000 in preference consideration. Proposers must comply with E-Verify requirements, certify drug-free workplace status, and demonstrate compliance with all federal, state, and local laws, including anti-discrimination requirements and public records obligations. Required insurance coverage includes professional liability insurance of a minimum of $1,000,000, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and workers' compensation coverage as required by Florida statute. The RFP requests fixed-price proposals, though specific budget ranges or award values are not disclosed in the available documentation. The City reserves the right to reject all submittals, waive formalities, re-advertise for new proposals, or abandon the project entirely, and bidders are strictly prohibited from contacting City staff, Council members, or the City Manager regarding the solicitation prior to formal presentation and City Council vote.