Design and engineering services for I-4 / sand lake road interchange gateway improvements

Orange County, Florida is soliciting design and engineering services for the I-4/Sand Lake Road Interchange Gateway Improvements project (Y26-802), seeking a qualified consultant to complete comprehensive infrastructure enhancement work. The scope includes final engineering design for landscape planting, irrigation, hardscape improvements, pond fountains, specialty pavements, lighting, and gateway signage along Sand Lake Road extending 0.4 miles from Turkey Lake Road to International Drive. Proposers must be Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) pre-qualified in Major Work Groups 3.1 (Minor Highway Design) and 15.0 (Landscape Architect), with sub-consultants pre-qualified in work groups 4.1.1 (Miscellaneous Structures) and 9.1 (Soil Exploration). The evaluation will be based on weighted criteria including similar project experience of the project manager (15 points) and project engineer (10 points), project team skills (15 points), location (10 points), and approach/understanding of scope (30 points), totaling 80 points with potential bonus points for dislocated worker hiring and Service-Disabled Veteran participation. Key deadlines include a non-mandatory virtual pre-proposal conference on January 13, 2026, at 11:00 AM, a question submission deadline of January 20, 2026, at 4:00 PM, and final proposal submissions due electronically via the OpenGov e-Procurement Platform by February 10, 2026, at 4:00 PM EST.

The procurement offers potential bonus points for Service-Disabled Veteran participation (up to 15 points) and dislocated worker hiring (up to 5 points), indicating some preference for diverse contractor participation. The proposed Project Manager must be a Professional Landscape Architect registered in Florida and currently employed by the prime consultant, while the Project Engineer must be a Professional Engineer also registered in Florida. Professional Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence with a deductible not exceeding $100,000 is required. The project has an estimated design fee of $620,000 and an anticipated construction cost of $11,000,000, with all deliverables to be completed within 365 calendar days of the Notice to Proceed. The contract will be awarded on a lump sum basis with monthly progress payments based on approved work completion, following Florida Statute 287.055 selection procedures. Orange County reserves the right to accept or reject any proposals and waive technicalities at its sole discretion, ensuring flexibility in the procurement process.