Fire Impact Fee Study

The City of Ocala, Florida, issued Request for Proposal #BUD/260480 to procure consulting services for a comprehensive Fire Impact Fee Study. The consultant will collaborate with City Staff and the City Attorney to collect existing data and develop additional data necessary to support a study that recommends an economically and legally defensible set of fire impact fees designed to offset growth-related impacts, with the resulting study and plan required to comply with the Florida Impact Fees Act (Florida Statutes 2025). Key deliverables include a minimum of three draft reports for review and a final compiled report suitable for City Council consideration, with the consultant responsible for reviewing and evaluating the City's existing fire impact fees, collecting and assessing localized data, developing impact fee determination methodologies, and providing recommendations for fee structures demonstrating a rational nexus between fees and growth-related impacts. Prospective vendors must demonstrate a minimum of five years' experience in providing Fire Impact Fee Studies and must have completed at least three such studies within the last five years. The evaluation will employ a best-value selection approach with proposals scored on experience and qualifications (40 points), project understanding and methodology (40 points), and price (20 points), with the City reserving the right to conduct interviews with shortlisted firms before final selection. The deadline for submission of questions is March 19, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST, and sealed electronic proposals must be submitted via the City's e-procurement portal by March 26, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. EST. The resulting contract will be for an initial term of one year from the Notice to Proceed with three optional one-year renewal terms available, and the anticipated project completion date is May 3, 2027.

No local preference is available under this solicitation, and no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are identified in the documentation provided. Professional liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per claim with a three-year coverage period is required for the awarded vendor. No incumbent vendor, current contractor, or existing infrastructure requiring integration has been identified in the solicitation documents. The RFP does not specify a budget range or award value within the provided documentation; prospective bidders must consult the complete Request for Proposal and attached exhibits, including Exhibit A (Price Proposal), for detailed information regarding cost proposals and any other contract terms and conditions necessary to submit a responsive bid. Proposals must not exceed 30 pages excluding cover pages and attachments and must include a detailed price proposal with lump sum costs for the Fire Assessment & Fire Impact Fee Studies as outlined in the scope of work.