Municipal Fire Protection Non-Ad Valorem Assessment Program and Rate Study
Closed State & local contract opportunity Posted
- Solicitation number
- 2026-RFP-100
- State
- Florida
- Responses due
Opportunity facts
- Jurisdiction
- Point of contact
-
- Cristy Newton cristy.newton@lakelandgov.net (863) 834-6788
Opportunity details come from procurement.opengov.com. Updated .
About this opportunity
The City of Lakeland is soliciting proposals from qualified consulting firms to develop a comprehensive municipal fire protection non-ad valorem assessment program and rate study, with proposals due September 21, 2026. The engagement is a one-year contract with two one-year renewal options.
The scope requires demonstrated expertise in development and implementation of legally defensible municipal fire assessments under Florida Statutes Section 197.3632, the Uniform Method of Collection. The selected consultant will serve as principal advisor throughout feasibility analysis, policy development, adoption, implementation, and post-adoption support. Deliverables include financial analysis, legal support, assessment methodology development, GIS and parcel analysis, public communication, ordinance development, implementation assistance, and post-adoption support. The consultant must evaluate the feasibility of a fire protection assessment, identify legally assessable costs of fire protection services, develop an equitable assessment methodology, provide policy alternatives to the City Commission, and assist in implementation beginning with the FY 2028 budget.
The City's objective extends beyond a standard rate study to a comprehensive funding strategy that recommends equitable methods of cost apportionment and evaluates alternative funding scenarios, providing the Commission sufficient technical and policy information to determine whether implementation of a fire protection assessment serves the City's best interest.
Required documentation includes indemnification forms (separate versions for consultant, contractor, and vendor; FDOT versions also included), a contractor audit form, a human trafficking affidavit, and a sample standard contract form. The RFP document itself is 566 KB and was posted August 14, 2026.
Opportunity text
The City of Lakeland is evaluating alternative long-term funding strategies for the provision of municipal fire protection services, including the possible implementation of a non-ad valorem fire protection assessment beginning with its FY 2028 budget. The City's objective is not simply to prepare an assessment rate study, but to develop a comprehensive funding strategy that identifies the legally assessable costs of fire protection services, recommends equitable methods of cost apportionment, evaluates alternative funding scenarios, and provides the City Commission with sufficient technical and policy information to determine whether implementation of a fire protection assessment is in the City's best interest.
The City invites qualified firms with demonstrated expertise in the development and implementation of legally defensible municipal fire assessments utilizing the Uniform Method of Collection provided in Section 197.3632, Florida Statutes to submit proposals, qualifications and fee schedules to be considered for a one (1) year contract with two (2) one-year renewal options.
The selected firm ("Consultant") will serve as the City's principal advisor throughout the project, including feasibility analysis, policy development, adoption, implementation, and post-adoption support of the assessment program.
The selected consultant will provide all professional consulting services necessary for the City to evaluate, establish, and implement a municipal fire protection assessment program. Services are expected to include financial analysis, legal support, assessment methodology development, GIS and parcel analysis, public communication, ordinance development, implementation assistance, and post-adoption support.
The objectives of this engagement include:
- Evaluating the feasibility of a fire protection assessment
- Identifying legally assessable costs
- Developing an equitable assessment methodology
- Providing the City Commission with policy alternatives
- Assisting in implementation if authorized
- Transferring sufficient knowledge to enable the City to administer the program in future years.
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