Request for Qualifications - Title Examination and Insurance Services

Suffolk County's Office of Central Procurement, on behalf of the Division of Real Property Acquisition and Management, is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for title examination and title insurance services. The County seeks qualified title insurance companies licensed by New York State to provide comprehensive services including title searches, examinations, title commitments and reports, identification of all persons and entities with recorded interests in properties, issuance of title insurance policies with appropriate endorsements, closing attendance, continuation searches, and escrow services. Deliverables encompass standard owner policies priced according to Title Insurance Rate Service Association (TIRSA) rates established by New York State, with premiums determined by property purchase price and inclusive of title reports, searches, insurance, and one continuation; additional continuations are available at $50 per continuation, and a title closer fee of $275 applies per policy when a closing occurs. The services will support the County's acquisition, disposition, condemnation, and management of real properties. Required qualifications include New York State licensure as a title insurance company, the ability to provide professional liability insurance of at least $2,000,000 and commercial general liability insurance of $2,000,000 per occurrence, and compliance with prevailing wage, living wage (minimum $17.86 per hour with benefits or $18.02 without, adjusted annually for contracts with 10+ employees and compensation of $10,000 or greater), lawful hiring, and non-discrimination requirements. Responses are due by June 10, 2026, at 3:30 PM, with technical questions required by May 21, 2026; no formal bidders' conference is scheduled. The anticipated contract term is three years, commencing January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2029, with awards anticipated in the third quarter of 2026 and subject to Suffolk County Legislature approval.

The RFQ contains no specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations that may respond, though all respondents must comply with Suffolk County Code Chapter 353 and federal employment verification requirements under 8 U.S.C. Section 1324a. All bidders must submit a completed compliance packet including notarized affidavits certifying compliance with lawful hiring provisions, public disclosure statements for contracts exceeding $1,000, certifications regarding lobbying activities and non-collusion in bidding, disqualification attestations concerning criminal convictions and licensing compliance, and certifications concerning union organizing and living wage compliance. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement materials. The County will select contractors on a rotating basis from the list of approved responders and reserves the right to modify the payment structure, with responders having the option to reject proposed modifications. Award values are not specified in the solicitation, though compensation will be determined by property transaction volumes and TIRSA rate structures, with the contract subject to appropriation of funds by the Suffolk County Legislature. The contract is contingent on successful completion of the procurement process and legislative approval.