RFP DOA 21-12 Design Professionals

RFP DOA 21-12 is a Request for Proposals issued by the Palm Beach County Department of Airports seeking a qualified engineering firm to provide comprehensive general engineering consulting services on a continuing contract basis for four county-owned airports: Palm Beach International (PBI), North Palm Beach County General Aviation (F45), Palm Beach County Park (LNA), and Palm Beach County Glades (PHK). The solicitation encompasses design, permitting, construction administration, and inspection services across multiple engineering disciplines including civil, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, drainage, environmental, geotechnical, and architectural consulting, along with surveying, landscape architectural, security systems, and IT/GIS services. Individual task assignments will not exceed $4,000,000 in construction costs, and the selected firm will serve an initial two-year term with two optional one-year renewals at the County's discretion. The prime consultant must be CCNA-certified in Engineering and obtain County certification from the Engineering and Public Works Department. Evaluation criteria include firm ability and past performance (50 points for short-listing, 35 points for final selection), project approach and understanding (20 points for short-listing, 35 points for final selection), volume of previous County work (10 points), location of firm offices (3 points), and Equal Business Opportunity Program participation (15 points). A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference was held on October 7, 2021, at 10:00 A.M., written questions were due by October 21, 2021, at 3:00 P.M., and proposals were due October 28, 2021, at 3:00 P.M., submitted as one original and six copies plus one electronic PDF copy to the Department of Airports Administration Building. Short-listing of a minimum of three firms is scheduled for December 2021, with final selection and Board approval anticipated in February/March 2022.

The procurement implements Palm Beach County's Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) Program, which mandates a minimum 20 percent Small Business Enterprise (SBE) subcontracting participation requirement, with proposals failing to comply deemed non-responsive unless waiver requests are submitted at least seven days prior to the proposal due date. Up to 15 evaluation preference points are available based on Minority/Women Business Enterprise (M/WBE) dollar participation commitments; if a proposer pledges higher SBE participation than the 20 percent minimum, that pledged percentage becomes a contract requirement. State-certified MBE firms receive 2 evaluation points. The selected consultant must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $5,000,000 per occurrence, professional liability insurance of $5,000,000 per claim, and business automobile liability of $5,000,000, with subconsultants permitted to operate under the prime consultant's insurance umbrella. All funding is derived from local airport revenue sources with no ad valorem tax support. While no minimum compensation is guaranteed, the County estimates project construction costs will be substantial given the scope across four major facilities, though specific award values or budget ranges are not explicitly stated in the procurement documents. The County reserves the right to reject any and all proposals and to use other consultants at its discretion.