RFP PB 22-10 Lease and Dev. of +/-6. 43 Acres of Vacant Land

Palm Beach County's Department of Airports issued RFP PB 22-10 for the lease and development of approximately 6.43 acres of unimproved, non-aeronautical real property located west of Palm Beach International Airport, with an optional adjacent 1.14-acre parcel available. The procurement seeks qualified firms with demonstrated experience in leasing and developing commercial or industrial properties to maximize property utilization and generate revenue for the County's airport system. Proposers must develop the land for allowable uses including warehouse, retail, office, medical, dental, professional office, parking, restaurant, and hotel purposes, with construction of initial leasehold improvements required within 24 months of the lease effective date. The lease term, including all renewals, cannot exceed 50 years from the Date of Beneficial Occupancy, with proposals exceeding 30 years requiring written justification subject to FAA review and approval. A mandatory pre-proposal conference was held on August 11, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. at the Department of Airports' Administrative Offices, with the written question deadline of August 24, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., and proposals due on September 14, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. Proposers must submit one unbound original and five hard copies plus one electronic PDF copy to the Department of Airports at 846 Palm Beach International Airport, West Palm Beach, Florida. Evaluation criteria include Experience, Qualifications and Financial Information (up to 30 points) and Project Approach (up to 45 points), with Project Approach encompassing proposed lease term, uses, capital investment, economic benefits, and green initiatives.

The procurement establishes a mandatory 20 percent Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation goal for the aggregate cost of design and construction of initial leasehold improvements, with the SBE Plan comprising a required component of the Project Approach evaluation. Proposers must register as vendors in Palm Beach County's Vendor Self Service system, and all subcontractors must also register in the system. The minimum initial annual rental is $1.00 per square foot of ground area, calculated from an appraised value of $12.50 per square foot at an 8 percent capitalization rate, with rental subject to adjustment every three years beginning October 1, 2025, based on appraisal and subject to a Consumer Price Index cap. A mandatory $5,000 proposal guarantee in the form of a bond or cashier's check is required, with failure to submit resulting in automatic disqualification, and the selected tenant must maintain a security deposit equal to three monthly rental installments throughout the lease term. The property is subject to FAA airspace limitations and height restrictions, and environmental assessments and traffic concurrency approvals are required; prohibited uses include residential, school, church, adult entertainment, and wildlife-attracting uses due to airport safety and operational considerations. The lease agreement will be awarded upon approval by the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners at a regularly scheduled meeting on a date to be determined.