Title Search Services

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, through its Purchasing Department, is soliciting qualified firms to provide title search services on an as-needed basis through a Request for Submittal (RFS No. 600537-LAC) issued June 8, 2017, with a proposal deadline of July 21, 2017, at 4:00 p.m. local time. The procurement covers five service categories: title reports, 50-year chain of title searches, title insurance commitments and policies, ownership and encumbrance searches, and present owner searches. Qualified respondents must submit one unbound original, three bound copies, and one electronic PDF copy to the Purchasing Department at 50 South Military Trail, Suite 110, West Palm Beach, Florida 33415, with questions due by June 20, 2017. Respondents must meet strict qualification requirements based on their business structure: agents (corporations, companies, or partnerships) must be Florida-licensed with specific surety bonds, fidelity bonds, and professional liability policies; underwriters must be Florida-licensed with a Demotech A-1 rating or better; or attorney agents must be Florida Bar-admitted with an underwriting agreement with a qualified underwriter. All respondents require a minimum $1,000,000 professional liability policy with a deductible not exceeding $10,000. Pricing is submitted on a unit rate basis with weighted factors: title reports (70%), 50-year chain of title (10%), ownership and encumbrance searches (10%), and present owner searches (10%), with separate hourly rates for litigation testimony. The County will evaluate submittals based on experience and qualifications, key personnel and operations, price, small business enterprise participation, and local business preference, with selection anticipated for August 10, 2017, award on September 20, 2017, and contract start on September 20, 2017.

The initial contract term is 24 months, ending September 19, 2019, with three optional 12-month renewal periods available at the County's sole discretion. The evaluation criteria specifically include consideration of small business enterprise participation and local business preference, indicating that disadvantaged enterprises may receive favorable evaluation consideration. No minimum contract value is specified; rather, compensation is determined on a per-assignment basis through individual work orders, making the award value dependent upon the County's actual service needs. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the solicitation. The County reserves the right to reject any or all submittals, waive minor irregularities, and cancel the solicitation process. All standard County contract provisions apply, including insurance requirements, indemnification, compliance with criminal history records checks, non-discrimination policies, and drug-free workplace certifications.