HomeMy WebLinkAboutBack-Up from Law DeptSec. 18-86. - Competitive negotiations/competitive sealed proposals.
(a) Conditions for use.
(1) Competitive negotiations/competitive sealed proposals shall be used in those
circumstances in which it is both practicable and advantageous for the city to consider a range of
competing plans, specifications, standards, terms and conditions so that adequate competition
will result and award be made not principally on the basis of price, but to the respondent whose
proposal contains the most advantageous combination of price, quality or other features. All
contracts shall be signed by the city manager.
(2) A contract may be entered into by use of the competitive negotiation/competitive
sealed proposal methods when:
a. The chief procurement officer determines that the complex specialized
nature or technical details of a particular procurement make the use of competitive sealed
bidding either not practicable or reasonable, or not advantageous to the city; or
b. Specifications or scope of work cannot be fairly or objectively prepared so
as to permit competition in the invitation for bids; or
C. Technology, electronic, software, and system applications are available
from a limited number of sources; or
d. Qualifications and the quality of the service to be delivered can be
considered more important than price.
(3) Competitive negotiations/competitive sealed proposals shall be used in the
procurement of personal and professional services except for:
a. Professional services as defined in Florida Statute § 287.055, as amended
from time to time.
b. Legal services.
C. Services related to the cultural, educational, recreational or park activities
provided by non-profit organizations within city parks. These services may be awarded
without competitive negotiations if the city manager makes a written finding, supported by
reasons, to the city commission that competitive negotiation methods are not practicable
or advantageous. Such finding must be ratified and the award approved by an affirmative
vote of four-fifths of the commission after a properly advertised public hearing.
d. Maintenance agreements to support proprietary software applications.
(b) Competitive negotiations method. Where the contract does not exceed $50,000.00, at
least three written proposals shall be sought and the city shall enter into competitive negotiations
to determine which proposal is most advantageous to the city. The written proposals received
and the results of the evaluation shall be maintained as a public record. The contract may be
awarded by the city manager upon certification of compliance with competitive negotiations
method by the chief procurement officer. The city manager shall submit to the city commission on
an annual basis a list of contracts awarded by the city manager through this method.
(c) Competitive sealed proposal method. Where the contract exceeds $50,000.00, the city
may utilize the following competitive sealed proposal method:
(1) Request for proposals (RFP) or request for letters of interest (RFLI) or request for
qualifications (RFQ) setting forth the terms and conditions of the professional or personal
services sought, including but not limited to, scope of work and evaluation factors, shall be
issued. The RFP, RFLI or RFQ, as applicable, may, in the exercise of the reasonable
professional discretion of the city manager, director of the using agency, and the chief
procurement officer, include a five percent evaluation criterion in favor of proposers who maintain
a local office, as defined in section 18-73. In such cases, this five percent evaluation criterion in
favor of proposers who maintain a local office will be specifically defined in the RFP, RFLI or
RFQ, as applicable; otherwise, it will not apply. All RFPs involving major projects must be
reviewed by the office of the independent auditor general ("auditor general") prior to submittal to
the city commission for consideration. Additionally, after city commission is an award pursuant to
a RFP for a major project, all resultant agreements must also be reviewed by the auditor general
prior to execution.
(2) Mailing lists. Lists of prospective proposers/respondents may be compiled
pursuant to section 18-85 (competitive sealed bidding).
(3) Public notice. Adequate public notice in a newspaper of general circulation shall
be provided pursuant to section 18-85.
(4) Pre -proposal conference. A pre -proposal conference may be conducted to explain
the requirements of the proposed procurement and shall be announced to all prospective
proposers known to have received an RFP, RFLI, or RFQ. Conferences should be held long
enough after the RFP, RFLI, or RFQ has been issued to allow prospective proposers to become
familiar with the proposed procurement, but sufficiently before receipt of proposal to allow
consideration of the conference results in preparing their proposals. Nothing stated at a pre -
proposal conference shall change the RFP, RFLI, or RFQ unless a change is made by written
addendum, which shall be supplied to all those prospective proposers known to have received an
RFP, RFLI, or RFQ. All pre -proposal conferences shall be recorded, and, if a transcript is made,
such transcript shall be a public record.
(5) Receipt of proposals. Sealed proposals must be received by the city clerk no later
than the time and date specified for submission in the request for proposals or request for letters
of interest or requests for qualifications. The name of each proposer shall be recorded by the city
clerk or its designee, and the record and each proposal, to the extent consistent with applicable
state law, shall be open to public inspection.
(6) Proposal evaluation. An evaluation committee shall be appointed by the city
manager for the purpose of evaluating proposals based upon the criteria contained in the RFP,
RFLI or RFQ. No other factors or criteria shall be used in the evaluation. As may be provided in
the RFP, RFLI or RFQ, proposers may be invited to make oral presentations regarding their
Proposals. The recommendations of the evaluation committee shall be submitted to the city
manager.
In the event only one proposal is received, the evaluation committee may proceed with the
evaluation, or request the city manager to reject all proposals, whichever is in the best interests of
the city.
a. After reviewing the evaluation committee's recommendation, the city
manager may:
1. Approve the recommendation of the evaluation committee, and the
city manager shall then authorize contract negotiations through city staff. Upon
completion of contract negotiations, the city manager shall then submit his or her
award recommendation and negotiated contract(s) to the city commission for
approval, at which time, written notice shall be provided to all proposers;
2. Approve the recommendation of the evaluation committee, written
notice of which shall be provided to all proposers, and the city manager shall then
submit his or her recommendation to the city commission;
3. Reject the evaluation committee's recommendation and instruct
the evaluation committee to re-evaluate and make further recommendations;
4. Reject all proposals; or
5. Recommend that the city commission reject all proposals.
b. After reviewing the city manager's recommendation, the city commission
may:
1. Approve the city manager's award recommendation and
negotiated contract(s);
2. Approve the city manager's recommendation and authorize
contract negotiations;
Reject all proposals;
4. Reject all proposals and instruct the city manager to reissue a
solicitation; or
5. Reject all proposals and instruct the city manager to enter into
competitive negotiations with at least three individuals or firms possessing the
ability to perform such services and obtain information from said individuals or
firms relating to experience, qualifications and the proposed cost or fee for said
services, and make a recommendation to the city commission.
(7) Award. Award shall be made to the responsive and responsible proposer whose
proposal is most advantageous to the city as determined by the city commission in accordance
with the evaluation criteria contained in the RFP, RFLI or RFQ.
The decision of the city commission shall be final. Written notice of the award shall be given
to the successful proposer.
Threshold amounts referenced herein shall include the values associated with potential
options of renewal. Awards made by the city manager or by the city commission shall include
authority for all subsequent options of renewal, if any. The aforementioned options of renewal shall
be exercisable at the option of the city manager if, after review of past performance under the
contract, the city manager determines in his/her sole discretion that exercise of the option of
renewal is in the best interest of the city.
(Ord. No. 12271, § 2, 8-22-02; Ord. No. 13275, § 2, 7-14-11; Ord. No. 13538, § 2, 7-23-15; Ord.
No. 13667, § 2, 3-9-17)