Notice of Bid/Request for Proposal

OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

NOTICE TO PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS

PINELLAS COUNTY METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION

The Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), is conducting a guideway study and is accepting technical proposals from qualified General Planning Consultants to provide professional services on the following transit planning project:

PROJECT:  DOWNTOWN CLEARWATER TO CLEARWATER BEACH GUIDEWAY PROJECT

The Complete RFP Package can be found at www.pinellascounty.org/mpo/guidewayrfp.

The consultant will be required to fulfill task requirements including Re-evaluation of System Configuration and Station Locations, Ridership Evaluation, Cost Evaluation and Development of a Scope for the Next Phase.

RESPONSE EVALUATION:  All respondents will be evaluated in accordance with Section 287.055(4), F.S., and must be determined by the MPO and the FDOT as qualified to do business in Florida and qualified to perform the advertised work requirements. The above project falls into the selection process so indicated in Rule 14-75, F.A.C. wherein at least three (3) firms will be requested to submit technical proposals. The contract fee will be negotiated in accordance with Section 287.055, F.S.

Lobbying of PMI Steering Committee members, Pinellas County MPO employees and elected officials regarding this RFP by any member of a Proposer’s staff, or those people who are members of, or employed by, any legal entity affiliated with an organization that is responding to the RFP is strictly prohibited.  Such actions may cause your proposal, or the proposal you are supporting, to be rejected.

SUBCONSULTANT OPPORTUNITY:  Subconsultants that are not pre-qualified by the FDOT shall be subject to compensation restrictions as specified in Rule 14-75, F.A.C. Any such subconsultant utilized must be technically qualified by the FDOT before work may commence.  Preference points will be given in the technical proposal evaluation for certified DBE consultants and non-DBE consultants who propose certified DBE subconsultants.

NOTIFICATION OF CRIME CONVICTION:  Each applicant shall notify the FDOT within 30 days after a conviction of a contract crime applicable to it or any officers, directors, executive, shareholders active in management, employees, or agents of its affiliates. Under Section 337.164, F.S., the privilege of conducting business with the FDOT shall be denied to applicants so convicted until such applicant is properly reinstated pursuant to Section 337.165, F.S., and Rule 14-75, F.A.C.

FEDERAL DEBARMENT:  By signing and submitting a Letter of Response/Proposal, the consultant certifies that no principal (which includes officers, directors, or executives) is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible or voluntarily excluded from participation on this transaction by any federal department or agency.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND DISADVANTAGED BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM STATEMENT: The MPO does not discriminate on any basis, as required by 49 USC 5332 (which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex or age in employment or business opportunity), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended 42 USC 2000d to 2000d-4, and Title 49 CFR, Part 21. The MPO ensures, in accordance with 49 CFR Part 26, that certified FDOT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program participants have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in FDOT assisted contracts.

PROPOSAL RECEIPT:  RFP Proposals must be received by 4:30 p.m. EST on September 5, 2006, at the MPO and FDOT offices. Questions concerning the RFP must be submitted to Heather Sobush at hsobush@pinellascounty.org by August 18, 2006. Responses to all questions will be posted at one time by 4:30 p.m. August 22, 2006, on the MPO website at www.pinellascounty.org/mpo/guidewayrfp.

One original, eight copies and one .pdf version on CD of the proposal must be submitted to:

Heather Sobush

Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organization

600 Cleveland St., Suite 750

Clearwater, FL  33755

E-MAIL:  hsobush@pinellascounty.org

PHONE: (727) 464-8200

FAX: (727) 464-8201

 

One copy of the RFP must be submitted to:

Florida Department of Transportation, District VII

Attn: Rebecca Schwarz

11201 North McKinley Drive, MS #7-700

Tampa, FL 34612-6430

Telephone 813.975.6469

The outside of the package containing the proposal must be marked “PROPOSAL TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL PLANNING SERVICES TO THE PINELLAS COUNTY MPO” The MPO will accept no responsibility for proposals not so marked. Proposals are to remain in effect for 90 calendar days from the date of submission. The MPO reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, to waive any formality concerning proposals, or negotiate changes to the proposals whenever such rejection or waiver or negotiation is in the best interest of the MPO.

Proposals must follow the above RFP format and include the following information:

1.             Name and Address of Firm

2.             Contact person for the project and telephone number and email address

3.             Key personnel, their titles and/or classification

4.             Subconsultants that may be used for the project

5.             Relevant past experiences

6.             Firm’s Certified DBE status

6.             Name(s) of DBE FDOT certified subconsultants that may be used for the project.

SHORTLIST SELECTION PROCESS: The PMI Steering Committee will evaluate the proposals received, reserving the right to reject all, and will develop a shortlist of a minimum of three FDOT pre-qualified firms. The shortlisted firms will be notified by mail or e-mail and will be invited to provide oral presentations lasting no longer than ½ hour each to the PMI Committee. The committee will then select one firm and forward their recommendation to the MPO Board for their approval.

SCHEDULE: The proposed schedule for this RFP is as follows:

RFP issued                                                                            August 11

Questions/Clarifications received by 4:30 p.m.               August 18

Response to questions posted                                          August 22

Proposals due to MPO and FDOT by 4:30 p.m.              September 5

Shortlist PMI meeting                                                         September 11

Oral presentations to PMI and selection made               October 2 Tentative

Recommendation submitted to MPO Board                    October 11 Tentative

Contract Executed and Notice to Proceed                       November 8 Tentative

The MPO reserves the right to change the above schedule as necessary. Any changes will be posted on the RFP website.