The Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority (Authority or THEA) requires a General Engineering Consultant (Firm or Consultant) to provide on an as-needed basis a wide range of general professional services to include, but not necessarily limited to:

        Administration, support and management of engineering, planning, design, environmental, Intelligent Transportation Systems, right-of-way mapping and surveying, construction management, soil exploration, material testing and foundations, contract administration, landscape architecture, public involvement, communications support, and bond financing support services to include preparation of Engineer Reports to the State of Florida and bondholders as required by the Authority’s Bond Documents.

A draft Scope of Services is available on THEA’s website: www.tampa-xway.com under “Public Notices.” Additional instructions to proposers may be posted by August 27, 2010.

Shortlist consideration and selection will be made directly from the RFQs. Shortlisted firms may be requested to provide written or oral technical proposals or both, for the ranking process. After ranking of the consultants, the contract fee will be negotiated in accordance with Section 287.055, F.S. Funding for all projects is subject to Authority Board approval and funding availability.

Experience Requirements: Firm or Consultant (Firm) should have an established office in the Tampa Bay area, and sufficient qualified local staff to provide the anticipated services. Bond financing support services must be provided by a nationally known and recognized engineering firm (“Firm”) with experience in the preparation of Engineer’s Reports for bond sales and satisfaction of bond covenants. Experience with toll agencies and electronic toll collection systems a plus.

Consideration will be given to only those firms that are qualified pursuant to law and that have been prequalified by Florida Department of Transportation to perform the indicated Major Types(s) of Work. Firms may use pre-qualified subconsultants and other teaming arrangements for PD&E services, bond financing services, survey and mapping, soil exploration, material testing and foundations, and right of way.

Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interests: All consultants selected to work with the Authority are required to comply with its Code of Ethics and Conflict of Interests policy as provided in Series 140 of the Authority’s Policy and Procedures, a copy of which is available on THEA’s website.

Procurement Communication Policy: No person may contact any Board Member or Employee or any selection committee member with respect to this notice or the services to be provided, except as related to the Submittal Requirements detailed herein.

Public Meeting Notice: All public meetings will be held at the offices of the: Authority, 1104 East Twiggs Street, Suite 300, Tampa, Florida 33602, unless otherwise noted. Changes to meeting dates and times will be posted at THEA’s website and its offices.

Questions-Answers/Contact Person: All questions regarding this RFQ are to be submitted by Email: Sally Castro at sallyh@tampa-xway.com prior to the deadline for questions. A list of Questions and Answers will be posted on THEA’s website without identifying the individual asking the question(s). Interested firms should review the list of questions and answers on a regular basis until the submittal deadline. Questions submitted after the deadline will not be answered.

RFQ Submittal Requirements and Evaluation:

Firms wishing to be considered for short-listing shall submit six (6) sets of the RFQ Submittal and one (1) digital copy of the RFQ Submittal in PDF format in a sealed package by mail or hand delivery to: THEA at 1104 East Twiggs Street, Suite 300, Tampa, Florida 33602 on or before 12:00 Noon (Local Time), October 20, 2010.

Submittals are limited to a maximum of ten (10) pages exclusive of Cover Letter, attachments and resumes. Sealed Packages must include the following information on the outside of the package:

        i. “General Engineering Consultant,” Contract No.: 19.23-10.

        ii. Firm/Consultant’s (Firm) name, address, phone number and Email address.

Submittals must include the following:

1.     Cover Letter – Include primary contact person, phone number, Email address, and proposed responsible office for Consultant.

2.     Similar Project Experience/References – Provide the firm’s experience in related assignments within the past 5 years, with project start and completion dates, citing specific GEC experience and/or toll agency experience. Provide the Client/Owner, address, phone number and Email address. All references may be checked.

3.     Project Approach and Team – Provide a narrative describing the firm’s approach to delivering the GEC services. In addition to the narrative, provide a proposed organization chart including subconsultant personnel; and a matrix summarizing proposed personnel experience on similar projects, including registrations/certifications. Resumes shall include no more than three client/owner references for all proposed personnel for the past 5 years.

4.     Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Policy – THEA strongly encourages participation of local minority, women, disadvantage business enterprises for all of its projects and includes a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, gender, and national origin in its employment and contracting practices. All firms contracting with the Authority are required to have or adopt a similar policy. A copy of the SBE Policy is available on THEA’s website: www.tampa-xway.com.

        Indicate if the Firm it is a certified or registered minority business enterprise and/or identify any local certified minority and women business enterprises that it proposes to use. Firms requiring assistance or information with regard to the Authority’s SBE Policy or DBE/MBE/WBE certification can contact THEA’s SBE Consultant for this Project Blackmon Roberts Group, Moises Peraza by email: mperaza@blackmonroberts.com or 1(863)802-1280.

5.     Prequalification Documentation – Provide a copy of the Notice of Qualification issued by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) showing Consultant’s current qualification or proposed subconsultants in advertised type of work.

        Current and Projected Workload – Indicate availability of staff proposed for assignment and indicate, as a percentage, the current/projected workload.

7.     Office Location and Corporate Registration – Provide the physical address of the office assigned responsibility for providing the services. It is required that Consultants have an office and key staff located within the Tampa Bay area; and, if incorporated, registered to do business in the State of Florida.

Note: Failure to submit any of the above-required information may be cause for rejection of the package as non-responsive. The Authority reserves the right to reject any or all submittals, issue a new RFQ, and waive any informality or discrepancy.

Review/Evaluation:

The Authority’s Review Committee will evaluate and short list the Submittals according to the following:

·          Similar Project Experience (25 points)

·          Project Approach (25 points)

·          Project Team (25 points)

·          Proposed SBE (DBE/MBE/WBE/SBE) participation (10)

·          Prequalification Documentation (10)

·          Office Location (5)

Schedule *

Mandatory Pre-RFQ Meeting                                                                   9/10/2010            Time: 10:00 a.m.

Deadline to submit Potential Conflict of Interest Information             9/17/2010            Time: 5:00 p.m.

Written Question Deadline                                                                       9/17/2010            Time: 5:00 p.m.

Response to Questions and Posting of Final RFQ                               9/24/2010            Time: 5:00 p.m.

Deadline to Request Meeting with THEA Representatives                9/24/2010            Time: 5:00 p.m.

Deadline to Submit RFQs                                                                          10/20/2010          Time: 12:00 Noon

Review Committee Meeting                                                                      10/22/2010          Time: 10:00 a.m.

Posting of Short-List after Board Meeting                                             10/25/2010          Time: 1:30 p.m.

*Terms of this RFQ, as well as times, dates and meeting location are subject to change. Changes will be posted on THEA’s website and at its office.

Protest Procedures: Any person adversely affected by this RFQ may file a written protest with the Authority within 72 hours, excluding Saturday, Sunday or legal holidays, after receipt of the RFQ, or within 72 hours after the decision by the Board to award a contract. Additional information on bid protest procedures is available on THEA’s website.