Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Stephen Farmer (Acting Director)
Department: Finance and Administrative Services Division: Purchasing
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE final ranking of the qualified firms of Request for Letters of Interest (RLI) No. GEN2126966R1, Nature Centers Exhibit Design, Fabrication, and Installation for the Parks and Recreation Division. The ranked firms are: 1 - Riggs Ward Design, LLC; 2 - Krent Paffett Carney, Inc., dba EXP Studios; 3 - Taylor Studios, Inc.; 4 - Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo US LLC dba Little Ray’s Exhibitions; and 5 - La Pequena Compania LLC dba Atomic Carrots.
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Why Action is Necessary
In accordance with Broward County Procurement Code Section 21.42.(j), Procedures for RFPs, RLIs, and RFQs, if an objection or protest has been filed with respect to an Evaluation Committee’s ranking, the ranking must be submitted to the Board for final approval. The Board, by majority vote, may (1) accept the ranking as final; (2) reject all responses to the solicitation; or (3) direct the Evaluation Committee to reconvene to consider any new or additional information the Board directs the Evaluation Committee to consider. In addition, the Board may request presentations by the ranked vendors and may, by supermajority vote, rerank those vendors in a final ranking.
What Action Accomplishes
Approves the Evaluation Committee’s recommendation of the final ranking of qualified firms.
Goal Related Icon(s)
☐County Commission
☐Go Green
☐MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PURCHASING DIVISION AND THE PARKS AND RECREATION DIVISION RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
The Office of Economic and Small Business Development (OESBD) established a County Business Enterprise (CBE) goal of 5% for this contract (Exhibit 2).
This procurement is to engage a qualified firm to provide design, fabrication, and installation of museum-quality exhibits at Fern Forest Nature Center and Miramar Pineland Nature Center for the Parks and Recreation Division.
The RLI was advertised on May 24, 2024, and at the time of the submittal deadline on July 19, 2024, six firms submitted proposals: Explus, Inc.; Krent Paffett Carney Inc. dba EXP Studios; La Pequena Compania dba Atomic Carrots; Little Ray’s Reptile Zoo US LLC dba Little Ray’s Exhibitions; Riggs Ward Design, LLC; and Taylor Studios, Inc.
On November 1, 2024, an Initial Evaluation Committee (EC) meeting was held. The EC determined that all six firms were responsive and responsible to the solicitation requirements.
On November 13, 2024, Explus, Inc. requested to withdraw from further consideration as a prime vendor, in order to serve as a subcontractor to Riggs Ward Design, LLC for this project. Pursuant to Procurement Code Section 21.42(b), Procedures for RFPs, RLIs, and RFQs, a vendor may withdraw its response upon written approval by the Director of Purchasing if the vendor demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director of Purchasing that withdrawal should be permitted based upon the grounds stated in the vendor’s written justification. Accordingly, the Director of Purchasing approved the requested withdrawal. Therefore, the five remaining firms proceeded to final evaluation and ranking.
On November 20, 2024, a Final EC meeting was held. After presentations, evaluation, and ranking, the EC named Riggs Ward Design, LLC as the first-ranked firm; Krent Paffett Carney Inc., dba EXP Studios as the second-ranked firm; Taylor Studios, Inc. as the third-ranked firm; Little Ray's Reptile Zoo US LLC dba Little Ray's Exhibitions as the fourth-ranked firm; and La Pequena Compania LLC dba Atomic Carrots as the fifth-ranked firm (Exhibit 1).
The EC’s proposed recommendation of ranking was posted on the Purchasing Division website from December 5 - 10, 2024, which provided an opportunity for any proposer or interested party to present any new or additional information regarding the responsibility of the proposers.
On December 9, 2024, the Director of Purchasing received a timely written objection from Krent Paffett Carney Inc., dba EXP Studios (EXP Studios) to the ranking. The objection letter contained the following three allegations: 1) their firm was repeatedly referred to as "Explus" during the evaluation meeting, despite "Explus" being an entirely different firm that withdrew from the bidding process, 2) when the award was announced, the committee initially declared their firm as the winning bidder, and 3) during their presentation, it became evident that there was confusion among committee members regarding their firm’s collaboration with Bombshell Productions (Exhibit 3).
On January 15, 2025, the Director of Purchasing issued a response to EXP Studios’ objection assertions stating that, after review of the procurement records and proceedings of the EC, and in consultation with the Office of the County Attorney, the issues raised in the objection were not of sufficient merit to recall or otherwise alter the recommendation of the EC. The evaluation of firms was conducted appropriately and within established requirements, guidelines, practices, and procedures set forth in the Broward County Procurement Code, County Ordinances, and existing written guidelines of the Purchasing Division. As such, the objection was denied (Exhibit 4).
The EC’s final recommendation of ranking was posted on the Purchasing Division website from January 17 - 24, 2025, which provided an opportunity for any aggrieved proposer to file a protest. No protest was received.
Additional supporting documentation provided to the EC regarding this procurement can be found on the Broward County’s Purchasing Division website at https://www.broward.org/Purchasing/Pages/Repository.aspx.
Source of Additional Information
Robert E. Gleason, Director, Purchasing Division, (954) 357-6070
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
There is no fiscal impact.
Requisition No. PRA0007608