Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: Leonard Vialpando
Department: Public Works and Environmental Services
Division: Administration
Information
Requested Action
title
MOTION TO DIRECT County Administrator to proceed with further evaluation of the unsolicited public-private partnership proposal submitted by Dependable Equities, LLC, for demolition of an existing County-owned structure and site clearing of County-owned property located at 400 NE 4th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301, in exchange for temporary use of the cleared property for construction logistics and support activities; and to publish notice of receipt of the unsolicited proposal and accept other proposals for the same project pursuant to the statutory competitive process under Section 255.065(3)(b), Florida Statutes. (Commission District 4)
body
Why Action is Necessary
Board direction is necessary to direct further evaluation of the unsolicited proposal and authorize publication of notice and acceptance of competing proposals pursuant to Section 255.065(3)(b), Florida Statutes.
What Action Accomplishes
Authorizes further evaluation of the unsolicited proposal and initiation of the competitive process under Section 255.065(3)(b), Florida Statutes, including publication of notice and acceptance of competing proposals for the same project.
Goal Related Icon(s)
N/A County Commission
N/A Go Green
N/A MAP Broward
Previous Action Taken
None taken.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR AND THE PUBLIC WORKS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
On May 22, 2026, Broward County (“County”) Administration received an unsolicited proposal from Dependable Equities, LLC (“Proposer”), concerning the County-owned property located at 400 NE 4th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301, formerly known as the Sexual Assault Treatment Center (“Property”). The Proposer also submitted the required application fee of $25,000 with the proposal. The proposal is attached as Exhibit 1 to this item.
On May 27, 2026, the Proposer was advised that a Cone of Silence had been imposed pursuant to Section 1-266 of the Broward County Code of Ordinances. Also on May 27, 2026, the County Administrator advised the Board by memorandum that County staff would conduct a preliminary review of the proposal, including whether the submission may be considered an unsolicited proposal for a qualifying project under Section 255.065, Florida Statutes, and whether further evaluation was warranted.
Proposal Summary
Under the unsolicited proposal, the Proposer is offering to demolish the existing County-owned structure located on the Property and 
clear the site in exchange for temporary use of the cleared Property for construction logistics and support activities associated with the adjacent Ombelle development located at 316 NE 4th Street, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. The Proposer seeks a 36-month Temporary Use Agreement that would permit the County to terminate the Proposer’s use upon 30 days’ notice.
The existing structure on the Property is the former Sexual Assault Treatment Center. The structure was constructed in approximately 1956, is currently unused, was significantly affected by the April 2023 flooding, and is considered to be at the end of its useful life. The County has no immediate plans for the Property. In Fiscal Year 2025, maintenance expenses associated with the Property totaled approximately $36,000.
Staff researched the estimated value of temporary use of the Property for low-impact construction staging over a period of 36 months and estimated that value at approximately $300,000. Staff estimates that the proposed demolition and site improvements would provide approximately $200,000 in value to the County. Staff also estimates that the County would avoid approximately $100,000 in maintenance expenses over the proposed three-year term.
Based on these preliminary estimates, staff finds that the unsolicited proposal offers reasonable compensation for the requested temporary use of the Property, although the proposed compensation may be at the lower end of the range that could be considered justified.
Recommendation
On July 9, 2026, the County Administrator advised the Board by memorandum of County staff’s recommendation to proceed with further evaluation of the proposal and to engage in the public bidding process provided in Section 255.065(3)(b), Florida Statutes. The memorandum is attached as Exhibit 2 to this item.
If the Board determines that the submission may be further evaluated as an unsolicited proposal for a qualifying project under Section 255.065, Florida Statutes, the County may proceed through either of the following statutory processes:
1) Engage in a public bidding process - The County may publish notice in the Florida Administrative Register and in a newspaper of general circulation at least once a week for two weeks stating that the County has received an unsolicited proposal and will accept other proposals for the same project. The County must establish a period for receiving competing proposals that is at least 21 days and no more than 120 days after the initial publication, unless the timeframe is altered by a majority vote of the Board as authorized by statute. A copy of the notice must also be mailed to each local government in the affected area. After the notice period expires, the County must evaluate and rank the proposals received in order of preference and may begin negotiations with the highest-ranked proposer.
2) Proceed without a public bidding process - The County may proceed with the Proposer’s submission without engaging in a public bidding process only after holding a duly noticed public meeting at which the proposal is presented and affected public entities and members of the public are provided an opportunity to comment, followed by a second duly noticed public meeting at which the Board determines that the proposal is in the public’s interest after considering the factors specified in Section 255.065(3)(c), Florida Statutes. If the County elects this process, it must also publish the report required by Section 255.065(3)(d), Florida Statutes, in the Florida Administrative Register for at least seven days.
Based on discussions with County staff, the County Administrator recommends that the unsolicited proposal be further evaluated and that the County publish notice of receipt of the proposal and accept other proposals for the same project through the statutory public bidding process under Section 255.065(3)(b), Florida Statutes. Before any contract is awarded, the County will perform the independent analysis required by Section 255.065(5)(d), Florida Statutes, demonstrating the cost-effectiveness and overall public benefit of the proposed public-private partnership.
Source of Additional Information
Dr. Jennifer Jurado, Deputy Director, Public Works and Environmental Services Department, (954) 519-1464.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
None. Costs incurred by the County in evaluating the unsolicited proposal are intended to be paid from the application fee submitted by the Proposer and any additional evaluation fees required from the Proposer pursuant to Section 255.065, Florida Statutes.