Broward County Commission Regular Meeting
Director's Name: George Tablack
Department: Finance and Administrative Services Division: Purchasing
Information
Requested Action
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MOTION TO APPROVE final rankings of the qualified firms for Request for Proposals (RFP) No. PNC2119212P1 Consulting Services, for the Port Everglades Department; the ranked firms are: 1 - Chen Moore and Associates, Inc.; 2 - Bermello, Ajamil & Partners, Inc.; 3 - Cartaya and Associates, Architects, P.A.; 4 - Saltz Michelson Architects, Inc.; 5 - Keith and Associates, Inc.; 6 - BEA Architects, Inc.; 7 - Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc.; and 8 - Synalovski Romanik Saye, LLC.
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Why Action is Necessary
In accordance with Procurement Code, Section 21.84.h, Selection Committee and Selection/Evaluation Committee Composition, approval of final ranking of qualified firms requires Board approval when an objection and/or protest has been filed.
What Action Accomplishes
Approves the Evaluation Committee’s recommendation of the final ranking of qualified firms.
Is this Action Goal Related
No
Previous Action Taken
None.
Summary Explanation/Background
THE PURCHASING DIVISION AND THE PORT EVERGLADES DEPARTMENT RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE ABOVE MOTION.
The procurement was solicited to engage a qualified firm to provide professional architectural, engineering, and related services for remodeling, renovation and new construction projects with construction costs estimated at $2 million or less, based on Florida Statutes, Consultants’ Competitive Negotiations Act limit for continuing contracts. Services include all architectural and engineering specialties necessary and related to the design, construction and construction management of these projects.
On June 11, 2019 (Item No. 74), the Board authorized the County Administrator to approve Request for Proposals (RFP) for advertisement during the 2019 summer recess.
On August 7, 2019, the County Administrator approved RFP No. PNC2119212P1, Consulting Services for the Port Everglades Department. The RFP was advertised and at the time of the opening deadline, 2PM on September 9, 2019, eight firms submitted proposals.
On November 26, 2019, an Initial Evaluation Committee Meeting was held. The Evaluation Committee determined all eight firms were both responsive and responsible to the RFP requirements and voted in favor of advancing them to be numerically scored and ranked by the Evaluation Committee.
On December 9, 2019, a Final Evaluation Meeting was held. After presentations, evaluation, scoring and ranking, the Evaluation Committee named Chen Moore and Associates, Inc. (CMA) as the first-ranked firm and Bermello Ajamil & Partners, Inc. (Bermello or BA) as the second-ranked firm.
The Evaluation Committee’s proposed recommendation of ranking was posted on the Purchasing Division’s website from December 20-26, 2019, 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 26, 2019, the Director of Purchasing received an objection letter from Shutts & Bowen, LLP on behalf of Bermello. The objection stated the first-ranked firm, CMA “unfairly and incorrectly received credit for Jacobs’ [a subconsultant engineering firm] seaport experience”. Additionally, the objection further stated that “if CMA bid with Jacobs as prime or as a joint venture, BA would have been the most qualified vendor” (Exhibit 3).
On April 1, 2020, the Director of Purchasing issued a response to Shutts & Bowen LLP stating that Chen Moore and Associates, Inc. responded to the RFP as required and that the issues raised in the objection were not of sufficient merit to recall or otherwise alter the recommendation of the Evaluation Committee. No new substantive information was presented by Bermello to warrant the reconvening of the Evaluation Committee. The evaluation and scoring of firms were conducted appropriately and within the established guidelines, practices, and procedures set forth in the Broward County Procurement Code, Ordinances, and existing written guidelines (Exhibit 4).
The Evaluation Committee’s final recommendation of ranking was posted on the Purchasing Division website from April 2-10, 2020, which provided an opportunity for any aggrieved proposer to file a formal protest. No formal protest was received.
In accordance with Procurement Code, Section 21.84.h, after the Final Recommendation of Ranking is posted, if a protest or objection has been filed, the Director of Purchasing shall present to the Board the ranking/evaluation for approval. The Board, by majority vote, has the option to either (1) approve the Committee's ranking/evaluation recommendation; (2) reject all submittals; or (3) send the ranking/evaluation back to the Committee to consider new significant information and either ratify the ranking/evaluation or reorder the list. The Board, by super majority vote, has the option to rerank/reevaluate the shortlisted firms following presentations to the Board.
Additional supporting documentation provided to the Evaluation Committee regarding this procurement can be found on Broward County’s Purchasing Division website at <http://www.broward.org/Purchasing/Pages/Repository.aspx>.
Source of Additional Information
Brenda J. Billingsley, Director, Purchasing Division, (954) 357-6070
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact/Cost Summary
There is no fiscal impact.