Attached for City Council’s review and consideration for approval are the rankings of five (5) Landscape Architect Firms subsequent to their submissions to the Request for Qualification (RFQ) #17-014. In addition to the ranking approval request, staff would also request City Council’s approval for staff to enter into continuing services agreements with each firm.

As Council is aware, the City’s Public Works Department coordinates the design and construction of capital improvement projects for the City.  Several types of projects require landscaping designs.  In an effort to maximize the return on investment, staff consistently utilizes firms that specialize in this field.  Past projects the City has utilized landscape architects on are Marine Pkwy Multi-Use Path, Downtown Landscape Improvements Project, US Hwy 19 Center Medians Landscaping Project, and Railroad Square Phase I and II.

Five (5) firms submitted RFQ’s to the City on July 27, 2017.  Subsequent to staff’s review, all five firms were selected and ranked.  The rankings are as follows:  AECOM, the Genesis Group, CPWG Engineering, S&ME, Inc., and Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc.  By creating this type of RFQ process and entering into continuing services agreements with these types of firms, the City adds another tool available in its “tool box” in which it can address and stream line items that come up during the design, permitting, and construction phases of projects.