Subsequent to the April 30, 2019 structural assessment analysis, it was the consultant’s recommendation the City construct a new Fleet Maintenance/Utility Purchasing Warehouse and Storage Building. The analysis was the first step in a multi-year process intended to ensure that the City continues to be provided with adequate Public Works infrastructure maintenance and utility services in the future as well as maintenance to all City owned vehicles and equipment. The existing facility located at 6420 Pine Hill Road was constructed in 1973 and housed the Public Works Department. This included administrative offices and operation centers for water and sewer utilities, streets and right-of-way maintenance, stormwater utility, construction management, fleet maintenance, utility and automotive purchasing and inventory storage until 2009. In its current operational state, the facility is utilized to perform fleet maintenance and utility purchasing and inventory storage. In addition to material storage, the building and site houses heavy maintenance equipment, ancillary equipment, construction materials, and police seizure vehicles. As the size and complexity of our public works operation has increased over time, it is readily apparent the need for the City to construction a new facility in order to maintain the appropriate level of public works services in the future.
In October of 2019, RFQ20-004 was advertised for this project. Three (3) firms submitted RFQ’s to the City on November 18, 2019. Subsequent to staff’s review of the RFQ’s, a tabulation was created ranking the firms based on multiple criteria’s. On December 17, 2019 during its regularly scheduled meeting, City Council approved the ranking and to allow staff to begin negotiating a cost proposal/task order for design and construction services for the project with the first ranked consulting firm of McKim & Creed. Subsequent to several months and meetings, negotiations were terminated with the firm by the City. Staff contacted the second ranked consultant HTG Architects, Inc. and requested additional information from the firm. Subsequent to staff’s review of the information received, it was determined not to proceed with any of the firms that had submitted for the RFQ.
On January 14, 2020 the Florida Senate Bill Analysis and Fiscal Impact Statement was prepared by the Professional Staff of the Committee on Governmental Oversight and Accountability identified bill CS/SB 506 amending the definition of “continuing contract” under the Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) to take effect on July 1, 2020. The amendments included the increased dollar amount of each individual construction project from the existing $2 million to $5 million and the maximum dollar amount for each individual study increased from the existing $200,000 to $500,000. Due to this change, staff reviewed all of the current CCNA agreements with firms to determine if any of the firms had experience in this type of project. Williams Architects met staff’s criteria for this type of project for several reasons. Williams Architects is currently working with the City on the Library Renovations project and has met and exceeded City Standards for design implementation and finally, their experience on similar construction projects is extensive and gears towards municipal projects such as Public Works buildings, Maintenance Facilities, Fire Stations, Police Stations, Community Centers, and Libraries.