Engineering Services for Donnie Substation

The City of Homestead is seeking qualified engineering firms to provide professional services for the design of a new 138kV/13.2kV distribution substation located in Homestead, Florida. The project includes the full engineering and design of a loop-in/loop-out configuration connected to an existing 138kV transmission line.

The substation will be designed to support future system growth and reliability needs, with a planned ultimate capacity of approximately 89 MVA. This will be achieved through the installation of two power transformers and a six-feeder 13.2kV distribution bus.

The selected consultant will be responsible for delivering complete design services, including technical specifications, construction-ready documents, coordination with utilities and stakeholders, and support throughout the procurement and construction phases.

This Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is issued in accordance with the provisions of Florida Statute 287.055, the Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA). The City of Homestead is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages participation from MBE/WBE/DBE businesses.

Project Details

• Reference ID: RFQ#202623
• Department: HPS Energy | Electric Services
• Department Head: Barbara Quinones (Director of HPS- Energy)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-07-31T21:00:00.000Z
• Pre-Proposal Meeting: 2026-07-09T14:00:00.000Z — A NON-MANDATORY pre-submittal conference will be held on the date and time listed above in the Procurement & Contract Services Department conference room located at 450 SE 6th Avenue, Homestead, Florida 33030. At that conference all work will be discussed and all questions answered. No questions will be answered verbally except at the pre-submittal conference. You may submit questions in writing to be received at least two (2) days prior to the pre-submittal conference to: Xintia Rubio-Rojas, Senior Buyer, City of Homestead, 450 SE 6th Avenue, Homestead, FL 33030; via email at: bids@homesteadfl.gov Virtual Attendance Option: Microsoft Teams meeting Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/249458790280418?p=HJPV5aqwIwH8z5C6l2 Meeting ID: 249 458 790 280 418 Passcode: dG7Ek3kE ____________________________ Dial in by phone +1 929-346-7292,,645557736# Phone conference ID: 645 557 736#

Evaluation Criteria

• Project Overview —

  The City of Homestead Energy Services (HES) is seeking proposals from qualified engineering firms (“Consultant”) to provide comprehensive engineering and design services for the new Donnie Avocado Substation. This project consists of all engineering activities required for a new distribution substation rated at 138 kV / 13.2 kV with a net output capacity of 89 MVA.

  The facility will be located in Homestead, Florida. The design must facilitate a loop-in/loop-out configuration from the existing 138 kV transmission line between HES Lucy and FPL Davis substations.

• General Design Scope —

  The Consultant shall be responsible for the following primary design elements:

  · Transmission Interface: Two (2) 138 kV transmission line feeds, two (2) 138 kV line switches, and one (1) 138 kV disconnect switch configured as two radial lines with a bus tie.

  · Power Transformers: Two (2) 138 kV / 13.2 kV, 44.8 MVA power transformers.

  · High Voltage Protection: 138 kV circuit switchers with an interrupting rating of 20 kA.

  · Medium Voltage Bus: 13.2 kV outdoor double bus rated at 2000A.

  · Feeders: Eight (6) load positions served by 13.2 kV, 1200A outdoor circuit breakers.

  · Auxiliary Power: Two (2) power and light transformers for substation AC requirements.

• Detailed Scope by Discipline —

  A. Structural and Civil Engineering

  · Surveys & Geotechnical: Site boundary, topographical surveys, and geotechnical reports.

  · Site Design: Grading and drainage plans, specifications, and drainage calculations.

  · Structures: Design and calculations for bus structures, including load trees for concrete poles.

  · Foundations: Detailed design and calculations for all equipment foundations.

  · Perimeter: Fence plans and details.

  · Environmental: SPCC (Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure) plan11.

   

  B. Substation Engineering (Physical Design)

  · Arrangement: Electrical Single Line Diagrams, General Arrangements, and Electrical Sections.

  · Grounding & Shielding: Grounding plan/study and Lightning shielding plan/study.

  · Conduit & Cable: Conduit plans, cable trench drawings/details, and conduit schedules.

  · Station Service: AC and DC station load studies, battery sizing, and station light/power calculations.

  · Procurement Support: Development of Long Lead Material Lists and Equipment Specifications.

   

  C. Protection and Control (P&C) Engineering

  · One-Lines: Relay one-line and three-line diagrams.

  · Schematics: AC and DC elementary (schematic) diagrams.

  · Wiring: Interconnection relay panel wiring and remote wiring diagrams for all electrical equipment.

  · Hardware: Relay panel arrangements and a comprehensive Bill of Materials (BOM).

• Required Studies and Calculations —

  Final reports for all studies must be signed and sealed by a Florida Registered Professional Engineer and include:

  · Grounding and Lightning Shielding Studies.

  · Lighting/Illumination Study.

  · AC/DC Station Load and Battery Sizing Calculations.

  · Substation Bus Strength Calculations.

• Project Deliverables and Phases —

  The project shall follow a structured review process with submittals at the following intervals:

  1. 30% Design Package: Focus on site layout, single lines, and long-lead equipment specs.

  2. 60% Design Package: Detailed physical and structural design, including most studies and elementary diagrams.

  3. 90% Design Package: Finalized drawings incorporating all previous comments and vendor-certified data.

  4. Issued for Construction (IFC): Final signed and sealed package incorporating all HES comments.

  5. As-Built Documentation: Processing of field markups within 30 days of construction completion.

Submission Requirements

• Respondents are solely responsible for ensuring that their submittals are complete, uploaded, and submitted in the City's e-Procurement Portal by the due date and time. (required) —

  Respondents are solely responsible for ensuring that their submittals are complete, uploaded and submitted in the e-procurement Portal BEFORE 2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. The City shall not be responsible for any submission delays or failures caused by any occurrence. Respondents are expected to examine this solicitation, specifications, associated drawings, if any, and all instructions. Failure to do so will be at the Respondent's risk.

  Each Respondent shall furnish the information required on each response/submittal form and each accompanying sheet thereof on which an entry is made. 

  The following items must be completed and uploaded as part of your electronic submittal.  Failure to complete and return required forms may result in your proposal being deemed non-responsive and not considered for award.

  Responses received after the scheduled due date and time for submission will not be accepted. Responses submitted in any other format other than via the City's e-Procurement Portal, including but not limited to, hard copy (mailed or hand delivered), facsimile, or emailed submittals, will not be accepted, nor considered. The scheduled due date and time for submission will be scrupulously observed.

  Neither the City, nor the Software Administrator will be held responsible for untimely submissions due to personal or company internet or hardware limitations, settings or restrictions, internet speed, power outage, network connection, use of a malfunctioning electronic device, or the like. Respondents shall be solely responsible for ensuring the capability of their computer system while responding to this solicitation, and for the stability of their internet service. Uploading large documents may take significant time depending on the size of the file(s) and the Internet connection speed that the Respondent is using to submit a response. Failure of the Respondent to successfully submit an electronic response before the deadline indicated herein shall be at the Respondent’s sole risk, and no relief will be given for late and/or improperly submitted response. Once file(s) have been uploaded and the Submission Status shows as “Submitted” the submission is complete. At that point, the Respondent will also receive an email confirmation from the Portal.

  Respondents may withdraw their submittal electronically via the Portal at any time prior to the scheduled due date and time for submission.

• I certify that I have read through the attached solicitation, and I understand all specifications, terms, conditions, and materials provided therein. (required)
• Proposal Package (required) —

  Upload your proposal in the format required by this solicitation. Refer to Section 6, SUBMITTAL CONTENT for submission format.

  1. Letter of Interest
  2. Firm Qualifications
  3. Key Personnel
  4. Relevant Experience
  5. Project Approach
  6. References
  7. Required Licenses and Certifications
  8. Litigation History

• COH Forms (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

  The following items must be completed and uploaded as part of your electronic submittal. Failure to complete and return required forms may result in your submittal being deemed non-responsive and not considered for award. These forms must be downloaded, completed, and uploaded as a part of the submittal.

  1. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) DISABILITY NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
  2. BUSINESS ENTITY AFFIDAVIT/CONFLICT OF INTEREST
  3. CERTIFICATION REGARDING DEBARMENT, SUSPENSION, AND OTHER RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS PRIMARY COVERED TRANSACTIONS
  4. DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE PROGRAM AFFIDAVIT
  5. SCRUTINIZED COMPANIES FORM
  6. E-VERIFY
  7. SWORN STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 287.133 (3) (a), FLORIDA STATUTES, ON PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES
  8. PERFORMANCE SURVEYS
  9. NOTIFICATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER COLLECTION AND USAGE
  10. W-9 FORM
  11. AFFIDAVIT ATTESTING TO NONCOERCIVE CONDUCT FOR LABOR OR SERVICES
  12. AFFIDAVIT REGARDING PROHITION ON CONTRACTING WITH ENTITIES OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES OF CONCERN
  13. PROPOSER'S CERTIFICATION
• Business License (required) —

  Upload your current business license.

• State Registration (required) —

  State registration [Florida State Registration can be located and printed at www.Sunbiz.org].

• System for Award Management (SAM) (required) —

  It is highly recommended that firms responding to this RFQ register their entity at SAM.gov. The process is free and a requirement for award of work on federally funded projects. To register, follow the link provided: https://sam.gov/content/entity-registration . Once registered, your firm will be issued a Unique Identifier Number. The registration process usually takes several days but can be up to several weeks depending on demand. This will be a requirement for the firm selected for award.

• E-Verify (required) —

  E-VERIFY: In accordance with Section 448.095, Florida Statutes, the City requires all contractors doing business with the City to register with and use the E-Verify system to verify the work authorization status of all newly hired employees. The City will not enter into a contract unless each party to the contract registers with and uses the E-Verify system. The contracting entity must provide of its proof of enrollment in E-Verify. For instructions on how to provide proof of the contracting entity’s participation/enrollment in E-Verify, please visit: https://www.e-verify.gov/faq/how-do-i-provide-proof-of-my-participationenrollment-in-e-verify. By entering into this Agreement, the Contractor acknowledges that it has read Section 448.095, Florida Statutes; will comply with the E-Verify requirements imposed by Section 448.095, Florida Statutes, including but not limited to obtaining E-Verify affidavits from subcontractors; and has executed the required affidavit attached hereto and incorporated herein.

  Every public employer, contractor, and subcontractor shall register with and use the E-Verify system to verify the work authorization status of all newly hired employees. A public employer, contractor, or subcontractor may not enter into a contract unless each party to the contract registers with and uses the E-Verify system.

• W-9 Form (required) —

  Upload your current W9 Form

• Evidence of Insurance (required) —

  Provide evidence of insurance.

• Acknowledgment of Addenda and Q&A. (required) —

  Proposer acknowledges that they are solely responsible for reviewing the latest questions and answer, notices and addenda associated with this procurement process. Failure to consider key information and changes within your submission may result in your offer being deemed non-responsive if key data or forms are omitted.

• Explain in detail the purpose of this solicitation: (required)
• Estimated Project Value: (required)
• Solicitations need to be advertised a minimum of 12 days and typically do not to exceed 30 days. How long would you like your bid advertised for? FL State Statute 255.0525-Construction over $200K, 21 day state statute requirement/Construction over $500K, 30 day state statute requirement) (required)
• Project Location(s): (required)
• Funding Source (required) —

  Goods and services to be procured, which are funded by a Federal Grant Program, must be procured in accordance with 2 CFR §200.317 through §200.327 (aka Federal Super Circular), as may be amended by the Federal government.

• Description & Grant Number (required)
• Timeline, substantial completion, expiration dates, other milestones, etc.: (required)
• Is this projected expected to be encumbered and completed prior to the end of the current Fiscal Year?: (required)
• Do you want a pre-proposal meeting? (required)
• Is there an outside entity assisting with this solicitation (ex: Architect, engineer, consultant)? (required)
• Are there plans associated with this solicitation? (required)
• Does this solicitation work in conjunction with or will it impact any other Dept? (required)