PROFESSIONAL ARCHITECTURAL CONSULTING SERVICES

In accordance with section 287.055, Florida Statutes, known as the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA), the Gadsden County, Florida, Board of County Commissioners (the “County”) Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is seeking Proposals from qualifying consulting firms (the “Proposer”) to provide all or a portion of continuing professional architectural consulting services (“Professional Services”) for County projects. Services will be on an as-needed basis for projects to be coordinated with various offices within Gadsden County.  Federal requirements included in this Solicitation or award agreements for project funded in whole or part with federal or state funds, may be applicable to each task order issued for projects under the awarded Continuing Services Contracts.

Background

Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners is a non-charter Florida County created by the Florida Constitution and governed by Florida Law and local ordinances.  The Board consists of five elected Commissioners with the Chairman and Vice Chairman being selected annually by the Board.  Information on the County, departments and budgets is available on the County’s website at:   https://www.gadsdencountyfl.gov/home.

Project Details

• Reference ID: RFQ 26-10
• Department: Building Inspection
• Department Head: Roosevelt Morris (Interim Assistant Administrator)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-06-23T14:00:00.000Z
• Answers Posted By: 2026-06-30T19:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY (10 pts) —
  • Name, address, phone, fax, email, Federal ID #, website, date firm was established
  • Type of ownership or legal structure
  • Incorporation by Secretary of State and Current Florida Professional License
  • Brief summary of firm with general description of firm, background, work history, awards, major accomplishments, etc.
  • Statement demonstrating firms understanding to County needs including typical project approach and statement of firm’s commitment to use most current tools and technology available to provide Professional Services
  • Address from where work is to be performed
  • Listing of professional services offered
  • Name of persons authorized to make representations for Respondent, with titles and contact numbers
  • MBE state certification
  • Litigation, disputes, default, & liens within last five (5) years

  No more than 10 (ten) pages

• ABILITY OF PERSONNEL (20 pts) —

  Respondents must be:

  Provide organizational profile of firm with listing of key personnel who will be assigned to provide Professional Services.  Include each individual’s name, function with the firm, years of experience with the firm, education, and years of experience specific to the Professional Services being offered.  Professional resume and any professional certificates or licenses held should be included for each individual listed.  

  • All professional services to be provided under this agreement shall be performed by Professionals licensed to practice in the State of Florida and in strict compliance with the Consultant’s Competitive Negotiation Act, 287.055 F.S. (CCNA), and any projects funded in part or whole with federal or state funding assistance. Consultants providing services under this contract shall at all times be knowledgeable of the limiting thresholds of the CCNA statutes, including any projects funded in whole or part with federal or state, and shall ensure that full compliance is maintained at all times.
  • All services are to be performed by persons appropriately licensed or registered pursuant to federal, state and/or county laws governing the practice of the Professional Services,  and shall be consistent with federal, state and county standards, specifications, and construction requirements as well as any applicable grant award requirements should the project be funded in part or in whole with federal or state funding.
  • Interested firms or individuals shall be licensed pursuant to Florida Statutes, Chapters 471 and 472 for engineering and surveying and mapping firms, and Chapter 482 for architecture and landscape architecture firms.
• EXPERIENCE OF FIRM AND REFERENCES (30 pts) —
  • Provide detailed list and examples of relevant experience and qualifications for the Professional Services being offered
  • Permitting: provide a description of the firm’s experience in dealing with federal, state, and local permitting and regulatory agencies.
  • Provide four (4) projects completed within the last five (5) years of the same or of a similar nature of the Professional Services being offered.  Include a project description, location name of project manager, scheduled and actual completion date, anticipated and actual cost of the project and client contact information familiar with the project.  If available, include if project was federal or state funded.
• ABILITY OF WORKLOAD AND WILLINGNESS TO MEET TIME REQUIREMENTS (30 pts) —

  Provide current and projected description of current workload

• W/MBE STATE CERTIFICATION (5 pts)
• COMMUNITY PREFERENCE/LOCAL PREFERENCE (5 pts) —

  Provide experience in local area with similar projects

Submission Requirements

• Proposal Transmittal Form (required) —

  Please download the below document, copy to letterhead, complete, and upload.

• Qualification Application/Questionnaire and Executive Summary (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, attach your Executive Summary and upload.

• References and Conflicts (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Indemnification and Hold Harmless Certification (required) —

  Contractor certifies that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, Contractor shall indemnify and hold harmless COUNTY, its offices and employees from liabilities, damages, losses, and costs including, but not limited to reasonable attorney fees, to the extent caused by the negligence, recklessness, or intentional wrongful conduct of the CONTRACTOR and other persons employed or utilized by the CONTRACTOR in the performance of this CONTRACT.

• Public Entity Crimes Certification (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Statement Certification (required) —

  Contractor certifies that:

  1. The contractors and all subcontractors hereby agree to a commitment to the principles and practices of equal opportunity in employment and to comply with the letter and spirit of federal, state, and local laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination based on race, color, religion, national region, sex, age, handicap, marital status, and political affiliation or belief.

  2. The contractor agrees to comply with Executive Order 11246, as amended, and to comply with specific affirmative action obligations contained therein.

   

• Drug Free Workplace Certification (required) —

  Preference shall be given to businesses with drug-free workplace programs. Whenever two or more responses which are equal with respect to price, quality, and service are received by the State or by any political subdivision for the procurement of commodities or contractual services, a response received from a business that certifies that it has implemented a drug-free workplace program shall be given preference in the award process. Established procedures for processing tie responses will be followed if none of the tied vendors have a drug-free workplace program. 

  In order to have a drug-free workplace program, a business shall:

  Publish a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of such prohibition.

  Inform employees about the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace, the business's policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace, available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance programs, and the penalties that may be imposed upon employees from drug abuse violations.

  Give each employee engaged in providing the commodities or contractual services that are under this solicitation a copy of the statement specified in subsection (1) above.

  In the statement specified in subsection (1), notify the employees that, as a condition of working on the commodities or contractual services that are under this solicitation, the employee will abide by the terms of the statement and will notify the employee of any conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, any violation of Chapter 893 or of any controlled substance law of the United States or any state, for a violation occurring in the work place no later than five (5) days after such conviction.

  Impose a sanction, on, or require the satisfactory participation in a drug abuse assistance or rehabilitation program if such is available in the employee's community, by any employee who is so convicted.

  Make a good faith effort to continue to maintain a drug-free workplace through implementation of this section.

  As the person authorized to sign the statement, I certify that this firm complies fully with the above requirements.

• Conflict of Interest Disclosures (required) —

  The award hereunder is subject to the provisions of Chapter 112, Florida Statutes. Respondents must disclose with their proposals whether any officer, director, employee, or agent is also an officer or an employee of the Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners. All firms must disclose the name of any county officer or employee who owns, directly or indirectly, an interest of five percent (5%) or more in the Respondent’s firm or any of its branches or affiliates. All Respondents must also disclose the name of any employee, agent, lobbyist, previous employee of the Board, or other person, who has received or will receive compensation of any kind, or who has registered or is required to register under Section 112.3215, Florida Statutes, in seeking to influence the actions of the Board in Connection with this procurement.

  Do you have any Conflicts of Interest to disclose?

• Disclosure (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Non-Collusive Affidavit (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Non-Collusion Affidavit (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Ethics Clause (required) —

  The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief, that:

  No federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of congress, an officer or employee of congress, or an employee of a member of congress in connection with the awarding of any federal contract, the making of any federal grant, the making of any federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.

  If any funds other than federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a member of congress, an officer or employee of congress, or an employee of a member of congress in connection with this federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, “Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,” in accordance with its instructions.

  The undersigned shall require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents for all sub-awards at all tiers (including subcontracts, sub-grants, and contracts under grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all sub-recipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.

  This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, Title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.

• Subcontractor Listing (required) —

  Will you be using subcontractors?

• Subcontractors and Services Form (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Certification Regarding Debarment (required) —
  1. The prospective primary participant certifies to the best of its knowledge and belief, that it and its principals:
     1. Are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any Federal department or agency.
     2. Have not within a three-year period preceding this been convicted of or had a civil judgment rendered against them for commission of fraud or a criminal offense in connection with obtaining, attempting to obtain, or performing a public (Federal, State or local) transaction or contract under a public transaction; violation of Federal or State antitrust statues or commission of embezzlement, theft, forgery, bribery, falsification or destruction of records, making false statements, or receiving stolen property;
     3. Are not presently indicted for or otherwise criminally or civilly charged by a governmental entity (Federal, State, or local) with commission of any of these offenses enumerated in paragraph (1)(b) of this certification; and
     4. Have not within a three-year period preceding this application/proposal had one or more public transactions (Federal, State, or local) terminated for cause or default.

  2. Where the prospective primary participant is unable to certify to any of the statements in this certification, such prospective participant shall attach an explanation to this proposal.

  3. No subcontract will be issued for this project to any party which is debarred or suspended from eligibility to receive federally funded contracts.

• E-Verify System Certification (required) —

  In accordance with the Governor of Florida’s Executive Order 11-116, the Proposer hereby certifies that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system will be used to verify the employment eligibility of all new employees hired by the Contractor during the Contract term, and shall expressly require any subcontractors performing work or providing services pursuant to the Contract to likewise utilize the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of all new employees hired by the subcontractor during the Contract term; and shall provide documentation of such verification to the COUNTY upon request.

  I certify that this firm complies/will comply fully with this RFP regarding E-Verify Compliance.

• Insurance (required) —

  A certificate of Insurance will be provided evidencing placement of each insurance policy responding to the requirements of the contract.

  Deductibles and Self-Insured Retentions

  Any deductibles or self-insured retention must be declared to and approved by the County. At the option of the County, either: the insurer shall reduce or eliminate such deductibles or self-insured retention as respects the County, its officers, officials, employees, and volunteers; or the Contractor shall procure a bond guaranteeing payment of losses and related investigations, claim administration and defense expenses.

  Endorsements to insurance policies will be provided as follows:

  • Additional insured (Gadsden County, Florida, its Officers, employees, and volunteers) General Liability & Automobile Liability
  • Primary and not contributing coverage- General Liability & Automobile Liability
  • Waiver of Subrogation (Gadsden County, Florida, its officers, employees, and volunteers)-
  • General Liability, Automobile Liability, Workers’ Compensation and Employer’s Liability
  • Thirty days advance written notice of cancellation to County - General Liability, Automobile Liability, Worker’s Compensation & Employer’s Liability.

  Professional Liability Policy Declaration sheet as well as claims procedures for each applicable policy to be provided.

  Do you have the required insurance in place?

• COI (required) —

  Upload a copy of your COI here.

• Coverage (required) —

  I hereby certify that coverage will be placed, without exception, prior to the execution of the contract.

• Exceptions to the Contract (required) —

  Do you have any exceptions to the contract attached to this RFP?

• Exceptions Taken (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• System of Award Management (SAM.gov) (required) —

  Include copy of print out from SAM.gov website showing valid registration of entity with UEI and FEIN numbers

  For Example:

  

• Byrd Anti-Lobbying Certification (required) —

  The undersigned certifies, to the best of his or her knowledge and belief that:

  1. No Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid, by or on behalf of the undersigned, to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of an agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with the awarding of any Federal contract, the making of any Federal grant, the making of any Federal loan, the entering into of any cooperative agreement, and the extension, continuation, renewal, amendment, or modification of any Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement.
     
     
  2. If any funds other than Federal appropriated funds have been paid or will be paid to any person for influencing or attempting to influence an officer or employee of any agency, a Member of Congress, an officer or employee of Congress, or an employee of a Member of Congress in connection with this Federal contract, grant, loan, or cooperative agreement, the undersigned shall complete and submit Standard Form-LLL, ``Disclosure Form to Report Lobbying,'' in accordance with its instructions.
     
     
  3. The undersigned shall require that the language of this certification be included in the award documents for all subawards at all tiers (including subcontracts, subgrants, and contracts under grants, loans, and cooperative agreements) and that all subrecipients shall certify and disclose accordingly.

  This certification is a material representation of fact upon which reliance was placed when this transaction was made or entered into. Submission of this certification is a prerequisite for making or entering into this transaction imposed by section 1352, title 31, U.S. Code. Any person who fails to file the required certification shall be subject to a civil penalty of not less than $10,000 and not more than $100,000 for each such failure.

• Civil Rights Compliance (required) —

  The Applicant provides this assurance in consideration of and for the purpose of obtaining Federal grants, loans, contracts, property, discounts or other Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

  THE APPLICANT HEREBY AGREES THAT IT WILL COMPLY WITH:

  1. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.), and all requirements imposed by or pursuant to the Regulation of the Department of Health and Human Services (45 C.F.R. Part 80), to the end that, in accordance with Title VI of that Act and the Regulation, no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin (including limited English proficiency) be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the Applicant receives Federal financial assistance from the Department.
  2. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (codified at 29 U.S.C. § 794), and all requirements imposed by or pursuant to the Regulation of the Department of Health and Human Services (45 C.F.R. Part 84), to the end that, in accordance with Section 504 of that Act and the Regulation, no otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall, solely by reason of their disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the Applicant receives Federal financial assistance from the Department.
  3. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, as amended (codified at 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.), and all requirements imposed by or pursuant to the Regulation of the Department of Health and Human Services (45C.F.R. Part 86), to the end that, in accordance with Title IX and the Regulation, no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity for which the Applicant receives Federal financial assistance from the Department.
  4. The Age Discrimination Act of 1975, as amended (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 6101 et seq.), and all requirements imposed by or pursuant to the Regulation of the Department of Health and Human Services (45 C.F.R. Part 91), to the end that, in accordance with the Act and the Regulation, no person in the United States shall, on the basis of age, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which the Applicant receives Federal financial assistance from the Department.
  5. Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 18116), and all requirements imposed by or pursuant to the Regulation of the Department of Health and Human Services(45 CFR Part 92), to the end that, in accordance with Section 1557 and the Regulation, no person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, national origin (including limited English proficiency), age, disability, or sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity) be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any health program or activity for which the Applicant receives Federal financial assistance from the Department.

  As applicable, the Church Amendments, as amended (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 300a-7), the Coats-Snowe Amendment (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 238n), the Weldon Amendment (e.g., Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, Pub. L. No. 117-103, Div. H, Title V § 507(d), 136 Stat 49, 496 (Mar. 15, 2022)) as extended by the Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, Pub. L. No. 117-180, Div. A, § 101(8) (Sep. 30, 2022); Section1553 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 18113), and Section1303(b)(4) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended (codified at 42 U.S.C. § 18023(b)(4)), and45 C.F.R. Part 88, to the extent that the rights of conscience are protected and associated discrimination and coercion are prohibited, in any program or activity for which the Applicant receives Federal financial assistance. Consistent with applicable court orders, the version of Part 88 in effect as of [October 20, 2022] is found at 76 Fed. Reg. 9968-9977 (Feb. 23, 2011).

  The Applicant agrees that compliance with this assurance constitutes a material condition of continued receipt of Federal financial assistance, and that it is binding upon the Applicant, its successors, transferees, and assignees for the period during which such assistance is provided.

  If any real property or structure thereon is provided or improved with the aid of Federal financial assistance extended to the Applicant by the Department, this assurance shall obligate the Applicant, or in the case of any transfer of such property, any transferee, for the period during which the real property or structure is used for a purpose for which the Federal financial assistance is extended or for another purpose involving the provision of similar services or benefits. If any personal property is so provided, this assurance shall obligate the Applicant for the period during which it retains ownership or possession of the property. The Applicant further recognizes and agrees that the United States shall have the right to seek judicial enforcement of this assurance.

• Human Trafficking Attestation (required) —

  In compliance with Section 787.06(13), Florida Statutes, this attestation must be completed by an officer or representative of a nongovernmental entity that is executing, renewing, or extending a contract with The Florida International University Board of Trustees or any of its direct support organizations (the “Governmental Entity”). 

  The undersigned, on behalf of the entity listed below (the “Nongovernmental Entity”), hereby certfies under penalty of perjury as follows:

  1. Neither Nongovernmental Entity, nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, uses coercion for labor or services, as such italicized terms are defined in Section 787.06, Florida Statutes, as may be amended from time to time.
  2. If, at any time in the future, Nongovernmental Entity does use coercion for labor or services, Nongovernmental Entity will immediately notify Governmental Entity and no contracts may be executed, renewed, or extended between the parties.
  3. Nongovernmental Entity has read the foregoing attestation, confirms that the facts stated in it are true, and are made for the benefit of, and reliance by Governmental Entity. 
• Foreign County of Concern Certification (required) —

  FOREIGN COUNTRY OF CONCERN ATTESTATION (PUR 1355) This form must be completed by an officer or representative of an entity submitting a bid, proposal, or reply to, or entering into, renewing, or extending, a contract with a Governmental Entity which would grant the entity access to an individual’s Personal Identifying Information. Capitalized terms used herein have the definitions ascribed in Rule 60A-1.020, F.A.C. 

  I certify that our company is not owned by the government of a Foreign Country of Concern, is not organized under the laws of nor has its Principal Place of Business in a Foreign Country of Concern, and the government of a Foreign Country of Concern does not have a Controlling Interest in the entity. 

  Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing statement and that the facts stated in it are true. 

• Truth In Negotiation Certification (required) —

  Pursuant to Section 287.055(5)(a), Florida Statutes, for any lump-sum or cost-plus-a-fixed fee professional services contract over the threshold amount provided in Section 287.017, Florida Statutes, requires the Consultant to execute this certificate and include it with the submittal of the Technical Proposal, or as prescribed in the contract advertisement.

  The Consultant hereby certifies, covenants, and warrants that wage rates and other factual unit costs supporting 
  the compensation for this project’s agreement are accurate, complete, and current at the time of contracting.

  The Consultant further agrees that the original agreement price and any additions thereto shall be adjusted to exclude any significant sums by which the Department determines the agreement price was increased due to inaccurate, incomplete, or noncurrent wage rates and other factual unit costs. All such agreement adjustments shall be made within (1) year following the end of the contract. For purposes of this certificate, the end of the agreement shall be deemed to be the date of final billing or acceptance of the work by the Department, whichever is later.

• Technical Response without Cost (required) —

  Upload your proposal here.  Do not include pricing information in your proposal.  

• W/MBE Certification (required) —

  Certification as a minority business enterprise for the purpose of this Solicitation is defined by the Florida Small and Minority Business Assistance Act.

  Respondents certified by the State of Florida should include a copy of their certification.  

  Respondents should identify all Women Owned and Minority Business Enterprise (W/MBE) subcontractors that will be utilized for this project, provide a copy of their State of Florida or other local government W/MBE certification, their role, and the estimated percentage of the work to be provided.

  Are you an W/MBE Certified Vendor, or are you using any W/MBE Certified Subcontractors?

• MBE Certification Documentation (required) —

  Upload a copy of your MBE certification and identify all MBE subcontractors that will be utilized for this project. Provide a copy of their State of Florida or other local government MBE certification, their role, and the estimated percentage of the work to be provided.

• W-9 (required) —

  Upload a copy of your current W-9.

• Federal Funding (required) —

  Will you be using Federal Funds?

• Bid Bond (required) —

  Do you require a Bid Bond?

• Procurement Type (required) —

  What are you purchasing?

• Construction Contract Value (required)
• Professional Services Contract Value (required) —

  What is the estimated contract value?

• IT Contract Value (required) —

  What is the estimated contract value?

• General Services (required) —

  What is the estimated contract value?

• Optional Insurance Policies (required) —

  Do you need any of the following policies?

• Contract Term (required) —

  The term of the Contract shall begin no sooner than the later of the dates executed by both Parties, and the term shall be ______________.

  Fill in the blank'