Solid Waste Engineering and Environmental Professional Services

MEMORANDUM

Notice is hereby given that the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners is requesting qualifications from experienced firms to provide solid waste engineering and environmental professional services.

All submissions shall be considered in accordance with the Florida Competitive Consultant Negotiations Act. (F.S. 287.055)

Specifications may be secured through the Santa Rosa County Procurement Portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/santarosafl Questions concerning this request should be submitted through the procurement portal by 12:00 pm on Monday, August 3, 2026. 

Please submit all proposals through the procurement portal at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/santarosafl by 10:00 am on Friday, August 21, 2026, at which time will be publicly opened via Teams.

Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners encourages all segments of the business community to participate in its procurement opportunities, including small businesses, minority/women owned businesses, and disadvantaged business enterprises. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex, or age in the administration of contracts.

The Board of County Commissioners reserves the right to waive irregularities in bids, to reject any or all bids for sound documented reasons, and to award the bid that it determines to be in the best interest of Santa Rosa County.

By order of the Board of County Commissioners of Santa Rosa County, Florida.

Background

Santa Rosa County is located in the western Florida Panhandle and is one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida. This growth continues to increase demands on the County’s solid waste infrastructure, environmental compliance programs, and long-term capital planning efforts. The County is committed to responsible environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance, and proactive planning to ensure reliable and cost-effective solid waste management services for its residents.

Solid Waste Facilities

The County owns and operates the Central Landfill, a Class I Subtitle D sanitary landfill that serves as the primary disposal facility for municipal solid waste generated within the County. In addition to active landfill operations, the County is responsible for the long-term management of closed facilities that require ongoing environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance:

Holley Landfill – Closed facility located in the Navarre area of Santa Rosa County
Class III Landfill – Closed facility located in Milton, Florida

These facilities require continued post-closure care, groundwater monitoring, reporting, and coordination with regulatory agencies, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). The County must balance these long-term obligations with ongoing operational needs and future expansion planning at the Central Landfill.

Purpose of This Solicitation

Notice is hereby given that the Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners is requesting qualifications from experienced firms to provide solid waste engineering and environmental professional services. Services may include, but are not limited to, sanitary landfill design and permitting, landfill gas system design and permitting, water quality sampling and analysis, wetland delineation, threatened and endangered species surveys, and NPDES design and implementation services.

This contract is being procured in accordance with the Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA), Florida Statutes §287.055.

Santa Rosa County reserves the right to contract for engineering, environmental, or other professional services with any firm, whether under contract through this solicitation or not, when deemed to be in the best interest of the County.

Key Challenges and Expectations

The County’s solid waste program operates in a dynamic environment influenced by population growth, evolving regulatory requirements, and operational demands. Anticipated challenges and priorities include:

• Maintaining continuous compliance with FDEP regulations, including permitting, monitoring, and reporting requirements
• Supporting landfill expansion, design, and construction activities while maintaining uninterrupted operations
• Managing long-term post-closure care obligations for closed landfill facilities
• Coordinating environmental services such as groundwater monitoring, surface water management, and ecological assessments
• Providing timely and accurate technical support for regulatory submittals, including permit modifications and compliance reports
• Supporting emergency response and disaster debris management activities when required

What Success Looks Like

The County is seeking firms that demonstrate not only technical expertise, but also responsiveness, reliability, and a strong understanding of solid waste operations in Florida. Firms that will be most successful under this contract will:

• Provide practical, cost-effective engineering solutions tailored to County operations
• Demonstrate familiarity with Florida regulatory frameworks, including FDEP solid waste, water quality, and air permitting requirements
• Deliver clear, concise, and defensible technical reports and permit applications
• Maintain strong communication and coordination with County staff and regulatory agencies
• Demonstrate the ability to rapidly respond to task orders, regulatory deadlines, operational issues, emergency situations, and other time-sensitive needs
• Take a proactive approach to identifying risks, opportunities, and long-term planning considerations

County Contact and Oversight

Services of the consultant shall be performed under the general direction of the County Environmental Director or Environmental Manager, who will serve as the County’s representative for coordination, review, and approval of all work performed under specific task orders.

Project Details

• Reference ID: 26-045
• Department: Landfill
• Department Head: Kaz Szymoniak (Environmental Manager)

Important Dates

• Questions Due: 2026-08-03T17:00:00.000Z

Evaluation Criteria

• Qualifications and Experience of the Firm (25 pts) —

  Consideration may include the firm’s overall experience, technical expertise, organizational capacity, years in operation, and experience providing similar services for public sector or solid waste related projects.

• Qualifications and Availability of Key Personnel (20 pts) —

  Consideration may include the education, licensure, technical qualifications, relevant experience, availability, and demonstrated capabilities of proposed key personnel and subconsultants.

• Relevant Project Experience and Past Performance (25 pts) —

  Consideration may include the firm’s experience with projects of similar scope and complexity, including landfill engineering, environmental compliance, permitting, groundwater monitoring, landfill gas systems, NPDES services, ecological services, and related solid waste infrastructure projects.

  The County may consider prior experience with Florida local governments, FDEP regulatory processes, and projects performed within Santa Rosa County, where applicable.

• Ability to Meet Schedules and Provide Timely Response (15 pts) —

  Consideration may include current workload, availability of staff, responsiveness, history of meeting deadlines, and ability to support both planned projects and time-sensitive operational needs.

• Understanding of County Needs and Technical Approach (10 pts) —

  Consideration may include the firm’s demonstrated understanding of the County’s operational environment, regulatory requirements, responsiveness expectations, and ability to provide practical and cost-effective solutions.

• Quality, Organization, and Completeness of Submittal (5 pts) —

  Consideration may include the clarity, organization, completeness, and professionalism of the submitted proposal.

Submission Requirements

• Proposal —

  The following outlines the required format and content for proposal submittals in response to this RFQ. Proposals MUST be submitted in accordance with the format described below.

• Letter of Interest (Maximum one (1) page) (required) —

  Provide a brief letter of interest including:

  • Name and address of the firm
  • Location of the office that will serve as the lead office for this contract
  • A statement of the firm’s understanding of the requested services
  • Name and contact information for the primary point of contact
• Business Credentials (Maximum four (4) pages) (required) —

  Provide a summary of the firm’s qualifications, including:

  • Overview of the firm and years in operation
  • Description of services offered relevant to this RFQ
  • Experience providing similar services for public sector clients, particularly solid waste or environmental programs
• Licensure and Registration (Maximum two (2) page) (required) —

  Provide identification of applicable State of Florida professional licensure for key personnel, including:

  • Professional Engineer (P.E.) and/or Professional Geologist (P.G.), as applicable
  • Name, discipline, and Florida license number for each individual

  Licensure documentation is not required at the time of submittal; however, the County reserves the right to verify all licenses prior to award or during contract negotiations.

• Specific Accomplishments / Relevant Project Experience (required) —

  Provide a listing of completed projects representative of the services described in this RFQ.

  • Limit to a maximum of ten (10) projects completed within the last five (5) years, with each project description limited to one (1) page
  • Include a brief description of services performed, project scope, and outcomes
  • Projects should demonstrate experience in areas such as landfill design, permitting, environmental compliance, groundwater monitoring, landfill gas systems, NPDES, ecological services, or similar

  Firms are encouraged to include projects performed for Santa Rosa County, if applicable. If no such projects exist, firms should include relevant projects performed within the State of Florida.

• Areas of Expertise (Maximum two (2) pages) (required) —

  Provide a list and description of the firm’s areas of expertise, beginning with the firm’s strongest area(s). Include:

  • Key service areas relevant to this RFQ
  • Supporting project examples or experience
• Project Management Organization (required) —

  Describe the organizational structure that will be used to manage projects under this contract.

  Include:

  • Key personnel and their roles and responsibilities
  • Education, experience, and qualifications of key personnel and any proposed subconsultants
  • Identification of personnel with experience working on projects in Santa Rosa County within the last five (5) years, if applicable
  • Current and projected workload of key personnel to demonstrate ability to meet time requirements
  • Describe the firm's ability to respond to urgent operational, regulatory, and emergency support needs, including anticipated response times, local support capabilities, and availability of key personnel 

  Maximum four (4) pages, excluding resumes. Resumes for key personnel shall be limited to one (1) page per individual and included as an appendix.

  Licensure:
  Identify key personnel and include applicable Florida professional licensure (e.g., P.E., P.G.), including license number, for individuals who will be responsible for work performed under this contract.

• References (Maximum two (2) pages) (required) —

  Provide a minimum of five (5) references for projects similar in scope.

  Include:

  • Contact name
  • Organization
  • Phone number and/or email
  • Brief description of the project
• Additional Information & Comments (Maximum two (2) pages) —

  Provide any additional information the firm deems relevant to this RFQ that is not otherwise requested. Information should be pertinent and concise.

• Sworn Statement Public Entity Crimes (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Debarment Form (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Conflict of Interest Form (required) —

  Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• Non-Collusion (required) —

  Respondent confirms that it has entered into no agreement to commit a fraudulent, deceitful, unlawful, or wrongful act, or any act which may result in an unfair advantage over other respondents. See Florida Statute 838.22.

• Please provide proof of registration with State of Florida Division of Corporations (required)
• Please provide copy of current insurance declaration page. (required)
• Please provide your UEI number: (required)
• Please provide proof of registration with the Federal System of Award Management (SAM). (required)
• Please confirm that you have read and understand the information contained herein. (required)
• Solicitation Type (required) —

  Invitation to Quote: Requires at least three quotes and is based on the lowest qualified bid.

  Invitation to Bid: Lowest/most responsive bid.

  Request for Proposal: Proposers ranked by staff or the Board. Presentations may be required.

  Request for Qualifications: Proposers ranked by staff or the Board. Presentations may be required.

  Invitation to Negotiate: Proposers ranked by staff or the Board. Presentations may be required.

• How will the proposals be evaluated and scored? (required) —

  Option A - Staff Evaluation and Selection: Staff will review all valid submissions and provide a recommendation to the Board.

  Option B - Staff Evaluation and Shortlisting: If there are more then five valid submissions, staff will evaluate the submissions based on the identified criteria and shortlist the firms to five, who will make formal presentations to the Board.

  Option C - Staff Evaluations and Board Presentations: Staff will evaluate the submissions based on identified criteria and provide scoring information to the Board for consideration. Formal presentations will be made to the Board.

  Option D - Board Presentations and Scoring: Regardless of the number of submissions, formal presentations will be made to the Board for all valid submissions.

• Please provide the date the board approved the evaluation method: (required) —

  Example: December 1, 2023

• Will you need an attachment section? (required)
• Insurance Requirements (required) —

  Please select additional insurance being requried.

• Will references be needed? (required)
• What will the funding source(s) be? (required)