REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Planning and Marketing Services RFP No. 15-18 The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners is seeking sealed proposals from interested and qualified firms to provide Planning and Marketing Services to the Board of County Commissioners. Proposals will be received until 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 31, 2015 in the Management Services Department, 5-B E. Jefferson Street, Quincy, FL 32351 and opened thereafter in the County Administrator s Conference Room, 9-E. Jefferson Street, Quincy, FL 32351. Specifications may be obtained from Allara Gutcher, Planning and Community Development Director/TDC Director at 1-B E. Jefferson Street, Quincy, FL or by dialing 850-875-8663 or by email at agutcher@gadsdencountyfl.gov. Questions concerning the specifications should be directed to Allara Gutcher at 850-875-8663. Proposals will not be valid if not sealed in an envelope marked SEALED PROPOSAL and identified by the name of the firm, proposal number and time of opening. The Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners reserves the right to reject any one proposal or all proposals, any part of any proposal, to waive any informality in any proposal, and to award the purchase in the best interest of the County. Any person requiring a special accommodation because of a disability should contact the Management Services Department at least five (5) days prior to the proposal opening. EEO/AA. Date issued: 8-13-15
RFP Title: Request for Proposals for Planning and Marketing Firm for the Development of a HWY 90 Corridor Master Plan Proposal Number: RPP No. 15-18 Opening Date: Monday, August 31, 2015 The Board of County Commissioners has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for planning and marketing services. Completed RFP documents will be available for download at www.gadsdencountyfl.gov. I. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS: A. Response Address. The response to the proposal should be submitted in a sealed addressed envelope to: Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners C/O Management Services Department 5B East Jefferson Street Quincy, Florida 32351 Please include Proposal Number RFP No. 15-18 on the transmittal. Please provide five original sealed copies. To propose on this package you must offer a guarantee of performance. If a deliverable listed within the contract is not met by the due date of that deliverable item it is at the discretion of the BOCC to cancel the remainder of the contract. B. Contact. Allara Mills Gutcher (Planning and Community Development Director/TDC Director) agutcher@gadsdencountyfl.gov for additional information and questions. C. Proposal Deadline. All proposals must be received by the person at the address in Part I.A. above no later than 10:00 a.m., Monday, August 31, 2015. Any and all late arriving proposals will NOT be considered. II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF WORK: A. Provider Requirements The goal of this request is to hire a firm to promote and increase tourism within Gadsden County by identifying and marketing key attractors, events, activities and natural resources that lie along the HWY 90 corridor and providing a plan to promote 2 P a g e
such to tourists outside of the region. The firm will develop a US-90 Corridor Master Plan for the Gadsden County segment of a multi-county regional plan. This plan must also interlace with the Jackson, Washington, Walton and Holmes County plans, as applicable. In addition: The provider must have tourism marketing and/or industry related work experience. The provider must demonstrate strong communication and public relations skills. The provider must have knowledge of Gadsden County. The provider must have strong research-based strategic planning capabilities. References must be submitted from entities for whom you have provided similar services. A guarantee of services to be rendered must be assured. To propose on this package you must offer a guarantee of performance. If a deliverable is not met by the due date of that deliverable item it is at the discretion of the BOCC to cancel the remainder of the contract. This project is funded through a Technical Assistance Grant from the Department of Economic Opportunity, and deadlines are non-negotiable. A copy of the scope of work may be received by contacting Allara Mills Gutcher, whose information is contained herein. The plan will: Generate a directory of the County s historical sites, natural resources, social, cultural, and entertainment venues along the U.S. HWY 90 corridor. Continue strategies to attract I-10 travelers within the heart of our communities. Strategies to provide signage, marketing, and other promotional efforts shall be included. Deliverables shall include: Identify stakeholders; conduct a stakeholder meeting, develop a community vision statement. Create a calendar of community events, inventory historic sites, natural resources, recreation sites, and other social, cultural and entertainment venues. Prepare the draft corridor master plan. III. PROPOSAL CONTENT A. Proposal response sheet with manual signature and addendum acknowledgment. B. Cover letter. C. Background and Credentials Specifications. 3 P a g e
Please submit the following information with descriptions: a. Background b. Relevant Experience D. Case Studies. Please provide three case studies that are similar in scope, not exceeding FIVE pages. E. Demonstration of Strategic Thinking and Creative Approach. Please answer the following questions as a narrative, not exceeding FOUR pages in length. a. What differentiates Gadsden County from other Florida destinations? b. What do you see as Gadsden County s strengths and assets that could be leveraged? c. Describe how you will work with county staff on the completion of this project. d. Describe how you will meet the required deadlines. e. Why are you interested in working on this project? IV. SELECTION PROCESS Any and all applicants will go through a selection committee. Interviews with the selection committee will take place the week of September 8, 2015 and a candidate will be selected on a date to be announced by the Allara Mills Gutcher, Director of the Tourist Development Council and Planning and Community Development Department. V. EVALUATION CRITERIA Has the primary function of the project been taken into consideration, and expressed with clear goals and objectives along with success factors for the respective proposal? Capability of applicant, in terms of professional qualifications and certifications, to fulfill the technical requirements of this project. Has the company demonstrated excellence and relevance of past work in conceptual, aesthetic and technical terms? Prior experience working with tourism plans. Has the company presented creative and innovative ideas and come up with a solid strategy, implementing a strategic or marketing plan to the best of their ability? 4 P a g e
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE CERTIFICATION The undersigned vendor, in accordance with Florida Statute 287.087 hereby certifies that does: Name of Business 1.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. 2.Inform employees about the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace, the business s policy of maintaining a drug-free workplace, any available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee assistance program, and the penalties that may be imposed upon employees for drug abuse violations. 3.Give each employee engaged in providing the commodities or contractual services that are under bid a copy of the statement specified in subsection (1). 4.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 bid, the employee will abide by the terms of the statement and will notify the employer 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 of chapter 893 or of any controlled substance law of the United States or any state, for a violation occurring in the workplace no later than five (5) days after such conviction. 5.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. 6.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 requirement. Company Name Vendor s Signature Must be executed and returned with attached bid at time of bid opening to be considered. 5 P a g e
PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES (For Information Purposes Only) Section 287.133, Florida Statutes, was revised by deleting the requirement for vendors to file a public entity crime statement. The following paragraph contains a statement informing persons of the provisions of paragraph (2)(a) of Section 287.133, Florida Statutes: A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in Section 287.017, for CATEGORY TWO for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list. The bidder certifies by submission of this bid, that neither it nor its principals is presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared ineligible, or voluntarily excluded from participation in this transaction by any State or Federal department/agency. 6 P a g e
STATEMENT OF NO BID RFP No. 15-18 We, the undersigned, have declined to respond to your bid for the following reasons: We do not offer this service Our schedule would not permit us to perform Unable to meet specifications Others (Please Explain) We understand that if the no-bid letter is not executed and returned, our name may be deleted from the County s list of qualified bidders. Organization Name Signature Name (Print/Type) Address Telephone No. FAX No. 7 P a g e
SIGNATURE FORM Name of Company Mailing Address City State Zip Authorized Signature, Title Name (Typed or Printed) Date Phone Number (Including Area Code) Fax Number (Including Area Code) Website/Email Address Date 8 P a g e