Regional Planning Councils, Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council

 

REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS
Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council

Request for Proposals

For a Feasibility Study

RFP #ED-03

The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council (the “Council”) requests proposals from qualified firms interested in preparing a feasibility study for a regional incubator network.

Schedule

The due date for proposals is October 31, 2008, 12:00 Noon. An Advisory Committee consisting of representatives from each of the counties in the study region will review and rank the proposals. The Advisory Committee reserves the right to request firms responding to this RFP for additional information or to make oral presentations. The Council will not reimburse firms for any expenses incurred in connection with this RFP including the cost of preparing the initial response, preparing additional requested information, or travel expenses relating to oral presentations.

It is expected that oral presentations via conference call, if necessary, will occur on November 6, 2008. Firms requested to make oral presentations via conference call will be notified on or before November 4, 2008. The Advisory Committee will make a final consultant selection no later than November 7, 2008.

A pre-bid meeting will be held on Friday, October 17, 2008, using WebEx technology meeting initiated by the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon. The meeting is not mandatory and potential proposers may participate by phone by calling 1(888)808-6959, and the conference code is 2550232.

The final product is due on or before August 31, 2009.

Requests For Information and Instruction

The original proposal and ten copies must be submitted to the office listed below. All copies must be submitted by the due date and time of 12:00 Noon, October 31, 2008. All bids must be date and time stamped to indicate receipt before the bid opening. Firms mailing proposals should allow a sufficient mail delivery period to ensure timely arrival of their proposals.

The Council cannot waive or excuse late receipt of a proposal which is delayed for any reason. Any proposal received after the bid opening date and time will be immediately disqualified in accordance with the Council’s rules and regulations.

Submit one (1) original and ten (10) copies of the proposal to:

Ms. Nichole Gwinnett

Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council

1926 Victoria Avenue

Fort Myers, FL 33901

[phone]

Due date for proposals is October 31, 2008 by 12:00 Noon

Inquiries/Requests for Clarification

Written questions must be received no later than ten (10) working days prior to the Proposal acceptance date. Should any questions or responses require revisions to the Request for Proposal as originally published, such revisions will be by formal amendment only. Other than minor procedural matters, questions regarding this proposal must be in writing and submitted to:

Ms. Jennifer Pellechio, Senior Planner

Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council

1926 Victoria Avenue

Fort Myers, FL 33901

[phone], ext. 218

Addenda to the Request for Proposal

If it becomes necessary to revise any part of the RFP, addenda will be provided to all entities who received the original RFP and to any other interested parties. Potential proposers should clearly understand that any verbal representations made or assumed to be made during any oral discussions held between representatives of potential proposers and any employee of the Council are not binding on the Council. Only that information requested in writing and added to the Request for Proposal via an addendum is binding.

Lobbying

All firms are hereby placed on notice that the Council and the Advisory Committee do not wish to be lobbied, either individually or collectively, about a project for which a firm has submitted a proposal. During the process, from proposal closing to Council selection, no firm or its agent shall contact any employee of the Council or member of the Advisory Committee in reference to this proposal, with the exception of the Purchasing Agent or the designee(s). Failure to abide by this provision may serve as grounds for disqualification for award of this contract to the firm.

Public Record

All records submitted to the Council related to purchase orders/contracts are considered public records. All bids, proposals, or offers submitted by vendors shall become public information and are available for inspection during normal business hours.

Rejection of Proposals

The Council reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to re-solicit for proposals, if desired, and upon recommendation and justification by the Advisory Committee, to accept the proposal which in the judgment of the Council and the Advisory Committee is deemed the most advantageous for the public.

Any proposal which is incomplete, conditional, obscure, or which contains irregularities of any kind, may be rejected on that basis. In the event of default of the successful proposer, or the proposer’s refusal to enter into contract with the Council, the Council reserves the right to accept the proposal of any other proposer or to re-advertise using the same or revised documentation, at its sole discretion.

The Council reserves the right to withdraw this RFP at any time and for any reason. Receipt of proposal materials by the Council or submission of a proposal to the Council confers no rights upon the proposer nor obligates the Council in any manner.