Recommendation of award for Request for Qualifications, RFQ #091421 Downtown Properties Redevelopment Project Phase One- Development Firm Pre-Qualification

Issue Statement:  On August 2, 2021, the City of Oakland Park released Request for Qualifications, RFQ# 091421 Downtown Properties Redevelopment Project Phase One – Development Firm Pre-Qualification Solicitation. On September 14, 2021, the City received twelve responses to this formal solicitation.   Staff seeks to shortlist the five (5) top-ranked pre-qualified development firms that will be invited to submit comprehensive development proposals for the Downtown Properties Redevelopment Project.

Recommended Action:  Staff recommends that the City Commission approve a shortlist of pre-qualified (top-ranked) firms in RFQ #091421 Downtown Properties Redevelopment Project, Phase One- Development Firm Pre-Qualification as follows:

• Gilbane Development Company
• Kaufman-Lynn Falcone Group
• Merrimac Ventures
• Related Development, LLC
• Terra, Comras, and Zyscovich

Background: On August 2, 2021, the City of Oakland Park released RFQ# 091421 Downtown Properties Redevelopment Project Phase One – Development Firm Pre-Qualification Solicitation. On September 14, 2021, the City received the following twelve responses to this formal solicitation:

1. 13^th Floor Investments
2. Adler Development
3. Atlantic Pacific Communities
4. Bristol Development Group
5. Ceiba Group
6. Courtelis Company, Global City Development, and Innovate (DGG)
7. Gilbane Development Company
8. Housing Trust Group
9. Kaufman Lynn Construction and Falcone Group (KL-Falcone)
10. Merrimac Ventures
11. Related Development
12. Terra, Comras Company, and Zyscovich

On September 15, 2021, City Procurement Manager conducted an initial review of the responses and determined that all twelve firms were responsive to the solicitation. The City Manager formally approved the composition of the following Evaluation Committee:

Evaluation Committee (Ranking Members):

Ana Alvarez, Assistant City Manager, City of Homestead

Jack Doren, Former Chair of Oakland Park P&Z Advisory Board

Jennifer Frastai, Assistant City Manager, City of Oakland Park

Daniel Rosemond, Consultant and former City Manager of Hallendale Beach

Dean Sirulnik, Business Stakeholder

Technical Advisors (Non-Ranking Members):

Renee Miller, Project Lead, R. Miller Consulting Group

Paul Lambert, Economic Advisor, Lambert Advisory

Ken Krasnow, Real Estate Advisor, Colliers International

Illya Azaroff, Design and Sustainability Advisor, + Lab Architect PLLC

Pursuant to the RFQ, the Firms were evaluated based on the following criteria:  

On August 21, 2021, the Procurement Department and Technical Advisors conducted an open public meeting to review the RFQ, its requirements and discuss the process with the Evaluation Committee. 

On October 7, 2021, the Evaluation Committee held its first formal meeting to hear technical advisory presentations on each firm and review and rank proposals. On October 13, 2021, the Committee held their final meeting to hear the preliminary ranking, finalize their scoring sheets and identify the recommended shortlist.   All Evaluation Committee meetings are open to the public and recorded. 

A total of 100 points were available and the final scores of the Evaluation Committee were as follows: 

*Scoring is the combined average of the Evaluation Committee Members.   Top ranking firms shaded in grey. 

Please note that a copy of each submittal is available for review in the City Clerk's Office

RFQ #091421 was the first step in the two-phase Downtown Properties Redevelopment Project development partner selection process. Upon approval by the City Commission of the recommended shortlist, the following five pre-qualified development firms will be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Downtown Properties:  

• Gilbane Development Company
• Kaufman-Lynn Falcone Group
• Merrimac Ventures
• Related Development, LLC
• Terra, Comras Company, and Zyscovich

As a part of the RFP process, the development firms will be required to submit a detailed development proposal, conceptual designs, and a financial plan for the Oakland Park Downtown Properties Redevelopment Project.  The RFP is currently under development, and staff anticipates that the RFP will be formally issued in mid-November of this year.

There is no immediate financial impact on this item until the contract for the future work will be awarded to the contractor on the shortlist who will be deemed most responsive and most responsible  in the second step of the selection process.  As described above, the five pre-qualified development firms will be invited to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Downtown Properties.

Staff recommends that the City Commission approve a shortlist of pre-qualified firms in RFQ #091421 Downtown Properties Redevelopment Project, Phase One- Development Firm Pre-Qualification as follows:

·       Gilbane Development Company

·       Kaufman-Lynn Falcone Group

·       Merrimac Ventures

·       Related Development, LLC

·       Terra, Comras, and Zyscovich