REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY RFQ NUMBER 17-01

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1 REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY RFQ NUMBER ISSUE DATE Friday, July 21, 2017 SUBMISSION DATE AND TIME Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. At: The Office of the City Clerk City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida DESIGNATED CONTACT Renée A. Jadusingh, Esq. Staff Counsel Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency 819 NW 2 nd Ave, 3 rd Floor Miami, Florida Phone: Fax: rjadusingh@miamigov.com Website: 1

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Public Notice.. Pg. 3 SECTION 1 Introduction to Request for Qualifications.... Pg. 4 SECTION 2 Contents and Format of Submittal Pg. 4 SECTION 3 Evaluation and Selection Process.Pg. 6 SECTION 4 RFQ General Conditions...Pg. 6 2

3 PUBLIC NOTICE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN / PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS LEGAL SERVICES RFQ NO: The Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (the CRA ) seeks qualified transactional attorneys interested in providing legal services to the CRA on legal matters, including but not limited to, contract negotiations, real estate closings, preparing opinions of title, and drafting and reviewing land development agreements. This solicitation is designed to enable the CRA to develop a pool of attorneys to provide legal services to the agency on an as needed basis. Completed Responses must be delivered to the City of Miami - City Clerk s Office, 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida no later than 11:00 am on Tuesday, August 22, Any Responses received after the above date and time or delivered to a different address or location will not be considered. RFQ documents may be obtained on or after Friday, July 21, 2017, from the CRA offices, 819 NW 2nd Ave, 3rd Floor, Miami, Florida 33136, or from the CRA webpage: The CRA reserves the right to accept any Responses deemed to be in the best interest of the CRA, to waive any minor irregularities, omissions, and/or technicalities in any Responses, or to reject any or all Responses and to re-advertise for new Responses as deemed necessary by the CRA without notice. For more information please contact the SEOPW CRA office at (305)

4 SECTION INTRODUCTION TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS Thank you for your interest in this Request for Qualifications ( RFQ ). The CRA seeks qualified transactional attorneys interested in providing legal services to the CRA on matters, including but not limited to, contract negotiations, real estate closings, preparing opinions of title, drafting and reviewing land development agreements, and assist the Staff Counsel with legal matters as necessary. This solicitation is designed to enable the CRA to develop a pool of attorneys to provide legal services to the agency on an as needed basis. SECTION CONTENTS AND FORMAT OF SUBMITTAL Responses are to be prepared and submitted in the following format. All submittals must be on 8 1/2 x 11 paper, neatly typed on one side only, with normal margins, and spacing. Handwritten responses will not be accepted. 2.1 Contents of Submittal 1. Cover Page Show the firm name, address, telephone number, name of contact person, date, and RFQ number. 2. Letter of Transmittal Provide general background information about the law firm and attorneys, with special focus on the area(s) of activity in which representation is sought, and as to the size and experience of the firm in these specific areas. 3. Qualifications Must be licensed with the State of Florida and be in good standing with the Florida Bar Association. At least seven (7) years experience practicing law in the State of Florida, including at least five (5) years experience with issues involving, construction law, real estate acquisition, land development, contract negotiations, and financing agreements for public developments. Submissions that do not include minimum qualifications will not be acknowledged. 4

5 Prior experience representing one or more community redevelopment agencies and/or municipalities in Florida is preferred. If responding as a law firm, include the list of names of all personnel who will be assigned to perform the services and describe the qualifications and experience of each attorney identified. Describe the qualifications and experience of support staff, if applicable, and provide information on availability to perform the work requested. 4. Fee Structure Provide all fees and costs to be charged including hourly rates. The hourly rate quoted should include all salary and compensation, and all overhead expenses, profits and other employee costs, including but not limited to clerical and word processing expenses. List all expenses proposed to be billed in addition to legal fees and the basis for such expenses. 2.2 Submission Process Proposer shall submit one (1) printed original, three (3) printed copies, and one (1) copy submitted electronically on a USB drive storage device, CD or DVD. Said proposal must be submitted in a labeled and sealed envelope and delivered to the following address: CITY OF MIAMI The Office of the City Clerk 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, Florida Responses must be clearly marked on the outside of the package referencing: RFQ NO LEGAL SERVICES FOR THE SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY Responses are due no later than Tuesday, August 22, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Submissions will not be accepted at the CRA s office or any other location. Responses received after the date and time stated in the RFQ will not be accepted and shall be returned unopened to the Proposer. 5

6 SECTION 3 3.0: EVALUATION / SELECTION PROCESS The CRA will develop a list of attorneys and/or firms based upon the responses to this RFQ. Responses will be evaluated by the CRA. Price will not be the controlling factor in selecting firms for the list, but price will be a factor in making work assignments. An attorney and/or firm is not entitled to be placed on the list or entitled to work solely on the basis of submission of a low price quotation. The CRA will evaluate the responses based on the legal needs of the CRA at any given time. Once the list is established, specific firms and individual attorneys may be selected from the list for execution of Professional Services Agreement as the need for legal services occurs or in anticipation of the need for such services. The decision to retain outside counsel will be that of the CRA on a case by case or matter by matter basis. SECTION 4 4.0: RFQ GENERAL CONDITIONS The following provisions shall be applicable to this RFQ and be made a part of the Proposer s response. This RFQ does not constitute a commitment by the CRA to enter into any agreement or contract, or to pay any costs associated with the preparation of responses, submittals or other documents or any related work by any Proposer. 4.1 Submission of Responses Sealed written Responses must be received no later than the date, time, and at the location indicated in the Public Notice and on the cover of this RFQ in order to be responsive. Faxed documents are not acceptable. Proposer shall submit one (1) printed original, three (3) printed copies, and one (1) copy submitted electronically on a USB drive storage device, CD, or DVD. 4.2 Additional Information or Clarification Request for additional information or clarifications must be made in writing to the CRA at the location listed on the cover page of this RFQ. Proposer may also fax or their requests for additional information or clarifications. Facsimiles must have a cover sheet that includes the Proposer(s) name and the RFQ number. 4.3 Changes / Alterations The Proposer may change or withdraw a Response at any time prior to the Response Submission Deadline. All changes or withdrawals shall be in writing. Oral / verbal changes, modifications, or withdrawals will not be recognized and will be disregarded. Written modifications will not be 6

7 accepted after the Response Submission Deadline. transfer their Response to another individual or entity. Proposer shall not assign or otherwise 4.4 Discrepancies, Errors, and Omissions Any discrepancies, errors, or ambiguities in the RFQ should be immediately reported in writing to the CRA. Should it be necessary, the CRA will issue an addendum clarifying such conflicts or ambiguities. 4.5 Disqualification The CRA reserves the right to disqualify Responses before or after the submission date, upon evidence of collusion with intent to defraud or other illegal practices on the part of the Proposer. Any Response submitted by a Proposer who is in arrears, e.g., money owed or otherwise in debt by failing to deliver goods or services to the CRA (including any agency or department of the City of Miami) or where the CRA has an open claim against a Proposer for monies owed the CRA at the time of Proposal submission, will be disqualified and shall not be considered for award. Any Proposer who submits in its Response any information that is determined by the CRA, in its sole opinion, to be substantially inaccurate, misleading, exaggerated, or incorrect, shall be disqualified from consideration the Agreement. 4.6 Proposer s Expenditures The Proposer understand and agree that any expenditure they make in preparation and submittal of Responses or in the performance of any services requested by the CRA in connection with the Responses to this RFQ are exclusively at the expense of the Proposer. The CRA shall not pay or reimburse any expenditure or any other expense incurred by any Proposer in preparation of a Response, anticipation of a contract award, and/or administrative or judicial proceedings resulting from the solicitation process. 4.7 Legal Requirements This RFQ is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, ordinances, rules, and regulations that in any manner affect any all of the services covered herein. Lack of knowledge by the Proposer shall in no way be cause for relief from responsibility. 4.8 CRA Reservations The CRA reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to: (1) Modify, waive, or otherwise vary the terms and conditions of this RFQ at any time, including but not limited to, deadlines for submission and proposal requirements. 7

8 (2) Accept or reject any or all submissions, request resubmissions and to enter into negotiations with Proposer as warranted. (3) Negotiate with any or all Proposer in order to obtain terms most beneficial to the CRA. (4) Award a contract to the firms or individual whose submissions are most advantageous to and in the best interest of the CRA. The CRA shall be the sole judge of which submission is in its best interest. (5) Waive irregularities in the Responses and determine the nature of any minor irregularities. (6) Cancel and withdraw this RFQ at any time. 4.9 Public Records Proposer understand that the public shall have access, at all reasonable times, to all documents and information pertaining to CRA contracts, subject to the provisions of Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and agrees to allow access by the CRA and the public to all documents subject to disclosure under applicable law. Proposer s failure or refusal to comply with the provision of this section shall result in the immediate cancellation of the Agreement (if awarded) by the CRA. 8