TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
COMMITTEE ON PROCUREMENT
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
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Issue purchase orders and enter into agreements for Contract 24-RFP-06, Professional Real Estate Appraisal Services for a three-year period, with CohnReznick, LLP in an amount not to exceed $175,000.00, and Woodland Valuation Services, LLC d/b/a Appraisal Associates in an amount not to exceed $175,000.00, Account 101-30000-612430, Requisitions 1617532, 1617533
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Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to issue purchase orders and enter into agreements with CohnReznick, LLP and Woodland Valuation Services, LLC d/b/a Appraisal Associates for Professional Real Estate Appraisal Services for a three (3) year period.
The scope of work as set forth in the Request for Proposal (“RFP”) is to provide professional appraisal services on an as-needed basis to the Real Estate Division of the Law Department. The scope of work will include appraisal services related to the District’s leases, easements, permits, eminent domain proceedings and right-of-way matters, as well as other District projects involving the valuation of real property. The successful bidders must have substantial experience performing appraisal work for government entities, including valuing fee title or easements for right-of-way purposes, public open space, waterway properties, and commercial/industrial properties. The appraisers must also have experience testifying in eminent domain and other valuation cases.
Contract 24-RFP-06 was advertised on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The District received proposals from three (3) firms, as indicated below:
CohnReznick LLP
Woodland Valuation Services LLC d/b/a Appraisal Associates
KPMG LLP
The proposals were evaluated by a review team consisting of District staff from the Law, Engineering, and Procurement and Materials Management departments. Following the preliminary evaluation of proposals, all three firms were invited to interviews conducted on July 24, 2024. On July 29, 2024, a solicitation was sent to the finalists requesting an unqualified “best and final” offer. The “best and final” offers were returned to the Director of Procurement and Materials Management on August 5, 2024.
Based on the evaluation of proposals, finalist interviews, and pricing, CohnReznick, LLP and Woodland Valuation Services, LLC were selected as the firms best suited to provide the required appraisal services. The qualifications and experience of the two firms were of considerable importance in the evaluation. The two firms have appraisers on staff who are members of the Appraisal Institute and who have extensive experience in preparing appraisals for government entities, including valuing fee title and easements for right-of-way purposes, open space, waterway properties, and commercial/industrial properties. The appraisers at both firms also have extensive experience testifying in eminent domain cases, as well as other property valuation matters. Another important factor was the ability of these firms to efficiently manage the scope of work over the contract term.
The estimated expenditures for the RFP is $116,666.00 for 2025, $116,666.00 for 2026, and $116,666.00 for 2027. Upon the award of the contracts by the Board of Commissioners and execution of agreements, the contract term for the appraisal services will begin January 1, 2025 and will expire on December 31, 2027.
The Affirmative Action Appendix A was not included in this RFP because the specialized nature of the services does not allow for direct or indirect subcontracting opportunities.
In view of the foregoing, it is recommended that the Director of Procurement and Materials Management be authorized to issue purchase orders and enter into agreements with CohnReznick, LLP in an amount not to exceed $175,000.00 and Woodland Valuation Services, LLC d/b/a Appraisal Associates in an amount not to exceed $175,000.00.
Funds for 2025, 2026, and 2027 expenditures are contingent on the Board of Commissioners’ approval of the District’s budget for those years.
Requested, Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:BJD:MSZ:vp
Recommended, Darlene A. LoCascio, Director of Procurement & Materials Management
Respectfully Submitted, Marcelino Garcia, Chairman Committee on Procurement
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 19, 2024