Hillsborough County evaluation committee raises scores, ranks three firms for Brandon Fire Station No. 11 design

A Hillsborough County procurement evaluation committee reconvened to adjust scores for solicitation RPS25-00191, architectural and engineering services for Brandon Fire Station No. 11, and by consensus moved one firm to the top of the shortlist.

The committee met to review oral presentations completed July 8, 2025, and confirm or change the original technical scores assigned to the three shortlisted firms. Evaluation committee chair Tara Williams led the discussion and the committee adopted small, unanimous score adjustments to the four evaluation criteria used for ranking.

Why it matters: The updated scores determine the county's shortlist for selecting a design team to produce site and building plans for a new fire station in Brandon, Hillsborough County. The ranking affects which firms proceed to negotiations or contract award steps under the county procurement process.

Most important facts

The committee raised the total score for Wanmaker Janssen from 109 to 110 points, keeping high marks on the firm’s professional personnel and recent station designs and increasing one criteria from 34 to 35 points. The committee cited the firm’s in-depth presentation on current station designs and use of durable materials as reasons for the increase. Tara Williams said, “So I guess let's start with Wanmaker Janssen. The criteria 1, ability of the firm and its professional personnel. We had that score at a 34 out of 35.”

Fleischman Garcia Maslowski Architecture’s total moved from 104 to 105 after the panel increased its score on the firm’s ability to meet schedule and budget to 14 points; the committee said the firm had substantial prior fire-station experience but offered no new material to change other criteria.

Law and Associates rose from a total of 105 to 107 points after the committee increased its criteria 1 score from 33 to 34 and criteria 3 score from 14 to 15. Committee members noted the firm’s site analysis and attention to drainage constraints as factors in raising the score.

Discussion versus decision

Committee members discussed each firm against four criteria: (1) ability of the firm and its professional personnel, (2) experience with projects of similar size and type, (3) willingness and ability to meet schedule and budget, and (4) recent, current and projected workload. The transcript records questions, praise and one instance of dissent: at one point a committee member said, “Not even 34. I'm not okay with 34,” expressing disagreement about a recommended score for criteria 2; the dissent was not recorded as a formal vote and did not change the consensus outcome.

Formal outcome

By consensus the panel adjusted the firms’ numeric scores and recorded final totals and rankings: Wanmaker Janssen — 110 points (rank 1); Law and Associates — 107 points (rank 2); Fleischman Garcia Maslowski Architecture — 105 points (rank 3). The committee did not take a contract award at the meeting; members closed the reconvened evaluation meeting and directed firms to monitor the county’s vendor posting system (referenced in the meeting as UNA) for updates to the solicitation.

Clarifying details and timeline

The solicitation shortlist was created June 20, 2025; oral presentations were delivered July 8, 2025. The committee reviewed presentation recordings and then reconvened to confirm scoring. Criteria point scales used in scoring were discussed on the record (examples: criterion 1 scored out of 35; criteria 3 and 4 used smaller point values such as 14 and 15 in the committee’s rubric). The committee noted drainage constraints on the Brandon site as a major project driver when discussing Law and Associates’ presentation.

What’s next

No award was announced at the meeting. The committee concluded by advising shortlisted firms to continue monitoring the county’s procurement portal (UNA) for solicitation updates and any next steps in the procurement process.