Fort Myers Beach advisory panel invites top three firms to present on Newton Park Beach reconstruction

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Selection Advisory Committee voted unanimously on Nov. 13 to invite the top three ranked firms that responded to RFQ 25-17-AD to deliver public presentations as part of the vendor selection process for the Newton Park Beach facility reconstruction.

Jason Freeman, deputy clerk for the Town of Fort Myers Beach, told the committee that four firms submitted qualifications and that each committee member scored firms on a 100-point scale (300 points possible combined). Freeman read the combined scores: Kimberly Horne and Associates Inc., 281; JR Evans Engineering PA, 276; Chen Moore and Associates, 272; and Insight Inc., 249.

The request for qualifications (RFQ 25-17-AD) seeks engineering and architectural services for the Newton Park Beach facility reconstruction. Freeman said the town’s procurement rules and the CCNA generally require discussions and may require public presentations by not fewer than three firms; he asked the committee to recommend whether to hold presentations.

Committee members signaled consensus that three firms should be invited. Jeff Haughey, community services director, said, “I think, I would like to see 3 presentations.” A member moved to schedule presentations by the top three ranked firms; the motion was seconded and the committee voted in favor with three ayes, approving the motion.

Freeman said the presentations will be scheduled in the coming weeks and that staff would try to work around the Thanksgiving holiday. The selection advisory committee plans to reconvene after the presentations to consider next steps and possible recommendations to the town manager.

Action items: schedule and publicize presentations for the top three firms, confirm presentation format and evaluation criteria for the public sessions, and hold a follow-up selection advisory committee meeting to review presentations and make recommendations.