Fort Pierce approves three‑year banking services award after debate over missed RFP notice

The Fort Pierce City Commission voted 3–2 on April 6 to approve the city's recommended award of banking services (RFP 2016‑018) after an extended discussion about the fairness of the procurement process.

Seacoast Bank representative Robert Barfield asked the commission to pull Consent Item 11n to allow for additional review, saying Seacoast has “60 plus years” of municipal banking experience and that staff should ensure the commission fully understands each institution's municipal expertise. Barfield requested the item be reevaluated if commissioners had hesitation.

Karen Logue, the city's chief accountant, told commissioners staff evaluated proposals using the advertised criteria and that both responsive proposals scored very closely, noting a difference of roughly 4.7 points. Logue said one firm's recent authorization to accept public funds (July 2024) was a factor considered under the experience criteria.

Much of the debate centered on a clerical or vendor‑database error that resulted in a potential vendor not receiving a courtesy email notice of the RFP. City Manager Mr. Chess explained staff placed the correct email for the bank in the city's system but the vendor database still listed the legacy bank name; staff said the official public advertisement requirements were met. Commissioners questioned who was responsible for maintaining the vendor database and whether the error could have affected fairness.

After discussion and a motion to proceed with awarding the contract to the recommended vendor in the agenda, the roll call vote was: Commissioner Broderick — yes; Commissioner Zadofsky — yes; Commissioner Gaines — no; Commissioner Johnson — yes; Mayor Linda Hudson — no. The motion passed.

The commission's agenda packet lists the award as for a three‑year contract with optional one‑year renewals; the vendor name appears in the agenda as "I Think Financial Credit Union." A number of speakers at the meeting urged clearer procurement documentation and review of the city's bid protest and vendor notification processes going forward.

The commission approved the remainder of the consent agenda items at the same meeting.

The city manager said staff will review and report on the vendor notification process; any formal bid protest procedures would follow the city's existing protest guidelines. No protest was filed on this item at the meeting.