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HomeMy WebLinkAbout22-166RESOLUTION 22-166 A RESOLUTION DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISEMENT AND ISSUANCE OF A COMPETITIVE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT ON AN EXPEDITED BASIS FOR THE PURPOSE OF NECESSARY RENOVATIONS OF THE MAIN FIELD AT CLOVER PARK STADIUM; APPROVING USE OF THE SPORTS COMPLEX RESERVE FUNDS FOR THE PROJECT IF NECESSARY; AND AUTHORIZING THE CHAIR TO SIGN A CONTRACT WITH THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida has made the following determinations: 1. Since 1988, St. Lucie County has owned and operated the St. Lucie County Sports Complex including the main stadium now known as Clover Park — spring training home of the New York Mets; and 2. The County is responsible for maintaining the field at Clover Park Stadium; and 3. The field has not been renovated since 1988 and needs to be renovated due to concerns about inadequate drainage, irrigation and soil content; and 4. The existing field conditions pertaining to drainage and soil content have caused turf damage and have the potential to create unsafe playing conditions for players and to cause significant revenue loss due to inadequate drainage; and 5. The County's Park and Recreation Department staff have determined that "lay and play turf" is the only way to complete the field renovation project by December 2022 in order to have the main field ready for the 2023 Spring Training Season. Standard 419 Bermuda Turf cannot be grown and become established in time for the 2023 Spring Training Season; and 6. On July 19, 2022, the Board accepted the recommendation of Parks and Recreation staff to waive the bid process pursuant to Section 8.1a10 of the County's Purchasing Manual and purchase lay and playturf from South Florida Sod Farm, LLC in the amount of $431,250.00. South Florida Sod Farm, LLC provides lay and play turf for a professional stadium in South Florida and has consistently delivered an outstanding product; and 7. On or around August 16, 2022, the County solicited written quotes from specialty firms that perform field renovation services. 8. On or around August 23, 2022, the County received written quotes from 4 firms proposing to complete the field renovation work: Briggs, SCG, Brightview and LTG. All of the quotes were over the budget. Two of the firms did not submit quotes for all alternate quote items making it difficult to compare quotes from these firms with the quotes received from other firms. Based on the above County staff prepared a memorandum for the September 6, 2022, Board meeting recommending that the Board award the contract for the Clover Park field renovation project to Brightview as the lowest responsible firm that submitted quotes on all quote items including alternates. 9. On September 1, 2022, and on September 6, 2022, respectively, the County received written protests from SCG and LTG. The protests questioned the process used by the County with regard to the quote alternatives and otherwise. The protests also questioned the proposed award to Brightview. 10. Pursuant to Section 12.2 of the County's Purchasing Manual all protests are resolved by the County Administrator or designee in consultation with the County Attorney. On September 7, 2022, the County Administrator issued a written decision which recommended rejection of all bids and that the Purchasing Manager and Management and Budget Director revise the procurement process to address the concerns raised by the protests and advertise for sealed bids for the project on an expedited basis due to limited emergency time constraints. 11. On September 13, 2022, this Board met and reviewed the protests with the County Administrator's written decision and determined to accept the Administrator's decision. 12. As set out in Paragraphs 3 and 4 above, because existing field conditions create potential unsafe conditions and substantial revenue loss it is necessary for this Board to declare an emergency and advertise for sealed bids on an expedited basis for the field renovations work pursuant to Sections 255.0525 and 255.20(1)(c)1, Florida Statutes and Section 8.1a10 of the County's Purchasing Manual. Absent expedited advertisement and procurement, the proposed replacement of the existing field cannot be completed in time for the commencement of the Spring training and playing season, thereby continuing (or exacerbating) the unsafe conditions and/or causing an interruption of an essential government services if the playing fields cannot be utilized. The Purchasing Manager and Management and Budget Director are directed to solicit written, competitive bids on an expedited basis from specialty firms who provide field renovation services; to allow use of the Sports Complex Reserve Funds for the project if necessary; and to authorize the Chair to sign a contract with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County Florida as follows: 1. The recitations and findings set forth above are true and correct and are incorporated by reference. 2. It is necessary to declare an emergency and authorize staff to solicit sealed bids for the field renovation work on an expedited basis pursuant to Sections 255.0525 and 255.20(1)(c)1, Florida Statutes and Section 8.1a10 of the County's Purchasing Manual. This Board accepts the County Administrator's September 7, 2022 written decision to advertise and solicit bids on an expedited basis from specialty firms who provide field renovation services. 3. This Board authorizes the Chair to sign a contract with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder within the Board approved budget limits as determined by the County Administrator and as reviewed and approved by the County Attorney. The Board approved budget limits for this project includes the previously approved budget amount for this project and the Sports Complex Reserve Funds if necessary. After motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows: Commissioner Sean Mitchell, Chair AYE Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson, Vice Chair AYE Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky AYE Commissioner Linda Bartz AYE Commissioner Cathy Townsend AYE PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 13th day of September, 2022. ATTEST: DEPUTY CLERK BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA BY: P. CHAIR APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNUS: BY: COUNTY ATTORN