CONTRACTING OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

POLICY NO. 18-2

PURPOSE:
The purpose of this policy and procedures, established hereunder, is to ensure Hernando Countys compliance
with Section 287.055 F.S., known as the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act."(CCNA).
POLICY:
When professional services, as defined by Section 287.055 F.S., are considered necessary, the Board of County
Commissioners shall be requested to authorize those actions needed to acquire such services. Said professional
services shall be purchased in accordance with the provisions of Section 287.055 F.S. and Hernando County
Purchasing Procedures.
A Professional Services Review Committee (PSRC) consisting of no less than five (5) persons shall be
recommended by the Chief Procurement Officer and approved by the County Administrator or at the discretion
of the Board of County Commissioners, they may decide to be the PSRC to review the acquisition of professional
services, short list the most qualified firms and make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners
for selection of the consultant. All five (5) of the committee members appointed, or their designees, shall be
required to be present prior to any actions occurring regarding selection of a consultant under this policy. The
PSRC members shall at a minimum consist of, the County Engineer or other qualified engineer a minimum of two
(2) representatives of the agency/department for which the professional services will be performed and two (2)
other competent individual(s) not associated with the contracting agency/department.
After the final date established for submittal of "Request for Qualifications" or Request for Proposals, the
Professional Services Review Committee (PSRC) shall review all submittals received. The committee shall
evaluate each firms qualifications in accordance with Subsection (4) Paragraphs (a) and (b),Section 287.055,
F.S.. After evaluation and giving due consideration, the committee, through the County Administrator, shall
present the Board of County Commissioners with a shortlist of a minimum of the top three (3) qualified firms.
All submittals are to be made available to the Board.
The Board may option to hear oral presentation from the shortlisted firms recommended from the Professional
Services Review Committee (PSRC) or accept the recommendation made by the PSRC. The Board may in
addition include additional firms for presentations as it may determine.
If the Board decides to hear Oral presentations, the Board shall, after hearing oral presentations, select in order of
preference no fewer than three firms deemed to be the most highly qualified to perform the required services. In
determining whether a firm is qualified, the agency shall consider such factors as the ability of professional
personnel; whether a firm is a certified minority business enterprise; past performance; willingness to meet time
and budget requirements; location; recent, current, and projected workloads of the firms; and the volume of work
previously awarded to each firm by the agency, with the object of effecting an equitable distribution of contracts
among qualified firms, provided such distribution does not violate the principle of selection of the most highly
qualified firms.
Should the County fail to reach an acceptable agreement with the highest ranked firm, negotiation shall proceed
through the ranking order until such time as an acceptable contract can be negotiated.
Replaces:

Policy No. 18-2

Reference:

November 7, 1986

Adopted:

September 18, 1991

Amended:

August 1, 1995
November 21, 1995
May 6, 1997
July 11, 1998
May 16, 2000
May 26, 2009
February 2012
January 26, 2016