A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY MANAGER, RELATING TO REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. 2019-085-KB, FOR ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING DESIGN SERVICES FOR SABRINA COHEN FOUNDATION ADAPTIVE RECREATION CENTER; AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH WANNEMACHER JENSEN ARCHITECTS, INC.; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH WANNEMACHER JENSEN ARCHITECTS, INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH SALTZ MICHELSON ARCHITECTS, INC.; FURTHER, IF THE ADMINISTRATION IS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN NEGOTIATING AN AGREEMENT WITH SALTZ MICHELSON ARCHITECTS, INC., AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH WOLFBERG/ALVAREZ AND PARTNERS, INC.; AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS BY THE ADMINISTRATION, SUBJECT TO AND CONTINGENT UPON CITY'S RECEIPT OF FUNDING PURSUANT TO THE NOVEMBER 2, 2017 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE SABRINA COHEN FOUNDATION, INC., APPROVED PURSUANT TO RESOLUTION NO. 2017-30082.

Since May 2016, the Sabrina Cohen Foundation has operated an Adaptive Beach Day Program that provides an opportunity for persons with disabilities to have greater access to beach activities. The City of Miami Beach wishes to support the foundation in these goals. As a result, the City and the Sabrina Cohen Foundation have agreed to partner to construct and operate a adaptive recreation center on a portion of the P72 surface parking lot located at 5301 Collins Avenue, adjacent to Beach View Park.

The facility will provide an environment for wellness, growth, education and interaction, aimed at improving the quality of life for all its patrons. The building will have approximately 10,000 - 17,000 square feet gross, in no more than three stories with an activated roof with a pool. The basis for the design is the concept developed by Kobi Karp architects.

The purpose of issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to select an architectural/engineering firm to provide final design and construction documents for the facility.

RFQ PROCESS

On January 16, 2019, the Mayor and City Commission authorized the issuance of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2019-085-KB for Architectural and Engineering Design Services for Sabrina Cohen Foundation Adaptive Recreation Center. Responses were due and received on March 15, 2019. The City received proposals from the following eleven (11) firms:

• Alvarez-Diaz & Villalon
• Anillo Toledo Lopez, LLC
• Ferguson Glasgow Schuster Soto, Inc.
• Kobi Karp and Partners, LLC
• M.C. Harry and Associates, Inc.
• R.E. Chisholm Architects, Inc
• Saltz Michelson Architects, Inc.
• Sol-Arch, Inc
• TSAO Design Group, Inc.
• Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc.
• Wolfberg/Alvarez and Partners, Inc

On March 29, 2019, Alvarez-Diaz & Villalon notified the City of desire to withdraw its proposal submission and, therefore, received no further consideration.

The Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager convened on April 4, 2019 to consider proposals received. The Committee was comprised of Jose Del Risco, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation Department; Valeria Mejia, ADA Coordinator, Property Management;  Carmen Sanchez, Deputy Director, Planning Department; and Colette Satchell, Senior Capital Projects Coordinator, Capital Improvement Projects. Unfortunately, the day of the evaluation committee meeting Jasper Nelissen, Vice President, Sabrina Cohen Foundation advised that he would not be able to attend the entirety of the meeting, therefore did not participate as an evaluation committee member.

The Committee was provided an overview of the project, information relative to the City’s Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Government Sunshine Law. The Committee was also provided with general information on the scope of services and a copy of each proposal.  The Committee was instructed to score and rank each proposal pursuant to the evaluation criteria established in the RFQ. The evaluation process resulted in the scoring of proposals received as follows (Attachment A):

1st – Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc.

2nd – Saltz Michelson Architects, Inc.

3rd – Wolfberg/Alvarez and Partners, Inc

4th – TSAO Design Group, Inc.

5th – Ferguson Glasgow Schuster Soto, Inc.

6th – Kobi Karp and Partners, LLC (tied)

6th – M.C. Harry and Associates, Inc. (tied)

8th – R.E. Chisholm Architects, Inc

9th – Anillo Toledo Lopez, LLC

10th – Sol-Arch, Inc

A brief description of the top ranked proposers, as provided in their response to the RFQ, follows.

Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc.

Founded in St. Petersburg Florida in 1992, Wannemacher Jensen Architects (WJA) is an interdisciplinary architecture firm that designs and creates engaging spaces for working, living, learning and playing. The firm has a broad range of experience across an array of projects types and disciplines for private, municipal, and non-profit clients. WJA’s capabilities expand beyond architecture to include comprehensive master planning, interior design and design-build construction. Throughout their years in business, the firm has completed over 250 public projects for more than 25 different municipalities throughout the State of Florida on various project types including Recreation Centers and Parks, City Halls, Fire & Police Stations, and Government Offices and Service Centers.

WJA has earned a reputation for innovative recreation design. The firm’s work has received numerous industry design awards and has been recognized in various international publications for innovative recreation design.

Saltz Michelson Architects, Inc.

Founded in 1976, Saltz Michelson Architects, Inc. (SMA) is an award-winning architectural firm, including AIA Fort Lauderdale’s “2017 Firm of the Year,” providing a full range of architectural and planning services. SMA’s commitment to professionalism and strong project management allows them to play a key role in the development of public and private projects throughout South Florida.

SMA has specific and relevant government and medical facility design experience for seniors that will be key in designing the best possible project for Miami Beach and the Sabrina Cohen Foundation. As term architects for Memorial Healthcare System for the past 23 consecutive years, and the numerous continuing contracts with South Florida governmental agencies, SMA are familiar with the requirements for senior center and multipurpose facilities - keeping in mind the building’s functionality and ADA requirements without compromising the aesthetics.

Wolfberg Alvarez and Partners, Inc

Wolfberg Alvarez and Partners, Inc (WA) was founded over 42 years ago, making them one of the longest tenured design firms in Florida. WA’s experience with the design of municipal/civic facilities is extensive, spanning the entire period of the firm’s existence. In addition, WA has had long term professional relationships with numerous municipalities and public entities, including the City of Miami Beach, City of Miami, City of Doral, Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, Miami-Dade Aviation Department, and Miami-Dade Public Schools.

WA has had past successes for the City of Miami Beach, including the on-going master plan and individual pull-out projects for Flamingo Park, the highly regarded Tennis Center also in Flamingo Park, the Beautification Project-South of 5th Street and the Property Management Facility, a LEED Gold certified project. WA is also actively working on several other components in Flamingo Park, as well as being part of the team involved with the Collins Park Parking Garage, which just recently broke ground.

After reviewing all of the submissions and the Evaluation Committee’s rankings and commentary, I concur with the Evaluation Committee and find Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc., the unanimously top ranked proposer, to be the best qualified firm for the project. Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc. has extensive experience in designing parks, recreational centers and aquatic parks/centers for public agencies and has completed multiple projects with LEED certifications. The Evaluation Committee was impressed with its collaborative approach to space planning and programming. Finally, it is interesting to note that, in addition to its extensive experience in architecture, the firm has assisted clients in seeking sources of grant funding.

The second and third ranked proposers, Saltz Michelson and Wolfberg Alvarez, respectively, are also well qualified with extensive experience throughout South Florida.

Therefore, I recommend that the Mayor and City Commission approve the resolution authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc.; further, if the Administration is not successful in negotiating an agreement with Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc., authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Saltz Michelson Architects, Inc., Inc.; further, if the Administration is not successful in negotiating an agreement with Saltz Michelson Architects, Inc.; authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Wolfberg Alvarez and Partners, Inc; and further authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute an agreement upon conclusion of successful negotiations by the Administration.