It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission approve the Resolution accepting the City Manager’s recommendation pertaining to the proposals received, pursuant to RFQ 2023-121-ND, for architectural design services for the 72nd Street Community Complex, and authorize the Administration to enter into negotiations with Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc., as the top-ranked proposer; and, if not successful in negotiating an agreement with Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc., authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Arquitectonica International Corporation, as the second-ranked proposer; and, if not successful in negotiating an agreement with Arquitectonica International Corporation, authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Zyscovich, LLC, as the third-ranked proposer. The Resolution also authorizes the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement upon conclusion of successful negotiations.

The solicitation is currently under the cone of silence.

On November 6, 2018, Miami Beach residents approved a ballot measure, which authorized the issuance of a general obligation bond (G.O. Bond) for, among other projects, the 72nd Street Community Complex. A total project budget of $99,707,262 has been identified, utilizing various funding sources, including $53.8 million of general obligation bonds, for the design, permitting, and construction. The Project includes a multi-level mixed-use parking garage requiring the program components of a 500-space parking structure, a rooftop competition pool with support amenities, a multi-purpose warm-up pool, 5,000 - 10,000 SF Miami-Dade County library, a commercial/retail space, a 7,500 SF fitness center, a community center, an active green space, and a jogging path.

On June 24, 2020, the Mayor and City Commission authorized the issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP) 2020-180-ND for design/build services for the 72nd Street Community Complex. After unsuccessful negotiations with the first and second-ranked firms, on October 26, 2022, the City Commission rejected all the proposals and terminated the RFP process. The City Commission also directed the Administration to prepare a new competitive solicitation for architectural design services for the project.  

On December 14, 2022, the Mayor and the City Commission authorized the issuance of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 2023-121-ND, for architectural design services for the 72nd Street Community Complex. On December 16, 2022, the RFQ was issued. A voluntary pre-proposal conference to provide information to proposers submitting a response was held on January 5, 2023.  Three (3) addenda were issued. The Procurement Department issued bid notices to 35,817 companies through the e-procurement system, with 129 prospective bidders accessing the advertised solicitation. RFQ responses were due and received on February 3, 2023. The City received a total of five (5) proposals from the following firms:

·             Arquitectonica International Corporation

·             BEA Architects, Inc.

·             Mobio Architecture, Inc.

·             Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc.

 ·            Zyschovich, LLC

On February 7, 2023, the City Manager appointed the Evaluation Committee via LTC # 056-2023.  The Evaluation Committee convened on March 6, 2023, to consider the proposals received.  The Committee was comprised of Monica Beltran, Director, Parking Department; Cynthia Casanova, Assistant Director, Parks and Recreation Department; David Gomez, Division Director, Office of Capital Improvement Projects; Maria Hernandez, General Obligation Bond Program Director, Office of the City Manager; Ronnie Issenberg, Member, Ad Hoc North Beach CRA Advisory Committee; Carolina Jones, Member, Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee; and Rogelio Madan, Deputy Director, Planning and Zoning Department. 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 ranking of proposers as indicated in Attachment A, with the top three firms as follows.

1^st ranked – Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc.

2^nd ranked – Arquitectonica International Corporation

3^rd ranked – Zyschovich, LLC

A summary of each top-ranked firm based on information provided in the proposals 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 project 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 its 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 Fire & Police Stations, City Halls, Recreation Centers and Parks, and Government Offices and Service Centers.  The firm’s work has received numerous industry design awards and has been recognized in various international publications for innovative recreation design. WJA was selected in July 2019 to be the architectural firm that designs the Fire Station Number 1 facility, G.O. Bond Project No. 45.

Arquitectonica International Corporation

Arquitectonica International Corporation (Arquitectonica) was founded in 1977 and has since received international acclaim for its designs.  Arquitectonica focuses on ecologically sensitive yet commercially viable designs and is widely recognized for its ability to create unique forms of memorable imagery in close harmony with the environment.  It is the largest architecture firm in Miami, with more than 160 local architects, planners, interior designers, and landscape architects.

Zyscovich, LLC

According to the information provided by the firm, Zyscovich, Inc. is a world-class, 120+ person integrated planning, architecture, and interior design firm headquartered in Miami that has been known since 1977 for its award-winning master plans and urban designs. For over 40 years, the firm has created unique, forward-thinking designs and placemaking interventions resulting in transformative and visionary projects that stimulate and attract high-quality redevelopment while protecting neighborhoods. The American Planning Association and the American Institute of Architects have recognized the team's level of dedication and expertise.

Results from the 2019 resident survey show that 80% of residents are satisfied or very satisfied with living in North Beach.  In order to continue to improve the satisfaction of these residents, the City intends to contract with an architectural firm to design the 72^nd Street Community Complex.  This firm will provide the North Beach residents with a multi-level mixed-use parking garage. 

In accordance with Florida law, the scope of work and the fees will be negotiated with the selected firms in order of rank. It is not anticipated that grant funding will be utilized for this project. The architectural and design services for the scope of work included in this RFQ will be funded by the 72^nd Street Community Complex GO Bond Project.

391-0820-061357-26-410-546-00-00-00-21719                          $ 6,300,000

490-0820-061357-26-418-528-00-00-00-22150                          $ 2,700,000

The 72nd Community Complex total approved project budget is $99,707,262, including an estimate of $9 Million for the architectural and design services fees for the project. The final design fees are subject to negotiations with the selected firms in order of rank.

After reviewing all of the submissions and the Evaluation Committee’s rankings and commentary, I find Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc. (WJA) to be the well qualified to provide the architectural design services for the project.  WJA is a nationally recognized, award-winning firm specializing in designing public/civic facilities. WJA has led the design efforts on some of Florida’s most forward-thinking municipal projects, including the Madeira Beach City Centre, winning the highest award for the 2016 AIA Tampa Bay Awards, and The Largo Community Center, the first Community Center in the nation to earn LEED Platinum certification. WJA believes that the team it has put together for this project will bring innovative ways of mitigating the previous design-build process budget difficulties and deliver a project that meets the design quality expected by the community within the established project budget.

For the reasons stated herein, I recommend that the Mayor and City Commission approve the Resolution authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc., as the top-ranked proposer; further, if the Administration is not successful in negotiating an agreement with Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc., authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Arquitectonica International Corporation, as the second-ranked proposer; further, if the Administration is not successful in negotiating an agreement with Arquitectonica International Corporation, authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Zyschovich, LLC, as the third-ranked proposer; and further authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an agreement upon conclusion of successful negotiations by the Administration.