It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, authorize the issuance of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2024-003-DF for the management of Plastic Free Miami Beach program.

The City’s Environment and Sustainability Department (E&S) is dedicated to providing the highest quality services to the local community by developing and implementing climate adaptation and mitigation initiatives to preserve, protect, and enhance our natural resources.

Plastic has become a prevalent material in our daily lives due to its versatility, durability, and affordability. Despite its advantages, plastic pollution poses a significant threat to the environment. It is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each year, killing 100 million marine animals. Furthermore, nearly half of all plastic produced is single-use, meaning it is discarded after just one use. The growing presence of plastic in our environment is a pressing concern for Miami Beach and other coastal communities.

In 2018, the City launched the Plastic Free Miami Beach program (the “Program”), which showcases businesses that have taken action to reduce plastics from their establishment and to help organizations learn and implement best practices in the area of environmental stewardship. The Program has been designed with a cumulative 3-level system in which participating businesses can choose the most suitable level for their current plastic reduction practices. The more single-use plastic items businesses move away from, the higher the level they can obtain.

The purpose of this RFQ is to seek a qualified vendor to successfully manage the Program for the City through an open competitive procurement process that will result in continued Program success.

In addition, the program has garnered significant attention not only locally but also regionally and nationally, with programs like 'Plastic Free 305' taking inspiration from the City’s success. The successful Proposer will be expected to build upon the achievements of the Plastic Free Miami Beach program. This initiative has already seen considerable success, and the City aims to further improve and sustain it. It should be noted that the City is not seeking a complete overhaul of the program, but rather a continuation of its progress

The scope of work and requirements of the RFQ are more fully defined in the RFQ attached as Attachment A.

Following the receipt of proposals, an Evaluation Committee will review proposals in accordance with the criteria established in the RFQ.

According to a 2022 Community Satisfaction Survey conducted by ETC Institute, more than 39% of resident survey respondents and 35% of local businesses indicated a satisfied or very satisfied response in regard to the City’s efforts to be a “green” or sustainable city. In order to continue to improve upon the City’s actions towards these sustainable and resiliency efforts, it is paramount that initiatives, such as the Plastic Free MB program, are supported by highly qualified professionals that can successfully steer the City towards best practices.

The estimated yearly budget for the services is $44,000.

Based on the foregoing, it is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, authorize the issuance of RFQ 2024-003-DF for Management of Plastic Free Miami Beach Program.

Was Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No.