Work Smart with the SCA McGraw-Hill Supplement - 27

DOLLARS & SENSE RFPs & BIDDING I t’s not always easy to " gure out how to compete for business with a public agency. With this in mind, the SCA is making a concerted effort to make the RFP and bidding processes more transparent. According to Jan Cowhey, Senior Director of Procurement, “Firms already familiar with how the SCA does business will be pleased to know that the processes for RFPs (used to select consultants) and hard bids (used to select contractors) have not changed signi" cantly; however, there has work itself, the SCA contracts for a wide range of consultant services via Requests for Proposal (RFPs), including design and engineering, testing and remediation, construction management, information technology, contingent staf" ng, etc. When initiating an RFP, packages are sent to consultants identi" ed using a variety of internal and external sources (e.g., user department lists, the SCA’s database of quali" ed " rms, outreach events and industry forums, and targeted internet research). Firms are also encouraged to check the SCA’s website and the City Record regularly, and to submit a written request to the Negotiations Unit for inclusion in any RFP. Consultant " rms do not need to be prequali" ed with the SCA in order to submit a proposal; however, a " rm must be prequali" ed to be awarded a contract following selection. Because the quali" cation review process is very detailed and can take up to six months or more to complete, it pays to apply early. Proposals are typically due three weeks after an RFP is sent out. Once the proposals are received from proposing " rms, they are evaluated by a Selection Committee comprised of SCA managers using speci" c and prede" ned evaluation criteria described in the solicitation documents. According to Phil Cappello, Director of Operations–Procurement, weighted selection criteria typically include such factors as the appropriateness and quality of each " rm’s experience; the quali" cations of proposed staff members; methodology and approach; and cost and participation of minority and/or woman-owned businesses (MWBEs; this criterion may be waived at the discretion of the SCA’s Senior Director of Business Development when deemed appropriate). The Selection Committee may make a decision on the basis of the proposals alone, or may determine that oral presentations from some or all of the respondents are required. After carefully weighing the merits of every proposal, each Committee member ranks the proposals in writing based on the established criteria. The results are tabulated and serve as the basis for the committee’s recommendation to award a contract to one or more " rms. Following approval of the committee’s recommendation, the Negotiations Unit enters into negotiations with each selected " rm regarding the " nal contract terms and language. This often includes review and approval of proposed subconsultants and establishment of overhead multipliers (to be used for additional services under the contract) for the prime consultant and subconsultants based on a review of " nancial information. For more information on the RFP process, or to obtain a list of current and anticipated RFPs, call (718) 752-5499 or visit the SCA website. CONTRACTOR SELECTION: THE HARD BID PROCESS The SCA solicits prime construction contractors through two methods: advertised bids and limited list bids. Since the SCA is exempt from the Wicks Law, the prime contractor submits a low lump sum bid for the entire project, and is responsible for all work performed. Subcontractors in Wicks trades (plumbing, been a signi" cant increase in the number of bids received and proposals submitted—so learning how to compete effectively is even more important.” The following will serve as an introduction for those who’ve never bid with the SCA and as a refresher for those who have. CONSULTANT SELECTION: REQUESTS FOR PROPOSAL Where it does not have the internal expertise or resources to perform the
Work Smart with the SCA McGraw-Hill Supplement

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Work Smart with the SCA McGraw-Hill Supplement
