FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

QUESTION: I heard that you are advertising for architectural services/construction management at risk services/plans review, permitting, and inspection services for a project, but I can´t find it?

ANSWER: If we are running a legal notification for a Request for Qualifications, we will do so on two (2) consecutive Sunday editions in the Bradenton Herald newspaper. Their website is www.bradenton.com. For updated open selection process information, check the PROJECT ALERT section of our Home Page.

QUESTION: My company is a licensed general contractor. I heard that you are accepting bids for the ABC Elementary School project. Who do I contact?

ANSWER: The delivery method for DCS is “Construction Management at Risk”. Design Professionals and Construction Managers are selected for each project based upon qualifications, per F.S. 287.055 - the Consultant´s Competitive Negotiations Act (CCNA). Preference is given to firms with an office in Manatee or Sarasota County.

The selected Architect/Engineer (A/E) and Construction Manager (CM) join the Project Director from DCS to form the construction team.

Note that DCS hires one prime Design Professional per project. The A/E contracts with sub-consultants as necessary. Further, DCS lets one construction contract per project. That contract is with the CM. DCS does not contract with subcontractors and suppliers. It is the CM who solicits bids from subcontractors and suppliers for the various work packages within the scope.

Local subcontractors are strongly encouraged to pre-qualify with the CM early in the design process to assure being part of the bid process. A current list of projects for which a CM has been selected but for which bids have not been taken is attached, with contact information. If you are interested in becoming an approved vendor with Manatee County School District, you can go to the Purchasing website and complete the application at http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/purchase/.

QUESTION: What is your continuing contract process I´ve heard about?

ANSWER: DCS maintains a list of approved firms for small projects in which construction costs do not exceed $2,000,000, or services that do not exceed $200,000.00. These firms are selected by qualifications using the same CCNA (F.S. 287.055) process. The following disciplines are included on DCS´s latest list which was approved by our Board on August 24, 2009:

QUESTION: When does the continuing contracts list renew?

ANSWER: We renew this list every two to four years. The latest renewals were approved by our Board on August 24, 2009. Therefore, it is likely that we will be advertising again sometime in 2011 or 2012.

QUESTION: What is the Jessica Lunsford act?

ANSWER: The Jessica Lunsford Act is a comprehensive law designed to strengthen the monitoring and control of sexual predators and offenders. It is contained in Florida Statute 1012.465. The Manatee County School District´s Legal Department has prepared information on this topic for personnel and vendors working with our District. This info can be found at the following link: http://www.manateeschools.net/community.html.