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Award of Contract and Professional Services Agreement With KMF Architects, LLC, for Architectural and Engineering Services for County Fire Station Prototypes (Contract No. 25-RFQ01153; Amount: $296,902.60)
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BRIEF OVERVIEW
The Procurement Department issued Request for Qualifications (RFQ) No. 25-RFQ01153 on October 8, 2025, at the request of Hernando County Fire Rescue (HCFR) for Architectural and Engineering Services for Fire Station Prototype Designs.
The Procurement Department placed the legal advertisement in the Hernando Sun on October 17, 2025, and the OpenGov website on October 8, 2025. The solicitation was sent to three thousand eight hundred ninety-eight (3,898) matching vendor/contractors from the website. The solicitation document was downloaded by ninety-six (96) vendor/contractors and thirteen (13) submissions were received.
The Procurement Department reviewed and evaluated submissions to determine if submissions were responsive and responsible. The Procurement Selection Committee (PSC) met on December 10, 2025, to evaluate the proposals. The committee included Erik van de Boogaard, Hernando County Construction Coordinator, Fire Chief Kristian Sloane, Louise Galajda, Chief Financial Officer, and Keith Jeppeson, Sr. Project Manager. The PSC consensus scoring evaluation resulted in the following scores:
Firm Total Score (Max Score: 100)
1. KMF Architects LLC 89.5
2. Fleischman And Garcia Architecture & Planners, AIA, PA 88
3. Wilder Architecture 86
4. Long & Associates Architects/Engineers, Inc. 82.5
5. The Lunz Group 82.25
6. Sweet Sparkman Architects, Inc. 82
7. Open Workshop for Architecture LLC 81
8. Monarch Design Group LLC 80.75
9. H2M Architects & Engineers, Inc. 79.75
10. Grace Design Studios, LLC 76.25
11. P.L.U.S. LLC 74.5
12. Rispoli & Associates Architecture Inc. 72.25
13. Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) 67.75
The PSC requested to proceed with oral presentations and on January 13, 2026, the Board approved the short list of the top three (3) firms and authorized the PSC Team to continue with oral presentations and evaluations with their top-ranked firm to be presented to the Board for formal award. Oral presentations were conducted on February 11, 2026, with the top three (3) ranked firms. The PSC consensus scoring resulted in the following total consensus scores:
Firm Total Score (Max Score: 100)
1. KMF Architects LLC 94.3
2. Wilder Architecture 68.8
3. Fleischman And Garcia Architecture & Planners, AIA, PA 66.7
Staff entered into negotiations with the top-ranked firm and successfully completed contract negotiations on April 28, 2026. The prototype design total of $296,902.60 includes an Owner’s Contingency in the amount of $20,000.00.
A Notice of Intent to Award the contract to KMF Architects LLC dated May 12, 2026, was posted to the OpenGov website. The award is for a three (3) year contract with two (2), one (1) year renewals. No challenges to the Notice of Intent to Award were received.
The Chief Procurement Officer has reviewed this requirement for conformance to Procurement Ordinance and Purchasing Policies and Procedures.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Funding in the amount of $296,902.60 is available in the following accounts, the cost will be split 50/50:
Expense:
Fund: HC Fire Rescue-Fire Fund - B110, Department: HCFR-Fire - 140, Account: Operating-Professional Services - 533100
(B110-140-00000-30-52200-533100)
Fund: HC Fire Rescue-Rescue Fund - B111, Department: HCFR-Rescue - 141, Account: Operating-Professional Services - 533100
(B111-141-00000-30-52600-533100)
LEGAL NOTE
In accordance with Chapter 2, Article V of the Hernando County Code of Ordinances.
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board approve and authorize the Chairperson’s signature on the attached agreement to KMF Architects LLC for Architectural and Engineering Services for Hernando County Fire Rescue (HCFR) Fire Station Prototype Designs, Contract No. 25-RFQ01153 in the estimated contract amount of $296,902.60.
It is further recommended the Board authorize the Chief Procurement Office to renew the contract with the same terms and conditions.