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Award of Contract and License Agreement With Historic Hernando Preservation Society, Inc., for Chinsegut Hill Retreat and Conference Center Steward and Property Manager (Contract No. 25-RFP01132/CT)
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BRIEF OVERVIEW
The Procurement Department issued Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 25-RFP01132/CT on September 3, 2025, at the request of the Hernando County Parks and Recreation Department for curator, steward, and property manager for land and buildings located at Chinsegut Hill Retreat and Conference Center, excluding the Manor House. Responsibilities to include overseeing the care, preservation, and daily operations of the property, including managing reservations, coordinating public access and events, and operating historic tours.
The Procurement Department placed the legal advertisement in the Hernando Sun on August 29, 2025, and OpenGov website on September 3, 2025. The solicitation was sent to three thousand eight hundred fifty-seven (3,857) matching vendor/contractors from the website. The solicitation document was downloaded by twenty-nine (29) vendor/contractors and three (3) 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 November 13, 2025, to evaluate the proposals. The committee included Robert Talmage, Parks & Recreation Administrator; Tammy Heon, Tourism Development Manager and Carla Burrmann, Manager, Natural Resources Department. The PSC consensus scoring evaluation resulted in the following scores:
Firm Total Score (Max Score: 100)
Historic Hernando Preservation Society, Inc. 73.0
Raquel M Stafford 42.0
Immerse The Nations 25.7
Staff entered into negotiations with the top-ranked firm and successfully completed contract negotiations on January 12, 2026.
A Notice of Intent to Award the contract to Historic Hernando Preservation Society, Inc. dated December 2, 2025, was posted to the OpenGov website and posted to the Hernando County Administration electronic public bulletin board. The award is for a five-year contract with two (2), three (3) year unilateral renewals. A notice of intent to protest from Raquel M Stafford was received, but no formal protest was filed.
The Chief Procurement Officer has reviewed this requirement for conformance to Procurement Ordinance and Purchasing Policies and Procedures.
This agenda item will be negated should the Board agree to negotiate an agreement for operating Chinsegut as proposed by Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) which is being considered earlier on this meeting agenda (Legistar No. 16956). Such action is in accordance with Section 16 of the Hernando County Procurement Manual, “the County retains the right to reject any and all responses and may choose to solicit at its discretion.”
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The license amount of $1.00 per year will be deposited in the following:
Revenue:
Fund: 0011 - General Fund, Department: 01703 - Chinsegut Hill Facilities, Account: 3620001 - Rental Buildings
LEGAL NOTE
In accordance with Part II, Chapter 2, Article V of the Hernando County Code of Ordinances.
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Board award the contract to Historic Hernando Preservation Society, Inc., and authorize the Chairman’s signature on the attached license agreement for Chinsegut Hill Retreat and Conference Center Steward and Property Manager, Contract No. 25-RFP01132/CT.
It is further recommended the Board authorize the Chief Procurement Office to renew the contract with the same terms and conditions.