City of Apalachicola

The City of Apalachicola requests Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) from interested firms or individuals to provide professional engineering services and/or related services to the City for the Scipio Creek Boat Basin Improvements. Services to be provided may include, but not necessarily be limited to, civil engineering, surveying, related environmental services, and studies, permitting, public administration assistance, construction contract administration and technical services during construction.

Proposals should at least include the following:
* Letter of Interest referencing CDBG Contract # 11DB-4N-02-29-02-E12 and EDA Investment # 04-79-06355.
*Indication of receipt of an information packet available by email from the City of Apalachicola which outlines the selection criteria, and provides narrative project descriptions and other design criteria used in securing project funding. Proposals not conforming to those criteria will be considered non-responsive.
* Experience, Qualifications and Ability of firm or individual and any proposed sub-consultants, through inclusion of Standard Form 330
* Qualifications and Experience of project management and program staff relevant to project understanding and approach.
*Experience with regulatory agencies (FDEP, USACE, EPA, FDCA, NWFWMD, etc.)
* Experience in serving small community engineering and related service needs
* Knowledge of local conditions and needs of the City
* Other significant and/or unique capabilities of the firm or individual to provide support for the Scipio Creek Boat Basin Improvements
* Evaluation and selection of firm(s) or individual(s) shall be in accordance with the Consultants Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA) pursuant to Chapter 287.055, Florida Statutes and the City’s procurement policies. The City reserves the right to select firm(s) or individual(s) solely on the content of the SOQ, or alternatively shortlist firms or individuals to make oral presentations to the City for final selection.

Proposals will be accepted by the City before 3:00 PM Eastern Time on September 30, 2010. Each proposal should also include proof of at least $1 million professional liability insurance, a listing of at least six (6) related client references, and location of corporate and branch offices. Mail or deliver seven (7) copies of proposals clearly marked Scipio Creek Boat Basin Improvements” to Apalachicola Administrative and Community Development Office, 1 Avenue E, Apalachicola, Fl 32320. Faxed or emailed proposals will not be considered. Please contact Cindi Giametta, Grants Manager at 850-653-9319 or via email at cindigiametta@cityofapalachicola.com for further information.

THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE.

After School Activities Begin August 30
Apalachicola's Project Impact After School Activities Begin August 30 at the ABC Charter School and City of Apalachicola Municpal Complex. You can register online, get an enrollment form at the program site or call 370-0145 for more information. Serving Pre-K through 12th Grade Monday-Friday, 3 PM to 6 PM

Planning and Zoning to Consider Revisions to Office/Residential Zoning District and Adoption of Tree Ordinance
The Apalachicola City Commission and Planning and Zoning (P&Z) Board will hold a joint Public Workshop on Tuesday, Sept.7 to consider revisions to the Office Residential (OR) Zoning District Section of the Apalachicola Land Development (Zoning) Code as well as a tree ordinance protection regulations. The workshop convenes at 5 p.m. prior to the City Commission regularly scheduled meeting at the Apalachicola City Community Center.

Low Income Telephone Access Program Kicks off in Apalachicola September 13
A State-funded program designed to make telephone service available to everyone regardless of income will be presented September 13 at the Apalachicola Community Center. The presentation, to be held at 10 a.m., is part of the National Lifeline Awareness Program which makes telephone service affordable to low-income consumers. The program, called Lifeline Assistance and Link-up Florida, provides eligible participants up to a $13.50 credit on qualified residential local monthly phone bills and also provides a 50% reduction in the telephone service hook-up charge, up to a maximum of $30. To learn more, attend the Sept 13 meeting or call 1-800-342-3552.

USDA Funds Efforts to Stimulate Economy,
Develop Navigation Routes in Apalachicola River
August 9, 2010 – A $50,000 USDA Rural Development grant will help a conservation advocacy group development recommendations on how to best support navigation and preserve the ecological integrity of the Apalachicola River. Securing these routes could stimulate commerce in rural communities along Florida’s largest river by increasing opportunities for the ecotourism seafood industries.

Today, USDA Rural Development State Director Richard A. Machek presented the leadership of Apalachicola Riverkeeper, an Apalachicola, FL-based organization that closely monitors the Apalachicola River and Bay, a $50,000 Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) to determine how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can manage releases from federal reservoirs on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee and Flint (ACF) Rivers to improve navigation and commerce without compromising the basins ecosystem.

“The members of Apalachicola River Keeper are to be commended for addressing this important issue,” said Machek during the check presentation at Riverfront Park in Apalachicola. “This project has the potential to create real economic opportunities for the communities situated along this historic river. Protecting this important waterway is vital to the overall health of this region.”

The USDA Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) used to fund this project is designed to facilitate rural business development and support economic growth. Other funding for the “Navigational/Environmental Flow Modeling Project” include $5,000 from Riverkeeper, a $25,000 grant from RiverWay South, a Columbus GA-based, non-profit working to preserve, protect, and promote the ACF watershed, and $20,000 in grant funds from Tri Rivers Waterway Development Association, an Eufaula, AL-based, tri-state organization that encourages the responsible development, operation and maintenance of the ACF waterway and river system.

USDA Rural Development is committed to the future of rural communities and provides financing and technical assistance to foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More information about USDA Rural Development can be found at www.rurdev.esda.gov.fl.

The City of Apalachicola learned this week it will receive $1.855 million in federal funds to renovate the Scipio Creek Boat Basin. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the city will be added to more than $200,00 of existing City funds and nearly $500,00 in a separate CDBG grant to repair existing infrastructure and mooring piles, add docking space and completely renovate the riverfront area located at the North end of Market Street.

In addition, parking and public restrooms will be expanded. Docks and ice handling facilities for off-loading of fresh seafood will be constructed, along with a boat repair yard and haul-out/lifting facilities, with plans for a retail market area for seafood. It is expected the funding will also help generate jobs.

The Scipio Creek Boat Basin project has been on drawing board for more than six years. City administrator Betty Webb, grants manager Cindi Giametta and staff have worked with several State agencies as well as local community and business groups over the years on various planning and visioning components of the plan.

Efforts to secure the large brick and mortar portion of the funding amount began in earnest last year when staff began working with Bruce Ballister, a grants adminstrator for the Apalachee Regional Planning Council to apply for the EDA grant. Applying for the grant required the city demonstrate a willingness to commit its own resources to the project and as a result, City Commissioners allocated $215,000 out of their revolving loan fund and apply it to the project.

The biggest portion of the project will involve repairing the docks and other infrastructure improvements. Funds will also go toward constructing a boat repair yard and dock. The project proposes a new lift slip with movable 60- to 80-ton lift and a repair laydown yard, adjacent to the harbor master’s house where the offices of the St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge are now housed.

Other components of the project include an ice house, loading docks, public restrooms as well as a retail seafood market which would be owned by the city and franchised to an operator or individuals to sell retail seafood.

Officials say the next step is to put out a Request for Qualifications for engineering.

Golf Carts Officially Allowed, Regulated
Apalachicola City Commissioners approved an ordinance recently that will allow golf carts to be used in certain areas of the City. The ordinance provides for the registration of golf carts along with regulations restricting speed, areas of use and other conditions. You can register your cart by contacting City Hall 850-653-8222.

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