TO: The Honorable Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Michael C. Zito, Deputy County Administrator
Beth Powell, Parks, Recreation & Conservation Director
FROM: Wendy Swindell, Parks Recreation & Conservation Assistant Director
DATE: January 28, 2026
SUBJECT: Rejection of RFP 2026006 for Environmental Bond Acquisition Consulting Services
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BACKGROUND
The County has been implementing the $50M Environmental Lands Acquisition Bond for the purpose of purchasing environmentally sensitive lands within the County since 2022. The Environmental Lands Acquisition Panel (ELAP) is a nine-member group that is approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) to review nominated properties and provide recommendations on acquisition to the BCC. The environmental bond property nomination process was initiated on March 1, 2024 (Nomination Period 1). Following the closing of the initial nomination period on August 31, 2024, County staff began the environmental review process with the ELAP. Once nominated, properties are ranked and approved by the BCC, staff begins the appraisal process to provide a valuation to be used for negotiations with property owners.
In 2025, the real estate firm Colliers was providing services to various departments within the County. Staff coordinated with representatives from Colliers to provide property acquisition negotiation services on behalf of the County for environmental bond properties approved by the BCC for Nomination Period 1. Colliers has completed negotiations, and the BCC has executed sales agreements for five properties in Nomination Period 1.
Potential properties for Environmental Bond acquisition that were nominated between September 1, 2024 and August 31st 2025 (Nomination Periods 2 & 3) were ranked by the ELAP on October 21, 2025. The ELAP reviewed these nominations and provided a ranking list to the BCC. The ELAP ranking list for Nominations Periods 2 & 3 was approved by the BCC on November 18, 2025. Staff produced an RFP for environmental bond consulting services to provide assistance with the acquisition process for the Nomination Period 2 & 3 properties.
In order to provide environmental bond consulting services for Nomination Periods 2 & 3, RFP 2026006 was advertised on October 29, 2025, and was closed on December 2, 2025. The scope of work within RFP 2026006 included consultant services for land acquisition grant assistance, coordination with landowners, due diligence coordination, and contract development and execution services. A total of 17 vendors downloaded the RFP documents. One submission was received by the County (The Conservation Fund). During the initial review committee meeting there was a request by staff to provide additional details on the proposed fee schedule. Two public meetings were held with the RFP review committee to discuss the materials provided by The Conservation Fund, specifically related to the fee structure.
ANALYSIS
The Conservation Fund proposal included an annual fee to be paid quarterly, as well as a flat fee associated with the successful closing on BCC approved properties. After review by the County’s Bond Consultant, it was determined that the annual fee could not be paid with Environmental Bond funds. The proposal included a fee structure based on a purchase price tiered range between 2% and 3.5% based on the sale price of property. The review committee voted to reject the fee structure proposed by The Conservation Fund due to the inability to use Bond Funds for payment of the annual fee. Additionally, the finding that the purchase price tiered percentages exceeded the level of effort that will be required by the Consultant at this point in the process.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
There is no cost to the County associated with the rejection of the proposal.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
21-0998 - 11/2/2021; Award of RFP 2021011 for Real Estate Broker Service
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
None.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Quality of Life; Environment
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the Board reject the proposal received in response to RFP 2026006.