The city of Apopka is once again seeking a design-build construction services team for a new splash pad at Kit Land Nelson Park, now with a reduced budget and clearer selection criteria to avoid controversy, according to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on Sunday.
This will be the third time Apopka has issued an RFP for a design-build contractor on the splash pad project. No companies bid back in February, and in June only two bid on the second RFP.
Apopka’s City Council decided to re-bid the project in mid-August, after finalist Ryan Fitzgerald of Mount Dora-based Ryan Fitzgerald Construction, Inc. challenged the city’s selection of Apopka-based contractor AccuTech Construction for the project, despite his bid being $162,000 lower in the second RFP.
Fitzgerald told GrowthSpotter on Monday he plans to bid again on the project, which will require new plans and pricing after the city reduced the project’s budget for a third time.
The City Council reserved $750,000 last year for improvements at Kit Land Nelson Park to include the splash pad and new bathrooms. The project budget on this latest RFP is $544,000, down from a $600,000 budget in the June RFP.
Located at 10 S. Forest Ave. in Apopka, this 2,400-square-foot splash pad will be a new feature to the park, and include related improvements such as shade structures, sidewalk and seating.
The city wants to work with a qualified and experienced company on this project, so respondents should have documented experience on at least three splash pads or interactive fountains within the past three years, per the RFP. Subcontractors must have the same minimum experience levels.
The splash pad should support a variety of ages and have activities for children of all ages. Features should promote multiple children playing together.
The civil site design and construction for related site improvements will also be included in this contract.
Features deemed most desirable after public input meetings were groups of three or more water cannons, a water tunnel with five arches or more, column-style spray features of 6 feet or higher, low-height column spray features, and an assortment of ground spray-style features.
Acceptable manufacturers for the splash pad equipment will be WaterPlay, Rain Drop Products and Vortex. No other manufacturers will be accepted by the city.
Bid applications are due Oct. 10 by 10 a.m. to the City Clerk’s office at Apoka City Hall.
Complete documents for RFP no. 2017-22 can be found at the city’s Purchasing Division bids page.
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