The city of Eustis is planning a new skate park at Sunset Island Park and is seeking a design-build contractor to lead the project, according to a Request for Proposals (RFP) published within the past week.
The RFP requires bidders to describe how the company can help the city achieve its goals for the park, which will be graded for 10 points.
The city is also looking for general information about the companies and teams, including their number of employees, total contract values on completed projects in the last five years, and the roles of each person specific to the project, including sub-contractors and sub-consultants.
Eustis is also seeking summaries of three separate skate park construction projects that bidders may have had under contract in the last three years, as well as references and descriptions of the services performed and the proposed guaranteed maximum price, the final project cost and how long it will take.
The winning team will include an architect, civil engineer and builder team.
The winning bidder will be tasked with holding public workshops to get feedback about what the local skating community is looking for in the park.
Joe LaPolla, Eustis' director of parks and recreation, said when the city was polling residents about new recreation facilities a group of teenagers came in and lobbied for a skate park.
He said some of the skaters were skating in places where they shouldn't and it made sense to give them space, especially since skate parks are scarce in the county.
"They say if your city doesn't have a skate park the city is a skate park," La Polla told GrowthSpotter. "This will give us an answer to their question about where they can skate."
The skate park budget is $400,000, but the entire park project budget is closer to $500,000 after the parking lot and existing tennis court are resurfaced.
Part of the park improvements will be paid for through a $400,000 grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
The city is hoping to start work on the park in October and complete it within a year.
Complete bid documents for RFP no. 010-17 can be sourced through the city's Purchasing Department.
Bid packets are due on July 6 by 3 p.m. at the Purchasing Department, and will be opened shortly after in the Eustis Commission Chambers at City Hall.
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