Legal - Bond and Disclosure Counsel

The City of Fernandina Beach issued RFP 24-01 to secure professional legal services for Bond and Disclosure Counsel. The city is seeking one or two qualified law firms to provide legal advice on municipal bond financings, prepare bond documents, attend necessary meetings, and issue bond counsel opinions. The envisioned contract term is five years with the possibility of extension. Selection is based on a trade-off process to determine the best overall value, with evaluation priorities focusing on the firm's ability to meet requirements, technical expertise and reputation, personnel availability, geographical proximity, and fee reasonableness. Proposers are required to submit a comprehensive package including firm qualifications, experience, references, and a one-page compensation description. Mandatory submissions include a sworn statement regarding public entity crimes per Florida Statute Section 287.133(3)(a) and a Drug-Free Workplace Certification. The resulting agreement is governed by a short-form contract that mandates compliance with OSHA standards, Florida Public Records Law, and strict non-disclosure requirements. The selected vendor must also provide indemnification to the city and maintain insurance limits as mutually agreed.