REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND FINANCING PROPOSALS Debt Reduction and Consolidation Loan / Financing

CITY OF ARCHER, FLORIDA REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS AND FINANCING PROPOSALS Debt Reduction and Consolidation Loan / Financing RFQ No.: 2026-5 Issue Date: ____________________ Submittal Deadline: Thirty (30) calendar days after issue date, at 2:00 p.m. local time Evaluation Period: Fifteen (15) calendar days after public opening Estimated Financing Amount: Approximately $1,500,000 Requested Financing Term: Respondents shall provide options for 25-year, 30-year, and 40-year amortization/maturity Submittal Format: One (1) original, three (3) additional paper copies, and one (1) USB flash drive   Submit sealed responses to: City Manager City of Archer 16870 SW 134th Avenue | P.O. Box 39 Archer, Florida 32618 Phone: (352) 495-2880
Clearly mark sealed packages: "RFQ - Debt Reduction and Consolidation Financing" This solicitation is subject to final review and approval by the City Attorney, bond counsel or special financing counsel if retained, and the City Commission. This RFQ does not authorize indebtedness and does not bind the City to award or close any financing.
  1. Purpose and IntentThe City of Archer, Florida ("City") is soliciting sealed qualifications and financing proposals from qualified banks, financial institutions, or lending entities for a municipal debt reduction and consolidation financing in the approximate principal amount of $1,500,000. The purpose of the financing is to refinance, consolidate, restructure, or retire existing obligations and to fund related lawful municipal financial, professional, administrative, compliance, closing, and contingency costs, all as may be approved by the City Commission and determined legally permissible by the City Attorney and any financing counsel retained by the City. The City desires a competitive, low-interest, fixed-rate financing that provides long-term budget stability, improves cash-flow predictability, and reduces or consolidates existing obligations without creating unauthorized legal exposure for the City. Respondents shall provide financing options for a 25-year, 30-year, and 40-year term or amortization, together with any shorter term or alternative structure the respondent believes is more advantageous to the City. The City intends for the financing to be structured in a manner compliant with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including Florida law governing municipal borrowing, public finance, public meetings, public records, ethics, and public funds. The City reserves the right to determine, with advice of counsel, whether the final financing will be structured as a direct bank loan, note, covenant to budget and appropriate obligation, private placement, bond, refunding obligation, or other lawful financing instrument. 2. BackgroundThe City is evaluating long-term financing to improve its financial position by consolidating and reducing existing obligations and by addressing lawful municipal financial and professional obligations. The City is not requesting that respondents underwrite or evaluate the underlying details of each obligation as part of this RFQ. Respondents should base their proposals on an approximate financing amount of $1,500,000, subject to adjustment before closing based on final legal, financial, and governing-body approvals. The selected respondent will be expected to work cooperatively with City staff, the City Attorney, bond counsel or special financing counsel if retained, the City’s finance director or accountant, and any financial advisor retained by the City to finalize the lawful structure, repayment source, amortization schedule, closing documents, disclosures, and funding schedule. 3. Legal and Statutory FrameworkRespondents shall be responsible for proposing a structure that is legally permissible for a Florida municipality and shall clearly identify any legal assumptions, required approvals, required opinions, financial disclosures, closing conditions, and limitations. At a minimum, respondents shall address the following legal framework and any other applicable law: Municipal borrowing authority: Part II of Chapter 166, Florida Statutes, including the City’s authority to borrow money, contract loans, and issue bonds for lawful municipal purposes. Refunding or refinancing authority: Florida law addressing refinancing or refunding obligations, including statutory and constitutional limitations applicable to the type of debt proposed. Interest-rate compliance: Any maximum lawful interest rate or public-finance limitation applicable to the proposed instrument, including Chapter 215, Florida Statutes, if applicable to the structure proposed. Bond-sale and disclosure requirements: Chapter 218, Florida Statutes, including public-sale, negotiated-sale, truth-in-bonding, underwriter, financial-advisor, and other disclosure requirements if the financing is structured as bonds, revenue bonds, notes, or another obligation subject to those provisions. Constitutional limitations: Article VII, Sections 10 and 12 of the Florida Constitution, including restrictions related to pledging ad valorem taxation, full faith and credit, or City property for long-term obligations without voter approval where required. Public deposits and banking compliance: Chapter 280, Florida Statutes, to the extent the respondent will receive, hold, collateralize, or otherwise manage public deposits or City funds as part of the transaction. Public records and open government: Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, and Section 286.011, Florida Statutes, including records retention and public meeting requirements applicable to the solicitation and award. Ethics and procurement integrity: Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, and applicable public entity crime, conflict-of-interest, lobbying, and procurement-integrity requirements. Federal law: Applicable federal tax law, banking law, securities law, anti-discrimination law, anti-lobbying rules, sanctions requirements, and other federal requirements applicable to the proposed financing, if any.The City’s intent is to avoid any structure that would require a referendum unless the City Commission expressly elects, after legal review, to pursue such an option. Unless otherwise approved by the City Commission and City Attorney, proposals should assume that the financing will not be secured by a pledge of ad valorem taxing power, will not constitute a general obligation bond, and will not grant a mortgage, lien, or security interest in City real property or essential City assets. Proposals may include an annual covenant to budget and appropriate legally available non-ad valorem revenues, subject to final legal review. Nothing in this RFQ should be interpreted as a waiver of the City’s sovereign immunity, home rule authority, budgetary discretion, legal defenses, or rights under federal or state law. The City reserves all rights to modify or reject any proposed structure that is not in the City’s best interest or that legal counsel determines to be impermissible, impractical, or insufficiently protective of the City. 4. Requested Financing TermsRespondents shall propose financing terms based on the following requested structure. Any deviations must be clearly identified and explained. Estimated principal amount: Approximately $1,500,000. The City reserves the right to increase or decrease the amount before award or closing. Term options: Provide 25-year, 30-year, and 40-year options. Respondents may also propose alternative terms that provide lower total cost, lower annual debt service, or greater flexibility. Rate type: Fixed interest rate strongly preferred. If a variable rate is offered as an alternative, the proposal must include maximum rate exposure, index, reset frequency, adjustment method, cap, floor, breakage cost, and risk disclosure. Interest rate: Quote the lowest lawful rate available for the proposed financing and identify whether the rate assumes tax-exempt, taxable, bank-qualified, or other treatment. State all assumptions affecting the rate. Amortization: Provide a level annual debt-service option and any recommended alternative amortization. Include full amortization schedules for each term option. Payment frequency: State whether payments are monthly, quarterly, semiannual, or annual. Annual or semiannual payment options should be clearly shown. Prepayment: The City strongly prefers the right to prepay in whole or in part at any time without penalty. Any call protection, yield maintenance, make-whole, breakage cost, or prepayment fee must be clearly disclosed. Rate lock: State the period for which the proposed rate will be held, the conditions for rate lock, and any fees or expiration provisions. Costs and fees: Fully disclose origination fees, bank counsel fees, borrower counsel requirements, financial-advisor fees, placement fees, rating fees, escrow fees, closing fees, annual fees, servicing fees, draw fees, wire fees, and any other costs. Security: Identify all requested security, revenue pledges, covenants, reserve requirements, coverage requirements, financial reporting requirements, events of default, remedies, and limitations on additional debt. Closing: State the respondent’s anticipated closing timeline after award and all documents, approvals, and opinions required. Expiration: Proposals must remain valid for at least one hundred twenty (120) calendar days after the submission deadline unless a longer period is stated by the respondent.
5. Minimum QualificationsRespondents must demonstrate that they are qualified, authorized, and capable of providing the requested municipal financing. At minimum, respondents shall provide: 1.Legal name of respondent, principal office, Florida office if applicable, and contact person for the proposal. 2.Evidence that the respondent is authorized to conduct business and provide the proposed financing in Florida. 3.Confirmation of whether the respondent is a bank, credit union, savings association, institutional lender, underwriter, placement agent, financial institution, or other lending entity. 4.Confirmation of whether the respondent is a Florida Qualified Public Depository or, if not applicable, an explanation of why QPD status is not required for the proposed financing. 5.Description of at least three comparable financings completed for Florida municipalities, counties, utilities, or special districts within the last five years, if available. 6.Current long-term and short-term credit ratings of the respondent, if rated, or other evidence of financial strength. 7.Description of any regulatory actions, litigation, defaults, debarments, suspensions, or material adverse matters within the last five years related to municipal lending, public finance, or public deposits. 8.Identification of the proposed lending team, legal counsel, underwriter, placement agent, financial advisor, servicer, or other parties expected to participate in the financing. 9.References for public-sector clients with similar transactions. 6. Required Proposal ContentsEach response shall be organized in the order below. Failure to provide required information may result in a lower score or a determination that the response is nonresponsive. 6.1 Transmittal LetterProvide a signed letter confirming the respondent’s interest, authority to submit the proposal, acceptance of RFQ requirements, and commitment to keep the proposal valid for the required period. The letter must be signed by an officer or authorized representative with authority to bind the respondent. 6.2 Executive SummaryProvide a concise summary of the recommended financing structure, principal amount, term, rate, estimated annual debt service, total debt service, major benefits, major risks, and required City approvals. 6.3 Qualifications and ExperienceProvide respondent qualifications, public-finance experience, comparable Florida municipal transactions, references, team members, and financial strength information. 6.4 Financing Proposal / Term SheetProvide a complete financing term sheet including, at minimum, the proposed amount, rate, tax status, term, amortization, payment dates, security, prepayment rights, fees, required covenants, default provisions, remedies, closing conditions, rate-lock period, legal opinions required, and any conditions precedent to funding. 6.5 Amortization SchedulesProvide separate amortization schedules for the 25-year, 30-year, and 40-year options. Each schedule must show beginning principal balance, payment date, principal payment, interest payment, total payment, ending principal balance, and total interest over the life of the financing. 6.6 Cost and Fee DisclosureProvide a complete schedule of all costs, including any fees paid by the City, paid from proceeds, paid by respondent, or embedded in the interest rate. Proposals must clearly identify one-time costs and recurring costs. 6.7 Legal Compliance and DisclosuresProvide a written legal and compliance statement addressing all laws applicable to the respondent’s proposed structure. If the proposal involves bonds, notes, securities, a negotiated sale, an underwriter, placement agent, financial advisor, or similar public finance roles, include any truth-in-bonding, underwriter, financial-advisor, finder, MSRB, SEC, continuing-disclosure, and other disclosures required by law. 6.8 Exceptions to RFQ or Proposed DocumentsList all exceptions to this RFQ and to any required City terms. If no exceptions are taken, state: "No exceptions." The City may reject proposals that include exceptions determined to be adverse to the City. 6.9 Required Forms and CertificationsInclude the completed certification forms provided in this RFQ or substantially equivalent certifications acceptable to the City Attorney. 7. Submission RequirementsResponses must be received by the City before the stated deadline. Late responses may be rejected and returned unopened. Respondents are responsible for timely delivery. Package requirement: One (1) signed original, three (3) additional paper copies, and one (1) USB flash drive containing the full proposal in searchable PDF format, together with Excel-compatible amortization schedules. Sealed package label: RFQ - Debt Reduction and Consolidation Financing. Delivery address: City Manager, City of Archer, 16870 SW 134th Avenue | P.O. Box 39, Archer, Florida 32618. Public opening: Proposals will be opened at the stated time and place. Evaluation and ranking will occur after opening. Questions: All questions must be submitted in writing to the City Manager or designee. Oral interpretations are not binding. Any official change to this RFQ will be issued by written addendum. Addenda: Respondents are responsible for checking the City’s website or public posting location for addenda and must acknowledge all addenda in the proposal. Public records: Materials submitted to the City may become public records subject to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. Respondents claiming a statutory exemption must clearly identify the specific materials claimed exempt and the legal basis for the exemption.
8. Evaluation and Award ProcessThe City will evaluate responses based on the scoring criteria included in this RFQ. The City may evaluate written proposals, request clarifications, conduct interviews, seek best and final offers, negotiate with the highest-ranked respondent, or reject all proposals. The City is not obligated to award to the lowest stated interest rate if another proposal is determined to provide the best overall value, lower risk, greater legal protection, better flexibility, or lower total cost to the City. The evaluation period will be fifteen (15) calendar days after public opening unless extended by the City. A recommendation may then be presented to the City Commission for consideration. Final award, if any, will require City Commission approval by resolution or other legally sufficient action. Final closing will be subject to completion of due diligence, legal review, final documentation, and satisfaction of closing conditions. The City reserves the right to waive minor irregularities, request additional information, reject any or all proposals, cancel the solicitation, re-advertise, negotiate terms, adjust the financing amount, change the financing structure, or award the financing in the manner determined to be in the best interest of the City. 9. Evaluation Criteria
Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points Evaluator Score Evaluator Notes Interest rate, net interest cost, total debt service, and rate-lock protection 30     Financing structure, amortization, payment frequency, term options, and debt-service flexibility 15     All fees, costs of issuance, bank counsel costs, closing costs, and ongoing administrative costs 10     Legal/security structure protective of the City, including non-ad valorem annual-appropriation structure and avoidance of unauthorized collateral or ad valorem pledge 10     Prepayment, call, refinancing, and early payoff flexibility 10     Experience with Florida municipalities and comparable direct loans, notes, or bank-qualified financings 10     Responsiveness, completeness, statutory disclosures, and ability to close within City schedule 10     Financial strength, references, service approach, and local/regional public-sector banking support 5     TOTAL 100    
10. Required Financing Protections for the CityRespondents should structure proposals to protect the City’s legal and financial interests. The following terms are strongly preferred and may be considered in scoring: Fixed rate for the full term, or a clearly superior alternative with capped risk and full disclosure. No prepayment penalty, yield maintenance, or make-whole provision. No pledge of ad valorem taxing power unless voter approval is obtained and the City Commission affirmatively authorizes that structure. No mortgage, lien, foreclosure right, or security interest in City real property or essential public assets unless approved by the City Commission and legal counsel and, if required, by referendum. Annual appropriation structure payable only from legally available non-ad valorem revenues, if appropriate for the final structure. No acceleration remedy that would require payment of all future principal and interest in a manner inconsistent with applicable law or annual appropriation limitations. Reasonable financial reporting requirements that do not impose unnecessary administrative burden on a small municipality. No minimum deposit relationship, compensating balance, or requirement that City operating accounts be moved unless separately approved by the City Commission and compliant with law. Ability to close promptly after award while preserving adequate time for City Attorney review, City Commission approval, and public notice requirements. Transparent all-in cost comparison and no undisclosed fees or third-party compensation.
11. Public Records, Confidentiality, and ExemptionsAll proposals, documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photographs, films, sound recordings, data processing software, or other materials made or received pursuant to this RFQ may be public records under Chapter 119, Florida Statutes. The City will not treat an entire proposal as confidential. Respondents must specifically identify each portion claimed exempt, cite the specific statutory exemption, and provide a redacted copy. The City does not warrant or guarantee that any claimed exemption will be accepted by a court or public records custodian. 12. Cone of Silence / Procurement CommunicationsTo preserve the integrity of the solicitation, respondents should direct all communications regarding this RFQ only to the City Manager or designated procurement contact identified by the City. Respondents shall not lobby, contact, or attempt to influence any City Commissioner, evaluation committee member, City employee, consultant, or advisor regarding this solicitation outside the authorized process. Violation of this provision may result in disqualification, subject to applicable law and City policy. 13. Protest RightsAny protest, objection, or challenge concerning this RFQ, the ranking, or intended award must be filed in accordance with the City’s procurement policies, ordinances, or procedures then in effect. Respondents are responsible for reviewing applicable City procedures and timely preserving any rights. Failure to timely file may constitute a waiver of protest rights. 14. Insurance, Indemnity, and Sovereign ImmunityThe selected respondent shall maintain insurance, licenses, and regulatory authority appropriate for the proposed services and financing. Any indemnity, limitation of liability, waiver, or remedy provision proposed by respondent must be acceptable to the City Attorney. Nothing in this RFQ or any resulting agreement shall be deemed a waiver of the City’s sovereign immunity or statutory limits of liability under Section 768.28, Florida Statutes, or other applicable law. 15. Non-Discrimination, Ethics, and CertificationsRespondents shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws concerning non-discrimination, equal opportunity, ethics, conflicts of interest, public entity crimes, lobbying, employment eligibility verification, scrutinized companies, sanctions, and procurement integrity. The City may require additional certifications before award or closing. 16. No Obligation and No Reimbursement of CostsThe City is not obligated to award, negotiate, or close any financing as a result of this RFQ. Respondents are solely responsible for all costs of preparing, submitting, presenting, negotiating, and supporting their proposals. The City will not reimburse proposal costs. 17. City Commission Approval and Closing ConditionsAny award is subject to approval by the City Commission at a duly noticed public meeting. No financing will be binding on the City unless and until approved by the City Commission and executed by authorized City officials in accordance with applicable law. Closing may be conditioned on legal opinions, validation if required, financial due diligence, title or lien searches if applicable, final amortization schedules, final rate confirmation, tax analysis, disclosure compliance, and any other condition determined necessary by the City or counsel.
  Appendix A - Proposal Checklist
Signed transmittal letter. Executive summary. Respondent qualifications and comparable public-sector financing experience. Complete financing term sheet. 25-year, 30-year, and 40-year amortization schedules. All-in cost and fee schedule. Legal compliance and statutory disclosure statement. Statement of QPD status or explanation of non-applicability. Public records exemption statement and redacted copy, if applicable. Exceptions to RFQ or proposed terms, or statement of no exceptions. Completed certifications in Appendix C. One original, three additional paper copies, and one USB flash drive.
Appendix B - Evaluation Scoring SheetEvaluator Name: ____________________________________________    Date: ____________________ Respondent: ____________________________________________________________________________ Evaluation Criteria Maximum Points Evaluator Score Evaluator Notes Interest rate, net interest cost, total debt service, and rate-lock protection 30     Financing structure, amortization, payment frequency, term options, and debt-service flexibility 15     All fees, costs of issuance, bank counsel costs, closing costs, and ongoing administrative costs 10     Legal/security structure protective of the City, including non-ad valorem annual-appropriation structure and avoidance of unauthorized collateral or ad valorem pledge 10     Prepayment, call, refinancing, and early payoff flexibility 10     Experience with Florida municipalities and comparable direct loans, notes, or bank-qualified financings 10     Responsiveness, completeness, statutory disclosures, and ability to close within City schedule 10     Financial strength, references, service approach, and local/regional public-sector banking support 5     TOTAL 100     Evaluator Comments / Recommendation: __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________ Evaluator Signature
  Appendix C - Required Certifications C-1. Proposal CertificationThe undersigned certifies that the respondent has reviewed the RFQ, understands the requirements, has submitted the proposal without collusion, and has authority to submit and bind the respondent to the proposal terms for the validity period stated in the RFQ. Respondent Legal Name: ________________________________________________________________ Authorized Representative: ____________________________________________________________ Title: ______________________________________  Phone: _________________________________ Email: ________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________ Authorized Signature and Date C-2. Non-Collusion CertificationThe undersigned certifies that the proposal is genuine and not sham or collusive, and that the respondent has not colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed, directly or indirectly, with any other respondent, person, or entity to submit a sham proposal, to refrain from proposing, to fix prices, or to secure an unfair advantage. __________________________________________ Authorized Signature and Date C-3. Public Entity Crime StatementThe respondent certifies, to the extent required by Section 287.133, Florida Statutes, that it is not prohibited from submitting a proposal or entering into a contract with a public entity due to placement on the convicted vendor list or any other applicable disqualification list. __________________________________________ Authorized Signature and Date C-4. Conflict of Interest and Ethics CertificationThe respondent certifies that it has disclosed any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest involving the City, City officials, City employees, respondent employees, affiliates, subcontractors, counsel, financial advisors, placement agents, underwriters, or other parties involved in the proposed financing. If none, respondent shall state: "No conflicts disclosed." Disclosure: ____________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________ Authorized Signature and Date C-5. Scrutinized Companies / Sanctions / Compliance CertificationThe respondent certifies that it will comply with all applicable Florida and federal restrictions concerning scrutinized companies, sanctions, boycotts, prohibited business operations, and related compliance requirements applicable to the transaction, if any. Respondent shall identify any exception or legal position that it believes affects this certification. __________________________________________ Authorized Signature and Date C-6. Truth-in-Bonding / Debt Disclosure WorksheetIf the proposed structure is subject to Florida truth-in-bonding, bond-sale, negotiated-sale, disclosure, or similar requirements, respondent shall provide the required disclosure in the form required by law. At minimum, respondent shall provide the following information for each proposed option: Disclosure Item Respondent Response Principal amount   Purpose of debt or obligation   Repayment period / term   Forecasted interest rate   Total interest paid over life of financing   Total principal and interest paid over life of financing   Source of repayment or security   Estimated annual amount of City funds unavailable for other services because of debt service   All fees, costs, compensation, and third-party payments   Names and compensation of underwriter, placement agent, financial advisor, finder, counsel, or consultant, if any  
Appendix D - Form of Proposal Pricing SummaryRespondents shall complete the following summary and attach detailed amortization schedules. Attach additional pages as necessary. Option Interest Rate Annual Debt Service Total Interest Fees / Costs 25-year option         30-year option         40-year option         Alternative option        
Appendix E - City Reserved RightsThe City reserves all rights available under law and under this RFQ, including the right to: Reject any or all proposals. Cancel, modify, reissue, or re-advertise the RFQ. Waive minor irregularities or informalities. Request clarifications, supplemental information, interviews, or best and final offers. Negotiate with one or more respondents. Select the proposal determined to be in the best interest of the City, even if it is not the proposal with the lowest stated interest rate. Change the amount, term, structure, or closing schedule before final award or closing. Decline to proceed if legal counsel, financial advisors, City staff, or the City Commission determine the financing is not legally permissible, financially advantageous, or in the best interest of the City.