Florida Bid Watch: 4 RFQs, a utility pool, the FBC cutoff

This week's Florida Bid Watch has four CCNA qualifications calls, from Palm Beach County to Key West, one utility pool award in Broward, and a code date every design team should have on the calendar. If you only do one thing this week: decide whether you are going to the Solid Waste Authority's pre-proposal on Nov 18.

Open bids, ranked for South and Southwest Florida firms

Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County: engineering and construction management (RFQ 27-601)

The SWA is selecting firms for engineering and construction management services for its solid waste facilities, under the Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act (s. 287.055, F.S.).

• Pre-proposal conference: Nov 18, 2026, 10:00 a.m. Eastern, 7501 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach. Not mandatory, but the notice says it is "strongly encouraged."
• Due: Dec 17, 2026, 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Electronic submittals only, through Bonfire.
• Worth knowing: the notice encourages SBE firms to participate. If you plan to team, the pre-proposal is the place to meet partners.

Official notice. Verify details on the official notice.

Heritage Harbour North CDD (Manatee County): reuse water line takeover

This one is unusual. The district wants an engineer to pick up a reuse water line project already in progress: review the existing design documents, calculations, surveys and permit applications, then "independently verify and, as professionally appropriate, adopt, revise, and complete that work," through permitting, bidding and construction administration.

• Due: Wednesday, Nov 25, 2026, 12:00 p.m. Eastern.
• How: SF 330 as a searchable PDF, by email only. No pricing.
• Worth knowing: one evaluation criterion is experience "reviewing, verifying, and assuming professional responsibility for work prepared by a prior engineer." If you have done a takeover before, lead with it.

Official notice. Verify details on the official notice.

Greater Naples Fire Rescue District: continuing professional consulting services

A continuing contract for fire stations and public buildings in Collier County. The scope list is broad: architectural design, CEI, geotechnical, civil, structural and MEP engineering, landscape architecture, surveying and mapping, and environmental and hydrologic services. The district may select one or more firms, and no work is guaranteed.

• Questions: by Nov 23, 2026, 5:00 p.m.
• Due: Dec 2, 2026, 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
• Where: the information packet is on DemandStar, linked from the district's website.

Official notice. Verify details on the official notice.

Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority: Kermit H. Lewin 2.0 MGD reverse osmosis plant (FKAA-RFQ-0001-27)

FKAA is seeking engineering services for a 2.0 MGD reverse osmosis water treatment plant at its Kermit H. Lewin site on Stock Island. Specialized process work, so firms with water treatment and Keys permitting experience should take a look.

• Closes: Dec 8, 2026, 2:00 p.m.
• Where: RFQ documents are on FKAA's bid page (plan holder registration required).

Official notice. Verify details on the official notice.

Awards

Pembroke Pines selects three firms for its wastewater engineering pool

On Nov 4, the Pembroke Pines City Commission approved the evaluation committee's ranking for RFQ PSUT-25-11, wastewater treatment plant process engineering, pumping and force mains. Congratulations to CHA Consulting, Black & Veatch and Hazen and Sawyer, ranked in that order. The firms will serve as "a pool of firms that can be used on an as needed basis," and the motion directs the City Manager to negotiate the contracts.

Pool awards like this one are how many Broward utilities buy engineering. This RFQ was authorized in November 2025 and awarded about a year later, so if a utility pool is on your list, start positioning a year out, not a month out.

Official record (file 26-3081). Verify details on the official notice.

Industry news

Florida Building Code 9th Edition: your permit cutoff depends on your jurisdiction

The Florida Building Commission's workplan lists Dec 31, 2026 as the scheduled effective date for the 9th Edition (2026) Florida Building Code. The final rule hearing is still marked "TBD" on the October 2026 workplan, so treat the date as scheduled, not final.

The rule that matters for your active projects is in state law. Under s. 553.73(6), F.S., when a permit application is submitted before a new code's effective date, the code in effect on the date of the application governs. Local cutoffs differ, though. Miami-Dade says applications submitted after 4 p.m. on Dec 30 must comply with the 2026 edition. The City of Tampa lists Jan 1, 2027. Clermont has also published its own cutoff, as reported by the Clermont Sun.

In practice, the same project can land under a different edition depending on where, and at what hour, it is submitted. Check with each building department you file with.

One thing to do this week

List every project you expect to submit for permit before year end. For each one, write down the building department, its stated 9th Edition cutoff, and whether you can realistically submit before it. That short list tells you which drawings stay on the 8th Edition and which need a code check now.

Visit us every Wednesday for Florida Bid Watch.