The City of Delray Beach (City) encourages redevelopment of underdeveloped and underutilized properties through public-private partnerships, known as "P3s", where appropriate. The City recognizes properly structured P3s share risk and expense amongst public and private partners; encourage efficiencies and innovation in design, construction, operations, and maintenance; and maximize funding and cash flow initiatives.

A public-private partnership is a contractual agreement between a public agency (federal, state, or local) and a private sector person or entity for the purpose of timely delivery of services or facilities in a cost-effective manner that might not otherwise be possible using traditional public contracting methods. Through this contractual agreement, the assets and professional skills of each sector (public and private) are shared and leveraged.

City of Delray Beach Process

In line with City P3 Guidelines, the City may publicize its needs and encourage interested parties to submit unsolicited proposals. If proposals are received without issuance of a Solicitation, the proposals may be treated as an unsolicited proposal and may be evaluated through the City’s P3 Program. Unsolicited proposals shall only be sent to the attention of the Purchasing Manager of the Purchasing Division and, upon the Purchasing Division's receipt of an unsolicited proposal, the Cone of Silence shall commence.

The P3 Program is intended to create a process to guide the City’s evaluation of proposals from the private sector that offer solutions, private financing, innovations, and efficiencies, allocate risk amongst the City and the Private Entity, and benefit the public.

Unsolicited Proposals – Generally

A Proposer submitting an unsolicited proposal requesting approval of a Proposed Project as a P3 project shall specifically identify all facilities, buildings, infrastructure, and improvements included in the proposal. Private Entities are encouraged to submit proposals they believe are consistent with the City's goals.

Private Entities are urged to include in their proposal innovative financing methods, including the imposition of fees or other forms of payments in lieu of or in addition to payments from the City. The P3 Program is a flexible development tool allowing for the use of innovative financing techniques. Additionally, the Proposer can structure its role on the Proposed Project in a variety of ways, from designing the facility to undertaking its financing, construction, operation, maintenance, and management. Depending on the circumstances of the Proposed Project, the Proposer is encouraged to consider different types of public-private partnership structures to the extent appropriate for the project at issue and as allowed by law.

Unsolicited Proposals - Content Requirements

Unsolicited proposals should be prepared simply and economically. They shall provide a concise description of the Proposer’s qualifications and capabilities to complete the Proposed Project and the benefits to be derived by the City from the Proposed Project.

Proposals must include: 

(a)    a description of the Proposed Project,

(b)    a description of the method by which the Proposer plans to secure any necessary property interests required for the Proposed Project,

(c)    a conceptual plan that details how the Proposer intends to ensure an adequate level of commitment from potential finance providers for a timely and successful financial closing. Include a list of anticipated timelines and milestones to obtain financial commitments and to close on the financing of the project;

o      If known, provide the names of the anticipated financiers (for example, banks, bonds, federal programs, life insurance companies, pension funds, private placements), their proposed involvement if available (in approximate percentage terms), how they were selected, and why they were preferred; Provide an explanation of the Respondent’s contingency plans should there be a gap in the financing or should any potential finance provider not be in a position to provide its share of the financing;

o      Provide the names of the funding sources for previous successful projects of a  similar size.

(d)     the name and address of the Proposers and the name of the project leader who may be contacted for additional information concerning the proposal,

(e)    the sources of proposed Fees, Lease Payments, or other payments, the Proposer is anticipating, and additional supplemental material or information that the City reasonably requests

Required Application Fee

Contemporaneously with the submission of an unsolicited proposal, the Proposer shall pay an application fee to the City in the amount of Twenty- Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) to cover the costs of processing, reviewing, and evaluating the proposal, including the fees and costs for private consultants to assist in the evaluation. The application fee is non-refundable and shall be delivered to the attention of the Purchasing Manager in the Purchasing Division office. If extraordinary costs associated with the City’s preliminary evaluation are encountered, the City may require additional fees from the Proposer. Within 30 days of receipt of any unsolicited proposal, the Purchasing Manager may elect to not evaluate the unsolicited proposal, in which case the City shall return the application fee. The City reserves the right to be the sole determinant of whether to evaluate an unsolicited proposal.

More information regarding the City’s unsolicited proposal process and P3s may be found via the City’s P3 Standard Operating Guidelines and Florida Statute 255.065 .