Special DistrictFL
Posted
Nov 13, 2026
Dec 13, 2026
Request for Proposals (RFQ) Legal Services
AVON PARK HOUSING AUthority APHA Avon Park Housing Authority Request for Proposals (RFQ) Legal Services DATE OF ISSUE: November 13, 2026 Contact Information: Maria Sutherland Avon Park Housing Authority 21 Tulane Dr., Avon Park, FL 33825 // 863-452-4432 marias@avonparkha.org Proposed Timeline November 13, 2026 RFQ release November 30, 2026 Questions due December 5, 2026 Responses to questions due December 13, 2026 Proposals due NO LATER THAN 2:00 PM (EST) December 15,2026 Anticipated award of contract Avon PaRK HOUSING AuThoriTy • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 2 of 10 Request for Qualifications for Legal Services I. Introduction The Avon Park Housing Authority is seeking proposals from qualified attorneys or law firms specializing in Public Housing, Affordable Housing, HOME Program and Family Programs to provide legal services. The selected attorney or firm must be licensed to practice in Florida, possess a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, and preferably located in the State of Florida II. Purpose The purpose of this RFQ is to solicit proposals from experienced legal professionals to represent Avon Park Housing Authority in its required related legal services. These services are necessary to the successful operation of the daily operations of the Agency and will of necessity comprise a wide range of legal issues related to both local issues and HUD related issues. The goal is to ensure the Agency's compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations while safeguarding the rights of both tenants and the Housing Authority. III. Scope of Services 1. General Legal Services A The selected counsel will be expected to advise and counsel the Executive Director, and the Avon Park Housing Authority Board of Commissioners in the regular conduct of the affairs of the Avon Park Housing Authority, which includes telephone and office Conferences; writing incidental correspondence, preparing ordinary legal documents, rendering opinions on legal issues and related services. "Regular conduct" includes, but is not limited to personnel matters, liability exposure, fair housing compliance, bidding and contract award procedures, nondiscrimination compliance, and HUD housing policies. B. Additionally, counsel will: a. Offer advice, handle, file, and process to judgment, for an estimated 20 rental evictions per year. b. Attend monthly meetings of the AP Board of Commissioners as requested, either in person or via electronic means. c. As requested by the APHA, perform extraordinary legal services such as appearances, representation at hearings, lawsuits and other extraordinary services for a flat hourly fee mutually agreed upon in advance, and stated in an "Agreement for Legal Services." Avon PaRK HOUSING AuThoriTy • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 3 of 10 d. Provide itemized billing for legal services provided. C. The selected attorney or law firm will be expected to provide a range of legal services, including but not limited to: a. Advising on compliance with federal, state, and local housing laws and regulations. b. Preparing and reviewing legal documents related to eviction cases. c. Providing legal counsel on tenant-landlord disputes and other housing-related matters. d. Representing APHA in court and at administrative hearings as needed. e. Advising on best practices to minimize legal risks and ensure fair treatment of tenants. f. Non-Payment of rent cases: 1. Review of "Notice to Quit" for legal validity. 2. Client consultation regarding any particular matter(s) presented. 3. Prepare unlawful detainer pleadings. 4. File and serve summons and complaint. 5. Perform all required actions from initiation of the unlawful detainer action to final disposition, including responding to motions and demurrers, responding to and promulgating discovery; performing any necessary research and drafting of court documents, and appearing in court on behalf of APHA. 6. Perform related tasks as assigned by APHA. g. "For Cause" Cases: 1. Prepare and serve notices for "For Cause" lease violations. 2. Prepare unlawful detainer pleading. 3. File and serve summons and complaint. 4. Perform all required actions from initiation of the unlawful detainer action to final disposition, including responding to motions and demurrers, responding to and promulgating discovery; performing any research and drafting of court documents, and appearing in court on behalf of APHA. 5. Provide weekly status reports to APHA. 6. Perform related tasks as assigned by APHA. 7. Perform all required action for complex unlawful detainer cases and related actions, such as writs and appeals. h. Miscellaneous Related Services: 1. Timely telephone status reports on progress of evictions. 2. Pickup and delivery of related paperwork for multiple evictions. 3. Turnaround time for standard evictions of 60 to 90 days. 4. Periodic review of APHA property management forms and/or policies, as requested. 2. Other services RFQ include performing services as legal advisor to the Agency in the following area: a. Governance requirements contained in the relevant Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Agency policies, procedures, and By-laws; and actions that could potentially put the Agency at risk for liability exposure. b. Regulations pertaining to Federal, State and local government, including housing, real estate, procurement, and contractual issues; Federal and Florida Landlord-Tenant Law, including forcible entry and detainer actions. c. Civil rights and fair housing requirements, including claims involving violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Fair Housing Act. Avon PaRK HOUSING AuThoriTy • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 4 of 10 d. Employment issues, personnel rules; discrimination and wrongful termination claims; worker's compensation issues, and compliance. e. General state law regarding local governments entities, including but not limited to the Tort Florida Open Records Act, Public Housing Law, procurement regulations and policies, and contract law. f. The successful proposer will only be providing work pertaining to legal issues commonly addressed by a legal counsel and the successful proposer will not be requested to provide any non-legal program work such as those commonly provided by professional services consulting firms. 3. Other potential service areas RFQ include performing services as legal advisor to the Agency in the following areas pertaining to Agency-related matters within the following areas, each pertaining to applicable Federal, state, and local regulations, statutes, laws, and codes: a. Human resources and labor law; b. Accounting, finance, and related audits; c. Operations, including tenant/landlord law; Maintenance; d. Development and modernization; e. Information technology; f. Various housing programs including public housing, HOME and Family, and other APHA owned for managed properties; g. Issues relating to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); h. Real estate, property, and utilities; i. Tenant-related issues, including non-payment and evictions; j. Worker's Compensation claims; k. Procurement law (state, Federal, and HUD), including reviewing various vendor contracts and editing, if necessary, prior to their execution; and l. Any other matter the Agency needs services for, including advice (written and/or verbal) to the Board of Commissioners m. RAD and tax credit development programs. 4. The Agency will retain the right to have the successful proposer provide services in any matter that the Agency believes the legal firm is qualified to provide and if, in the opinion of the Executive Director, it is in the best interests of the Agency to do so. 5. Please note that this Scope of Work is not intended to be an all-inclusive listing of all the legal issues that APHA may retain the successful applicant to provide, but rather is intended to be a representative listing of issues for which the Agency has previously required services. APHA retains the right to have the successful applicant provide services in any matter that APHA believes the legal firm is qualified to provide. 6. Additional Legal Counsel. If the successful proposer does not have in-house a qualified person to provide any services required by the Agency, the successful proposer may retain another counsel who has such qualified person. Such retention must have the prior written approval of the Agency. Any billing/payment for such additional counsel will be at the same hourly rate listed within the contract (meaning, the successful proposer may not add-on an additional amount to the contracted hourly fee for retaining and overseeing such additional counsel). As the Agency will contract with the successful proposer only, all ensuing payments for any contracted matter will be made by the Agency to the successful proposer only. Avon PaRK HOUSING AuThoriTy • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 5 of 10 7. Potential Multiple Awards. The Agency reserves the right to, at any time during the ensuing contract period(s), make additional awards to other firms that have responded to this RFQ with a responsible and competitive proposal. Though the Agency reserves the right to make additional awards during the initial contract period (as detailed within the immediate-preceding sentence), the Agency anticipates that it will most likely (but not guaranteed) initially complete award to a firm(s) to provide services that are typically conducted local in the Avon Park area (i.e., attend Board meetings when requested; address eviction issues; human resource issues; etc.). 8. Potential Additional Competitive Solicitations. The Agency reserves the right to, at any time during the ensuing contract period, and without penalty to the legal counsel retained as a result of this RFQ, conduct additional competitive solicitations to retain additional legal counsel when, in the opinion of the ED, it is in the best interests of the Agency to do so. Accordingly, the legal counsel retained as a result of this RFQ have the right to also respond to any such additional solicitation process, if conducted 9. Conflicts of Interest. For the duration of this Agreement, the Contractor will not act as a consultant or perform services of any kind for any person or entity which would conflict with the services to be provided herein, without the written consent of the Agency. a A conflict occurs when circumstances, known to the Contractor, place the Agency and the Contractor's new client in adverse, hostile, or incompatible positions wherein the interests of the Housing Authority may be jeopardized. Contractor will promptly notify the Agency in the event that such a conflict occurs. b In the event of such a conflict, Contractor will meet and confer with the Agency to agree upon modifications of its relationship with said new client or Agency in order to continue to perform services for said client and/or Agency without compromising the interests of either. Should no agreement regarding modification be reached, Avon Park Housing Authority may terminate this Agreement with Contractor. c When consent has been given, Contractor will endeavor to avoid involvement on behalf of said new client which would in any manner undermine the effective performance of services by Contractor for Agency. Under no circumstances may Contractor convey, utilize, or permit to be utilized, confidential information gained through its association with Agency for the benefit of any other client. d Contractor agrees to alert every client for whom consent is required, to the existence of this conflict-of-interest provision and to include language in its agreement with said client which would enable Contractor to comply fully with its terms. This last paragraph will not apply to existing clients of the Contractor for which Contractor has previously received the Agency's consent. e This Agreement may be unilaterally and immediately terminated by the Agency if Contractor employs an individual who, within twelve (12) months immediately preceding such employment, in their capacity as an Agency employee, participated in negotiations with or otherwise had an influence on the selection of the Contractor. 7. Interest of any other Associated Persons. No member, officer, or employee of APHA, no member of the governing body of the locality in which the work is situated, and no other public official of such locality or localities who exercises any functions or responsibilities with respect to the assignment of work, will, during his or her tenure, or for one year thereafter, have any interest, Avon PaRK HOUSING AuThoriTy • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 6 of 10 direct or indirect, in this Agreement or the proceeds thereof. Any violation of this section will result in unilateral and immediate termination of this Agreement by the Avon Park Housing Authority. IV. Qualifications a. To be considered for this engagement, the attorney or law firm will receive a score for and must meet the following minimum qualifications: a. Licensure: Must be licensed to practice law in the State of Florida. b. Experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience in Public Housing, Affordable Housing, and Family and HOME programs in the State of Florida. c. Location: Preferably located within 75 miles of Avon Park to facilitate accessibility and responsiveness. d. Expertise: Demonstrated expertise in eviction law and housing regulations, particularly as they pertain to low-income housing programs. V. Insurance Requirements a. Offeror, at its sole cost and expense, will procure and maintain commercial general liability insurance, including bodily injury, property damage and personal injury at limits of not less than $1 million per occurrence and $1 million in the general aggregate combined single-limit coverage on the operation of the Offeror's business. Offeror agrees that said coverage will remain in force at all times during the continuance of this Agreement and will extend to indemnify APHA and will specifically name "Avon Park Housing Authority" and Avon Park Housing Development Corporation as additional insured. Offeror will procure an appropriate clause in, or endorsement of each insurance policy pursuant to which the insurance company waives subrogation or waives the right to recover against APHA. b. Offeror will at all times keep its employees insured for statutory workman's compensation and other employee benefits required by all applicable laws and Offeror will maintain employer's liability insurance for an amount not less than $1,000,000.00 covering claims and suits by or on behalf of employees and others not otherwise covered by statutory workman's compensation insurance. Offeror agrees that said coverage will remain in force at all times during the continuance of this Agreement and will extend to indemnify APHA will specifically name "Avon Park Housing Authority" and "Avon Park Housing Development Corporation" as an additional insured. c. Offeror will at all times maintain Professional Errors and Omissions Liability insurance appropriate to the Offeror's profession in the amount of $1,000,000.00 per occurrence and $1 million in the general aggregate. d. All insurance required of Offeror under this Agreement will: (1) contain an endorsement requiring thirty (30) days written notice from the insurance company to both parties before cancellation, non-renewal, or change in the coverage, scope, oramount of any policy; (2) be written as primary policies, not contributing with and not supplemental to the coverage that APHA may carry. e. Copies of all insurance coverage and endorsements required under this Agreement APHA will be delivered promptly to APHA. f. APHA makes no representation that the types or amounts of coverage required to be carried by Offeror are adequate to protect Offeror. If Offeror believes that any such insurance coverage is inadequate, Offeror will obtain, at Offeror's sole cost and expense, such additional insurance as Offeror deems appropriate. Avon PaRK HOUSING AuThoriTy • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 7 of 10 VI. Proposal Submission Requirements A. Proposals should include the following information: a. Cover Letter: A brief introduction of the attorney or firm, including contact information and a statement of interest. b. Experience and Qualifications: Detailed description of the attorney's or firm's relevant experience and qualifications, including examples of past work in Public Housing, Affordable Housing, and Housing RAD and Voucher programs. c. Team Composition: Information about the key personnel who will be involved in providing the services, including their qualifications and experience. d. Approach and Methodology: Description of the proposed approach to providing the requested services, including strategies for handling eviction cases, and ensuring compliance with housing regulations. e. Fee Structure: Detailed explanation of the proposed fee structure, including hourly rates, retainer fees, standard eviction filing, and any other relevant costs. f. References: Contact information for at least three references from clients for whom similar services have been or are currently provided. g. Term: The term of service will be 3 consecutive years which includes the start of January 1, 2027 thru the 3-year anniversary of 2030. VII. Other Required Submission Requirements a. Proposals APHA will include the following additional forms: b. Form HUD-5369-C - Certifications and Representations of Offerors, Non-Construction Contract: This form can be located as Attachment A of this RFQdocument. This 2-page form must be fully completed, executed where provided thereon and submitted as a part of this proposal. c. Written acknowledgment of understanding of form HUD-5369-B - Instructions to Offerors, Non- Construction: This form can be located as Attachment B of this RFQ document. d. Section 3 Participation Documentation (as required by Attachment C). If not applicable - please state "Not Applicable" on the form. e. Form HUD-2992 Certification Regarding Debarment and Suspension Award will be made to the responsible firm whose proposal is most advantageous to the Avon Park Housing Authority, based on the combination of the factors above and price considerations. The APHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to waive any informality in proposals received whenever such rejection or waiver is in the best interest of APHA. All proposals become the property of and APHA will be retained by APHA. Any proposal or proposal modification received after the hour and date specified as the deadline will be returned unopened. Avon PaRK HOUSING AuThoriTy • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 8 of 10 VIII. Evaluation Criteria A. Proposals will be scored and evaluated based on the following criteria: a. Experience and Expertise (25 Points): Depth of experience and demonstrated expertise in relevant areas of law. b. Qualifications of Personnel (15 Points): Credentials and experience of the attorneys who will be working on APHA's cases. c. Approach and Methodology (15 Points): Quality and feasibility of the proposed approach to providing legal services. d. Fee Structure (25 Points): Reasonableness and transparency of the proposed fees. e. References (20 Points): Feedback from references regarding the quality and reliability of the attorney's or firm's services. IX. Submission Deadline a. Proposals must be submitted no later than the date and time listed on the first page of this RFQ. Late submissions will not be considered. X. Submission Instructions a. Proposals should be submitted electronically in PDF format to: Email: marias@avonparkha.org b. Alternatively, hard copies can be mailed or delivered to: Maria Sutherland, ED Avon Park Housing Authority 21 Tulane Dr Avon Park, FL 33825 It is the offerors sole responsibility to ensure that the response is received prior the deadline stated in this proposal. XI. Reservation of Rights 1. APHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive any informality in the RFQ process, or to terminate the RFQ process at any time, if deemed by APHA to be in its bests interests and to accept the proposal deemed to be in the best interest of APHA. 2. APHA reserves the right not to award a contract pursuant to this RFQ. Avon PaRK HOUSING AuThoriTy • REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 9 of 10 3. APHA reserves the right to retain all proposals submitted and not permit withdrawal for a period of 60 days after the deadline for receiving proposals without the written consent of APHA's Executive Director. 4. APHA reserves the right to negotiate the fees proposed by the proposer entity. 5. APHA reserves the right to reject and not consider any proposal that does not meet the requirements of this RFQ, including but not necessarily limited to incomplete proposals and/or proposals offering alternate or non-requested services. 6. APHA will have no obligation to compensate any proposer or offeror for any costs incurred in responding to this RFQ. 7. APHA reserves the right to terminate a contract awarded pursuant to this RFQ, at any time for its convenience upon 30 days written notice to the successful proposer(s). 8. APHA reserves the right to negotiate the fees proposed by the proposing entity. XII. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION Avon Park Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Business Enterprise, which promotes competitive solicitations and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, disability, age, or sexual orientation. APHA encourages minority and women-owned business enterprises to respond to this solicitation. If your firm is minority or women-owned or owned by a disabled person, please state and provide a statistical representation of your work force with your quote. Avon Park Housing Authority promotes the employment of its residents for contracted activities under the Section 3 program. Interested offerors are invited to indicate if they intend to hire any additional staff to assist in any way the delivery of services under an awarded contract, and if so, what measures will be undertaken to attempt to locate and hire qualified APHA residents to fill those positions using best possible effort. If no new positions are to be created under this contract, there is no obligation for the offeror to hire or train individuals under Section 3. Thank you for your interest in providing legal services to the Avon Park Housing Authority. We look forward to receiving your proposal. Sincerely, Maria Sutherland Executive Director Avon Park Housing Authority Deadline for the submittal is stated on the cover and page 1. Any changes APHA will be issued by addenda. Selma houSing auThoriTy • REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS for LEGAL SERVICES Page 10 of 10 [Attachments and HUD forms follow in the original solicitation, including HUD-5369-B, HUD-5369-C, HUD-2992, Section 3 forms and instructions, and other proposal evaluation and certification attachments as listed in the solicitation.]
