Commission authorizes notice period for two unsolicited stormwater proposals for Melrose Manor and Riverland

Fort Lauderdale commissioners directed staff May 5 to move forward with public notice for two unsolicited proposals to deliver neighborhood-scale stormwater infrastructure in Melrose Manor and Riverland. The items come after staff discovery of utility conflicts that set back city design and would otherwise delay construction by roughly a year.

Public Works Director Brad Kaine told commissioners the design is approximately 60% complete and that recent conflicts (notably with utility undergrounding projects) have pushed the city’s projected construction start and completion dates. Two private firms — Mancon (Melrose Manor) and David Mancini & Sons (Riverland) — submitted unsolicited design-build proposals that guarantee maximum prices and accelerated schedules in exchange for entering a comprehensive agreement under state law (Fla. Stat. §255.065).

Applicants told the commission they would break the projects into phases, immediately install temporary protective measures and critical pumps to reduce flooding risk this rainy season, and deliver the neighborhood infrastructure on an accelerated timetable under a guaranteed maximum price model. Commissioners generally supported expedited delivery but stressed that any acceptance should preserve competition and transparency. The commission voted to accept statutory notice of intent and set a 21-day public competition window to invite competing submissions and gather public feedback.

Commissioners emphasized two policy priorities: (1) speed to relieve chronic neighborhood flooding and (2) maintaining public procurement safeguards. Staff said they will return with draft comprehensive-agreement terms, proposed liquidated-damages language, and a timeframe for the competition window. The funding will come from the city’s Fortify Lauderdale bond funds and related issuances; commissioners asked staff to include clear reporting on costs and schedules when the items return for action.