Ohio Code 153.69 – Evaluating and selecting firms
For every professional design services contract, each public authority planning to contract for professional design services shall evaluate the statements of qualifications submitted by professional design firms specifically regarding the project, and may hold discussions with individual firms to explore further the firms’ statements of qualifications, the scope and nature of the services the firms would provide, and the various technical approaches the firms may take toward the project. Following this evaluation, the public authority shall:
Terms Used In Ohio Code 153.69
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures; this provision does not affect any law relating to signatures. See Ohio Code 1.59
(A) Select and rank no fewer than three firms which it considers to be the most qualified to provide the required professional design services, except when the public authority determines in writing that fewer than three qualified firms are available in which case the public authority shall select and rank those firms;
(B) Negotiate a contract with the firm ranked most qualified to perform the required services at a compensation determined in writing to be fair and reasonable to the public authority. Contract negotiations shall be directed toward:
(1) Ensuring that the professional design firm and the agency have a mutual understanding of the essential requirements involved in providing the required services;
(2) Determining that the firm will make available the necessary personnel, equipment, and facilities to perform the services within the required time;
(3) Agreeing upon compensation which is fair and reasonable, taking into account the estimated value, scope, complexity, and nature of the services.
(C) If a contract is negotiated with the firm ranked to perform the required services most qualified, the public authority shall, if applicable under section 127.16 of the Revised Code, request approval of the board to make expenditures under the contract.
(D) Upon failure to negotiate a contract with the firm ranked most qualified, the public authority shall inform the firm in writing of the termination of negotiations and may enter into negotiations with the firm ranked next most qualified. If negotiations again fail, the same procedure may be followed with each next most qualified firm selected and ranked pursuant to division (A) of this section, in order of ranking, until a contract is negotiated.
(E) Should the public authority fail to negotiate a contract with any of the firms selected pursuant to division (A) of this section, the public authority may select and rank additional firms, based on their qualifications, and negotiations may continue as with the firms selected and ranked initially until a contract is negotiated.
(F) Nothing in this section affects a public authority’s right to accept or reject any or all proposals in whole or in part.