Resolution 2021-31887RESOLUTION NO. 2021-31887
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE CITY MANAGER, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
(RFP) 2021 -227 -AY PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING & PSYCHOLOGICAL
SERVICES FOR SWORN & PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL;
AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT PSYCHOLOGICAL & COUNSELING
ASSOCIATES, INC, AS THE TOP RANKED PROPOSER; AND FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS
BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
WHEREAS, the City utilizes professional services to conduct valid, reliable and cross-
cultural testing of applicants for public safety-related positions, including the position of police
officer, police public service aide, detention officer, communications operator, police dispatcher,
police complaint officer, firefighter and fire rescue dispatcher, at the Contractor's facility located
in Miami -Dade County; and
WHEREAS, since 2014, the City's pre-employee testing and psychological services
contractor has been Law Enforcement Psychological and Counseling Associates, Inc.
("Contractor"); and
WHEREAS, the current contract is on a month-to-month extension until December 31,
2021; and
WHEREAS, in anticipation of the expiring contract, on November 18, 2019, the Mayor
and City Commission approved the issuance of Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 2021 -020 -KB,
for Pre -Employment Testing & Psychological Services for Sworn & Public Safety Personnel;
and
WHEREAS, on November 19, 2020, the RFP was issued and advertised with an
opening date of January 8, 2021; and
WHEREAS, a non -mandatory pre -proposal meeting was held on November 30, 2020;
and
WHEREAS, on December 22, 2020,. the City Manager appointed the Evaluation
Committee ("the Committee") via Letter to Commission (LTC); and
WHEREAS, on January 8, 2021, the City received a sole proposal from Psybar, LLC,
which was deemed responsive; and
WHEREAS the sole proposal received from Psybar LLC was deemed responsive;
however, the total amount in the cost proposal significantly exceeds the budgeted amount for
these services; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 2-367 of the City Code, where only one response bid
response is received, the City Manager, without any action by the City Commission, shall have
the power to reject the bid and, if he determines that same is in the best interest of the City, re-
advertise the item for bidding; and
WHEREAS, on June 4, 2021, Request for Proposals (RFP) 2021 -227 -AY for Pre -
Employment Testing & Psychological Services for Sworn & Public Safety Personnel was issued
(the "RFP"); and
WHEREAS, the RFP responses were due by August 31, 2021; and
WHEREAS, the City received proposals from the following two (2) firms: Law
Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc., and Mount Sinai Medical Center;
and
WHEREAS, on June 21, 2021, the City Manager appointed an Evaluation Committee,
comprised of Ramon Suarez, Administrator II, Human Resources Department; Digna Abello,
Deputy Chief, Fire Rescue Department; Sonia Bridges, Division Director, Risk Management
Department; and Elise Spina -Taylor, Lieutenant Police, Police Department; and
WHEREAS, the Committee received an overview of the project, information relative to
the City's Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Government Sunshine Law; and
WHEREAS, the Committee also received general information on the scope of services,
and a copy of each proposal, and was further instructed to score and rank each proposal
pursuant to the evaluation criteria established in the RFP; and
WHEREAS, the Evaluation Committee process resulted in the proposers being ranked
in the following order:
1St Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc.
2"d Mount Sinai Medical Center
WHEREAS, after reviewing all of the submissions and the Evaluation Committee's
rankings, the City Manager concurs with the Evaluation Committee and recommends
negotiating an agreement with Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc.,
as the best qualified firm to provide pre-employment testing and psychological services, for
sworn and public safety personnel on behalf of the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, that the Mayor and 'City
Commission hereby accept the recommendation of the City Manager, pursuant to Request for
Proposals (RFP) 2021 -227 -AY for Pre -Employment Testing & Psychological Services for Sworn
& Public Safety Personnel; authorize the Administration to enter into negotiations with Law
Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc., as the top ranked proposer; and
further authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute an Agreement, upon conclusion of
successful negotiations by the Administration. L
PASSED and ADOPTED this /3 day of 46AhPr 2021.
ATTEST: OCT 1 5
RAFAEL PH. GRANADO, CITY CLERK
2021
APPROVED AS TO
M & LANGUAGE
ELBER, MAY ELUTION
l uS 1
City Attomay Date
Resolutions - C7 F
MIAMI BEACH
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Commission
FROM: Alina T. Hudak, City Manager
DATE: October 13, 2021
SUBJECT.A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA, ACCEPTING THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE CITY MANAGER, PURSUANT TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
2021 -227 -AY PRE-EMPLOYMENT TESTING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL
SERVICES FOR SWORN AND PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL;
AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATION TO ENTER INTO NEGOTIATIONS
WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT PSYCHOLOGICAL AND COUNSELING
ASSOCIATES, INC., AS THE TOP RANKED PROPOSER; AND FURTHER
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER AND CITY CLERK TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT, UPON CONCLUSION OF SUCCESSFUL NEGOTIATIONS
BY THE ADMINISTRATION.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission approve the Resolution authorizing the
Administration enter into negotiations with Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling
Associates, Inc., as the top-ranked Proposer, and authorizing the City Manager and City Clerk
to execute the Agreement upon conclusion of successful negotiations by the Administration.
BACKGROUND/HISTORY
The City of Miami Beach has an ongoing need for the contracting of professional services in
order to conduct valid, reliable and cross-cultural psychological testing of police officer, police
public service aide, detention officer, communications operator, police dispatcher, police
complaint officer, firefighters and fire rescue dispatcher applicants. The testing is required by
the City as part of a thorough background investigation of these applicants. The purpose of
these services is to evaluate whether such applicants are acceptable candidates for the
positions to which they apply. Additionally, psychological testing services may be utilized by the
City to include fitness -for -duty evaluations for City personnel on an as -needed basis.
The Police Department is currently comprised of 406 sworn personnel and based on the
current year we anticipate between fifty (50) and seventy-five (75) sworn applicants to be
processed during FY 2020121. The Fire Department currently does not do physiological
screenings for its swom personnel but would like to have the option if need arises.
In November 2020, the City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) 2021 -020 -KB for Pre -
Page 330 of 1095
Employment Testing & Psychological Services for Swom & Public Safety Personnel in
anticipation of the current agreement expiring. The City received a sole proposal to the RFQ,
which could not be accepted because the proposed costs exceeded current costs by
approximately 300%. Therefore, pursuant to Section 2-367 of the City Code, where only one
response bid response is received, the City Manager, without any action by the City
Commission, rejected the sole bid and, and determined that it was in the best interest of the City
to re -advertise the item for bidding.
ANALYSIS
On June 4, 2021, Request for Proposals (RFP) 2021 -227 -AY for Pre -Employment Testing &
Psychological Services for Swom & Public Safety Personnel was issued. RFP responses were
due and received on August 3, 2021. The City received proposals from the following two (2)
firms: Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc., and Mount Sinai Medical
Center.
On August 13, 2021, the Evaluation Committee appointed by the City Manager convened to
consider the proposals received. The Committee was comprised of the following individuals:
Ramon Suarez, Administrator 11, Human Resources Department; Digna Abello, Deputy Chief,
Fire Rescue Department; Sonia Bridges, Division Director, Risk Management Department; and
Elise Spina -Taylor, Lieutenant, Police Department. The Committee was provided an overview
of the project, information relative to the City's Cone of Silence Ordinance and the Govemment
Sunshine Law. The Committee was also provided with general information on the scope of
services and a copy of each proposal. The Committee was instructed to score and rank each
proposal pursuant to the evaluation criteria established in the RFP.
The evaluation process resulted in the proposers being ranked by the Evaluation Committee in
the following order (See Attachment A):
1 st Ranked — Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, I nc
2nd Ranked — Mount Sinai Medical Center
Summary of top-ranked Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc.
Established in 1977, Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc. (proposed
prime contractor) is a consultation firm that provides its services exclusively to law enforcement
and other varied public safety agencies. Over its years, the firm has conducted over 90,000
evaluations for approximately 60 public safety agencies and carried out its research to further
develop its tests. In addition, Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc. is
also the incumbent providing services for the City since 2014. City departments have been
satisfied with their work and provided positive feedback.
SUPPORTING SURVEY DATA
N/A
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Staff performed a cost analysis to determine whether the fiscal impact is in the City's best
interest. The top-ranked proposer, Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates,
proposed a cost for services of $138,625 annually (based on the quantities established in the
RFP), which is approximately 10% higher than the City's current cost established 5 years ago.
Mount Sinai Medical Center, the second -ranked proposer, has proposed a cost of $579,7000
Page 331 of 1095
annually, a difference of approximately $440,000 more than the top-ranked proposer. Therefore,
in addition to receiving the highest ranking for qualifications and services provided, it is in the
City's best interest to negotiate with Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates.
CONCLUSION
After reviewing all of the submissions and the Evaluation Committee process, I concur with the
Evaluation Committee and find Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, I nc ,
to be the best qualified firm to provide pre-employment testing and psychological services for
sworn and public safety personnel on the City's behalf. The firm is skilled and specialized in the
niche service area as reflected by its deep knowledge and understanding of the methodology
used for in its work.
Some of the highlights of the Law Enforcement Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc.
team are experience and qualifications, which include:
• The firm is a part of the American Board of Professional Psychology, earning a unique
distinction in the field of Board Certification in Police & Public Safety Psychology.
- The firm serves as the Employee Assistance Program for City of Miami, Coral Gables, and
Hialeah Police/Public Safety Agencies, as well as conduct Critical Incident Stress Debriefings
and officer wellness/resiliency train.
• The firm has a strong working knowledge of legislative, administrative, and regulatory
processes on personnel matters at both the state and local levels.
• The firm is dedicated to creating case studies that will further expand the body of knowledge
in the field of employee testing.
For the reasons stated herein, I recommend that the Mayor and City Commission approve the
resolution authorizing the Administration to enter into negotiations with Law Enforcement
Psychological & Counseling Associates, Inc., as the top ranked proposer, and authorizing the
City Manager and City Cleric to execute an Agreement, upon conclusion of successful
negotiations by the Administration.
Applicable Area
Not Applicable
Is this
a "Residents
Right
to Know"
item.
pursuant
to
Cit Code
Section
2-142
No
Strategic Connection
Non -Applicable
Legislative Tracking
Human Resources/Procurement
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
❑ Attachment A
❑ Resolution
Does this item utilize G.O.
Bond Funds?
No
Page 332 of 1095
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Page 334 of 1095