Project Information

Bid Title

Special Magistrate Services

Issuing Agency

City of Panama City

Location

Florida

Published Date

Jan 27, 2026

Closing Date

Feb 25, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

PC26-026

Original Source

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Bid Inquiries

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Bid Number:	PC26-026
Bid Title:	Special Magistrate Services
Category:	Professional Services
Status:	Open

Description: PUBLIC NOTICE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO. PC26-026 SPECIAL MAGISTRATE SERVICES The City of Panama City, Florida (the “City”), through the City’s Development Services Department, seeks Qualifications from qualified Florida licensed attorneys to provide services in accordance with City of Panama City Ordinance 2324 and Florida Statutes Chapter 162 as a Special Magistrate. The City is re-advertising a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Special Magistrate Services. Multiple magistrates are needed. All references to Florida Statutes, City of Panama City and Panama City Codes, and other laws/regulations will be interpreted to include “as amended from time to time.” The complete RFQ documents for this project are available upon email request to the City’s Purchasing Division at For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. . Addenda, if any, will be posted on the City’s Purchasing Bid Requests webpage https://www.panamacity.gov/bids.aspx and on the City’s Bonfire Portal at https://panamacity.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities . It is the sole responsibility of Respondents to ensure the receipt of all addenda. Therefore, it is recommended that Respondents periodically check the City’s Purchasing Bid Requests webpage or the City’s Bonfire Portal for updates through the issuance of addenda. The City’s Purchasing Division will receive Qualifications via the City’s Bonfire Portal at https://panamacity.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities until 2:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 (the “Qualifications Due Date”). The Qualifications received will be opened publicly in City Hall, Lower-Level, Room 010, located at 501 Harrison Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401. For questions regarding registering with the Bonfire Portal or for assistance with Qualifications submission, please contact the Bid Specialist Johnnie Gallegos at For security reasons, you must enable JavaScript to view this E-mail address. . Qualifications received after this time will be automatically rejected. The responsibility for submitting Qualifications before the stated time and date is solely and strictly that of the Respondent. The City is not responsible for any delayed, late, lost, misdelivered, or non-delivered Qualifications, no matter the cause. Neither the City of Panama City nor its representatives shall be liable for any cost incurred by any Respondent in the preparation of its response to this Request for Qualifications. Information submitted in response to this RFQ will become the property of the City and is subject to Florida public records laws. The City reserves the right to accept any Qualifications deemed to be in the best interest of the City, to waive any minor irregularities, scrivener’s errors, minor omissions, minor deviations, and/or technicalities in any Qualifications, or to reject any or all Qualifications with or without cause and to re-advertise for new Qualifications, in accordance with the applicable sections of the Florida Statutes, the City Charter and City Code, this RFQ, and the best interest of the City. RESPONDENTS ARE ADVISED THAT QUALIFICATIONS SUBMITTED WITH IRREGULARITIES, DEFICIENCIES, AND/OR TECHNICALITIES THAT DEVIATE FROM THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS OF A REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (“RFQ”), REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (“RFP”), INVITATION TO BID (“ITB”), INVITATION FOR BIDS (“IFB”), INVITATION TO QUOTE (“ITQ”), REQUESTS FOR LETTERS OF INTEREST (“RFLI”), AND REQUEST FOR SPONSORSHIPS (“RFS”) SHALL RESULT IN A NON-RESPONSIVE DETERMINATION. ONLY MINOR IRREGULARITIES, DEFICIENCIES, AND TECHNICALITIES MAY BE ALLOWED TO BE TIMELY CURED BY RESPONDENTS AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE CITY. MATERIAL IRREGULARITIES, DEFICIENCIES, AND TECHNICALITIES CANNOT BECURED BY THE RESPONDENT, AND ARE NOT WAIVABLE BY THE CITY. Publication Date/Time: 1/26/2026 5:00 PM Publication Information: Bay County Public Notices website Closing Date/Time: 2/25/2026 2:00 PM Submittal Information: Bonfire Portal Bid Opening Information: City Hall, Room 010 Contact Person: Johnnie Gallegos purchasing@panamacity.gov Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 8AM-5PM CT Related Documents: RFQ No. PC26-026 Special Magistrate Services

Attachment Preview

PUBLIC NOTICE

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS NO.: PC26-026

SPECIAL MAGISTRATE SERVICES

The City of Panama City, Florida (the “City”), through the City’s Development Services

Department, seeks Qualifications from qualified Florida licensed attorneys to provide services in

accordance with City of Panama City Ordinance 2324 and Florida Statutes Chapter 162 as a

Special Magistrate. The City is re-advertising a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Special

Magistrate Services. Multiple magistrates are needed. All references to Florida Statutes, City of

Panama City and Panama City Codes, and other laws/regulations will be interpreted to include “as

amended from time to time.”

The complete RFQ documents for this project are available upon email request to the City’s

Purchasing Division at purchasing@panamacity.gov. Addenda, if any, will be posted on the

City’s Purchasing Bid Requests webpage https://www.panamacity.gov/bids.aspx and on the City’s

Bonfire Portal at https://panamacity.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities. It is the sole

responsibility of Respondents to ensure the receipt of all addenda. Therefore, it is recommended

that Respondents periodically check the City’s Purchasing Bid Requests webpage or the City’s

Bonfire Portal for updates through the issuance of addenda.

The City’s Purchasing Division will receive Qualifications via the City’s Bonfire Portal at

https://panamacity.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities until 2:00 p.m. CT on

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 (the “Qualifications Due Date”). The Qualifications received will

be opened publicly in City Hall, Lower-Level, Room 010 located at 501 Harrison Avenue, Panama

City, FL 32401. For questions regarding registering with the Bonfire Portal or for assistance with

Qualifications submission, please contact the Bid Specialist Johnnie Gallegos at

purchasing@panamacity.gov. Qualifications received after this time will be automatically rejected.

The responsibility for submitting Qualifications before the stated time and date is solely and strictly

that of the Respondent. The City is not responsible for any delayed, late, lost, misdelivered, or non-

delivered Qualifications, no matter the cause.

Neither the City of Panama City nor its representatives shall be liable for any cost incurred by any

Respondent in the preparation of its response to this Request for Qualifications.

Information submitted in response to this RFQ will become the property of the City and is subject

to Florida public records laws.

The City reserves the right to accept any Qualifications deemed to be in the best interest of the

City, to waive any minor irregularities, scrivener’s errors, minor omissions, minor deviations, and/or

technicalities in any Qualifications, or to reject any or all Qualifications with or without cause and

to re-advertise for new Qualifications, in accordance with the applicable sections of the Florida

Statutes, the City Charter and City Code, this RFQ, and the best interest of the City.

RESPONDENTS ARE ADVISED THAT QUALIFICATIONS SUBMITTED WITH

IRREGULARITIES, DEFICIENCIES, AND/OR TECHNICALITIES THAT DEVIATE FROM THE

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE, AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS OF A

REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (“RFQ”), REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (“RFP”),

INVITATION TO BID (“ITB”), INVITATION FOR BIDS (“IFB”), INVITATION TO QUOTE (“ITQ”),

REQUESTS FOR LETTERS OF INTEREST (“RFLI”), AND REQUEST FOR SPONSORSHIPS

(“RFS”) SHALL RESULT IN A NON-RESPONSIVE DETERMINATION. ONLY MINOR

IRREGULARITIES, DEFICIENCIES, AND TECHNICALITIES MAY BE ALLOWED TO BE

TIMELY CURED BY RESPONDENTS AT THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE CITY. MATERIAL

IRREGULARITIES, DEFICIENCIES, AND TECHNICALITIES CANNOT BE CURED BY THE

RESPONDENT, AND ARE NOT WAIVABLE BY THE CITY.

I. General Conditions

A. The City of Panama City, Florida (the “City”), through the City’s Development Services

Department, seeks Qualifications from qualified Florida licensed attorneys to provide services

in accordance with City of Panama City Ordinance 2324 and Florida Statutes Chapter 162 as

a Special Magistrate. The City is re-advertising a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for Special

Magistrate Services. Multiple magistrates are needed. Applicants must demonstrate the

requisite knowledge, experience, technical expertise, and organizational and financial

capacity to perform services requested under this RFQ. All references to Florida Statutes, City

of Panama City and Panama City Codes, and other laws/regulations will be interpreted to

include “as amended from time to time.”

B. The City’s Purchasing Division will receive Qualifications submitted via the City’s Bonfire

Portal at https://panamacity.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities until 2:00 p.m.

CT on Wednesday, February 25, 2026 (the “Qualifications Due Date”). The Qualifications

received will be opened publicly in City Hall, Lower-Level, Room 010 located at 501 Harrison

Avenue, Panama City, FL 32401.

For questions regarding registering with the Bonfire Portal or for assistance with Qualification

submission, please contact the Bid Specialist Johnnie Gallegos at

purchasing@panamacity.gov. Qualifications received after this time will be automatically

rejected. The responsibility for submitting Qualifications before the stated time and date is

solely and strictly that of the Respondent. The City is not responsible for any delayed, late,

lost, misdelivered, or non-delivered Qualifications, no matter the cause.

Neither The City of Panama City nor its representatives shall be liable for any cost incurred

by any Respondent in the preparation of its response to this Request for Qualifications.

C. The City reserves the right to accept any Qualifications deemed to be in the best interest of

the City, to waive any minor irregularities, scrivener’s errors, minor omissions, minor

deviations, and/or technicalities in any Qualifications, or to reject any or all Qualifications with

or without cause and to re-advertise for new Qualifications, in accordance with the applicable

sections of the Florida Statutes, the City Charter and City Code, this RFQ, and the best interest

of the City.

Respondents are advised that qualifications submitted with irregularities, deficiencies, and/or

technicalities that deviate from the minimum qualifications, experience, and submission

requirements of a Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”), Request for Proposals (“RFP”),

Invitation to Bid (“ITB”), Invitation for Bids (“IFB”), Invitation to Quote (“ITQ”), Requests for

Letters of Interest (“RFIL”), and Request for Sponsorships (“RFS”) shall result in a non-

responsive determination. Only minor irregularities, deficiencies, and technicalities may be

allowed to be timely cured by respondents at the sole discretion of the city. Material

irregularities, deficiencies, and technicalities cannot be cured by the respondent, and are not

waivable by the city.

D. From the date of release of this solicitation until award of the contract(s), no contact or

communication with City personnel or elected officials related to this solicitation is permitted.

Any such contact or communication may result in the disqualification of the Respondent’s

Qualifications. Direct all communications to the Purchasing Division via email to

RFQ No. PC26-026 Special Magistrate Services

Page 3 of 16

purchasing@panamacity.gov

E. Each Respondent shall examine the Request for Qualifications and other contract documents

and inform him or herself regarding any and all conditions and requirements that may affect

cost, progress, or performance of the work to be performed under the contract. Ignorance on

the part of the Respondent in no way relieves the Respondent of the obligations and

responsibilities assumed under the contract.

F. All questions and requests for additional information must be made in writing to the Purchasing

Division by email to purchasing@panamacity.gov. All questions and requests for additional

information must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. CT, on February 18, 2026. Late or

misdelivered requests for additional information or clarification may not receive a response.

G. The Purchasing Division will issue responses to inquiries received and any other corrections

or amendments it deems necessary via written addenda, prior to the Qualifications Due Date.

Respondents should not rely on representations, statements, or explanations other than those

made in this RFQ and in any written addenda to this RFQ. Where there appears to be conflict

between the RFQ and any addenda issued, the last addendum issued shall prevail.

Addenda will be made available on the City’s Purchasing Bid Requests webpage

https://www.panamacity.gov/bids.aspx and on the City’s Bonfire Portal

https://panamacity.bonfirehub.com/portal/?tab=openOpportunities. It is the sole responsibility

of Respondents to ensure the receipt of all addenda. Therefore, it is recommended that

Respondents periodically check the City’s Purchasing Bid Requests webpage or the City’s

Bonfire portal for updates through the issuance of addenda. Prior to submitting the

Qualifications, the Respondent should check the City Bid Requests webpage and the City’s

Bonfire Portal to ensure they have received and reviewed all addenda.

H. All changes, modifications, or interpretations shall be handled by the Purchasing Department.

In no case will verbal communication between the City and a Respondent override written

communications or documentation. All communications must be in writing to be considered

part of this Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

I. The City reserves the right to delay or modify the dates and timelines for the RFQ as needed.

J. Submission of Qualifications indicates acceptance by the Respondent of the conditions

contained in this RFQ, unless clearly and specifically noted in the Qualifications submitted and

confirmed in the contract between the City and the firm selected.

K. All information requested shall be submitted. Failure to submit all information may result in

Qualifications being considered a “non-responsive” and, therefore, rejected.

L. Qualifications shall be binding upon the respondent and irrevocable for 90 calendar days

following the Qualifications Due Date. Any response in which a respondent shortens the

acceptance period may be rejected.

M. This solicitation is subject to all legal requirements contained in the applicable Panama City

Ordinances and Resolutions, as well as all applicable County, State and Federal statutes.

Where conflict exists between this solicitation and these legal requirements, the authority shall

prevail in the following order: Federal, State, and local.

RFQ No. PC26-026 Special Magistrate Services

Page 4 of 16

N. Information submitted in response to this RFQ will become the property of the City and is

subject to Florida public records laws.

O. The Respondent acknowledges that the City is a Florida municipal corporation and subject to

the Florida Public Records law. The respondent agrees that to the extent any document

produced under this agreement constitutes a public record. The respondent shall comply with

the Florida Public Records Law. Chapter 119, Florida Statutes requires that all material

submitted in connection with a Qualifications response shall be deemed to be public record

subject to public inspection upon award, recommendation for award, or thirty (30) days after

Qualifications opening, whichever occurs first.

All materials that qualify for exemption from Chapter 119, Florida Statutes or other applicable

law must be submitted as a separate file, clearly identified with the file name “Exempt from

Public Disclosure”. The City will not accept Qualifications when the entire document is labeled

as exempt from disclosure. The City's determination of whether an exemption applies shall be

final, and the Respondent agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the City and the

City's officers, employees, and agents against any loss or damages incurred by any person

or entity as a result of the City's treatment of records as public records.

P. The Special Magistrate shall comply with Florida’s Public Records Act, Chapter 119,

Florida Statutes.

Q. If the Special Magistrate, as a contractor, has questions regarding

the application of Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, to the Special

Magistrate’s duty to provide public records relating to this contract,

contact the City Clerk at (850) 872-3021; cityclerk@panamacity.gov

or publicrecords@panamacity.gov; or 501 Harrison Avenue,

Panama City, Florida 32401.

R. No elected official or employee of the City will participate in any decision relating to the

agreement that affects his personal interest or relating to any agreement in which he has a

personal or pecuniary interest, direct or indirect, in the contract or in the proceeds.

S. No contract will be awarded to any person, firm, corporation, or other entity that is in arrears

or in default to the City upon any debtor contract or that is in default as surety or otherwise

upon any obligation to the City, or that has failed to perform faithfully any contract with the

City.

T. A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction

for a public entity crime may not submit a response on a contract to provide any goods or

services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the

construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real

property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier,

subcontractor, or contractor under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact

business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in Section 287.017,

for category two for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted

vendor list.

RFQ No. PC26-026 Special Magistrate Services

Page 5 of 16

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