Fort Myers Beach — The Bay Oaks pool renovation project remains delayed after staff told the advisory board on Oct. 22 that one design proposal was rejected for procurement irregularities and the town has reissued a request for designs under the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program.

Jeff Haughey, the town’s recreation staff liaison, said staff reviewed a design proposal that raised “red flags” — the bidder had not listed a valid company registration for the name used on the procurement portal — and the town asked the council to reject that bid. Haughey said the solicitation was re-posted on DemandStar and that designers have 30 days to respond to the new advertisement; the current procurement covers design only, meaning a separate construction bid will follow.

Why it matters: The pool is part of a larger CDBG-DR-funded effort and is a high-profile community facility. Staff and board members emphasized that the local market for pool retrofit designers and contractors is limited and that the town’s available funds favor a retrofit approach rather than a full rebuild.

What staff told the board

- Bid rejection and rebid: Haughey said the council rejected the earlier bid because ‘‘the company that they bid it under wasn't a valid company’’ on the procurement portal and the procurement team preferred to rebid rather than proceed. The design solicitation is now live for the required posting period.

- Design-only procurement limitations: Staff warned that many construction firms also maintain in-house design teams; town staff noted that a firm that prepares the design may not always be the builder, but in this sector it is common for design and construction to be affiliated, which can limit responsiveness from third-party designers.

- Market and scope: Board members observed that newly built municipal aquatic centers nationwide often cost $12 million–$15 million and that the Bay Oaks project is more in the ‘‘retrofit’’ category. Haughey and other speakers said the town is seeking firms experienced in retrofitting existing pool shells and mechanical systems rather than firms that specialize in new, large aquatic center builds.

- Program timeline and oversight: Staff described weekly internal meetings and a weekly coordination call with county partners on the CDBG-DR program. Haughey said the county has not expressed a concern about losing the funds but emphasized the paperwork and regulatory steps required under the grant.

Next steps and community impact

Staff said they will circulate the ITB/design solicitation to board members and to any firms the board can recommend; the town will review applications once the 30-day advertisement period closes. Haughey estimated that if the town receives and awards a design contract, the design-to-bid timeline will still take months because of the required advertising and potential protest period. He recommended that board members help identify qualified firms that might respond to the reissued solicitation.

The board did not vote on the pool procurement at the meeting. Staff said they will report back with any qualified design proposals and, if a designer is selected, a schedule for the construction procurement phase.