Fifty architects, engineers and contractors answered a survey following the Industry Forum.  Most of the respondents indicated they had worked for the County previously.  The Forum format was popular-more than a third of the respondents recommended that such meetings be held more frequently and the greatest number rated their experience competing for contracts as from very good to fair. Some suggested that future meetings divide the groups into specialties-A & E and contractors.  Most respondents rated the County's online tools as good or very good.

When asked how the County could improve its interface with the industry the attendees offered a broad spectrum of suggestions but most frequently asked that the contracting process be streamlined "to get bids out on the street quicker.  Here is a summary of the feedback:

The contracting process takes too long.  The County should look for ways to speed up the process.

• What Miami-Dade is doing to accelerate the process:

RFPs need to be simplified.  They are too complex and often redundant making it difficult for many companies to respond.

• What Miami-Dade is doing to simplify the process:      

Selection Committees should be revised to put the right people on the committees-too often committee members do not have right background and expertise to participate.

• What Miami-Dade is doing to improve the process:

 The payment process takes too long.  It takes the County too long to process invoices.

• What Miami-Dade is doing to streamline the process:

Contracts vary too much among the County's capital departments.

• What Miami-Dade is doing to standardize the process:

Here's how other questions were answered:

• Who responded to the survey? Click here for answer.
• How would you rate your experience competing for County contracts? Click here for answer. 
• How would you rate the Miami-Dade's online tools for doing business with the County? Click here for answer. 
• Have you done work with the County previously? Click here for answer.