RFQ: Compensation and Classification Study
The Tallahassee Housing Authority is now conducting our competitive solicitation to conduct a study of the housing authority's staff compensation and classifications. To take part in this process, please follow these instructions. All responses to this solicitation are due by 3 pm (EST) on Thursday, September 17, 2026.
Please review the attached document and contact TawanaThompson@tallha.org to request the additional Quote documents. Thank you.
REQUEST FOR QUOTES
Compensation and Classification Study
Deadline: September 17, 2026
3:00 pm (EST)
Submit to:
Tawana Thompson
Director, Development & Administration
2940 Grady Road, Tallahassee, FL 32312
Request for Quote
Compensation and Classification Study
Tallahassee Housing Authority
The Tallahassee Housing Authority (hereinafter, "the Agency") is a public entity that was formed in 1946 to provide federally subsidized housing and housing assistance to low-income families, within the City of Tallahassee, FL. The Agency is headed by an Executive Director (ED) and is governed by a seven-person board of commissioners and is subject to the requirements of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations (hereinafter, "CFR") and the Agency's procurement policy. Though brought into existence by a Resolution of the City of Tallahassee, it is a separate entity from the City.
Currently, the Agency owns and/or manages: (a) 2 developments totaling 346 units of HUD Public Housing; 93 LIHTC units; and (b) 2,700 housing choice vouchers. The Agency currently employs approximately 30 full-time and part-time staff across administrative, management, maintenance, resident services and housing program functions. The Authority seeks an independent review of its compensation and classification system to ensure that salaries are competitive within the labor market and equitable across positions.
To that end, the Tallahassee Housing Authority seeks proposals from qualified consulting firms to conduct a comprehensive Compensation and Classification Study for all Authority employees. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the competitiveness, internal equity, and effectiveness of the Authority's current compensation structure and classification system and to provide recommendations that support recruitment, retention, employee development, and organizational sustainability.
All proposals submitted in response to this solicitation must conform to all the requirements and specifications outlined within this document and any designated attachments in its entirety.
Overview
The purpose of the classification and compensation plan study is to address changes in the Housing Authority's operations and staffing, which may have affected the type, scope, and level of work being performed as well as ensure the Housing Authority's total compensation package is market competitive and internal equity is maintained. Our goals and objectives are as follows:
- Attract and retain qualified, high performing employees with the skills and adaptability needed to support the agency's growth and success, while positioning the organization to effectively respond to evolving operational and workforce trends, future challenges and technological advancements;
- Ensure positions performing similar work with essentially the same level of complexity, responsibility, and knowledge, skills, and abilities are classified together;
- Provide salaries commensurate with assigned duties;
- Clearly outline promotional opportunities and provide recognizable compensation growth; Provide justifiable pay differential between individual classes;
- Maintain a competitive position with other comparable government entities and private employers within the same geographic area; and
- Align compensation strategy with budgetary guidelines.
The consultant will initiate the study with a kickoff meeting involving Executive Director and the Management Team to outline the process, scope, and deliverables. Work will be conducted in close coordination with the Executive Director as needed. The consultant will provide regular updates and incorporate feedback throughout the process.
1.0 The Agency's Reservation of Rights.
The Agency reserves the right to:
- 1.1 Right to Reject, Waive, or Terminate the RFP
Reject any or all proposals, to waive any informality in the RFP process, or terminate the RFP process at any time, if deemed by the Agency to be in its best interests. - 1.2 Right to Not Award
Not award a contract pursuant to this RFP. - 1.3 Right to Terminate
Terminate a contract awarded pursuant to this RFP, at any time for its convenience upon 10 days written notice to the Contractor(s). - 1.4 Right to Determine Time and Location
Determine the days, hours, and locations that the successful proposer (hereinafter, "Contractor") shall provide the services called for in this RFP. - 1.5 Right to Retain Records
Retain all proposals submitted and not permit withdrawal for a period of 60 days subsequent to the deadline for receiving proposals without the written consent of the Agency Contracting Officer (CO). - 1.6 Right to Negotiate
Negotiate the fees proposed by the proposer entity. - 1.7 Right to Reject Any Proposal
Reject and not consider any proposal or proposer that does not meet the requirements of this RFP, including but not necessarily limited to incomplete proposals and/or proposers offering alternate or non-requested services. - 1.8 No Obligation to Compensate
Have no obligation to compensate any proposer for any costs incurred in responding to this RFP - 1.9 Right to Prohibit
At any time during the RFP or contract process, prohibit any further participation by a proposer or reject any proposal submitted that does not conform to any of the requirements detailed herein. By accessing the eProcurement Marketplace (hereinafter, a.k.a., the "Marketplace") and by downloading this document, each prospective proposer is thereby agreeing to abide by all terms and conditions listed within this document and within the eProcurement Marketplace, and further agrees that he/she will inform the CO in writing within 5 days of the discovery of any item listed herein or of any item that is issued thereafter by the Agency that he/she feels needs to be addressed. Failure to abide by this timeframe shall relieve the Agency, but not the prospective or actual proposer, of any responsibility pertaining to such issue. - 1.10
Ownership of Work Product. All reports, data, analyses, recommendations, and supporting materials produced under this contract shall become the property of the Authority upon completion of the project.
2.0 Scope of Work/Technical Specifications
The Agency is seeking proposals from qualified entities to provide consultant services, that shall include, but may not be limited to, the following:
- 2.1 Services Required. The successful proposer will
- 2.1.1 Consultant to review current compensation structure to understand current challenges in recruiting and retaining employees;
- 2.1.2 Review and evaluate all existing job classifications and assess job descriptions for accuracy, completeness and internal equity among positions;
- 2.1.3 Develop a logical job evaluation/job scoring/classification plan, on which appropriate pay grade structures are overlaid and justified in terms of internal equity, in light of the objective evaluation and classification of each job, notwithstanding current classifications;
- 2.1.4 Conduct a competitive market survey to understand the current external equity levels with a proposal for future maintenance based on market movements;
- 2.1.5 Compare Authority compensation levels to area-specific market data;
- 2.1.6 Evaluate and recommend changes, if any, to hierarchical order of jobs using objective evaluation system;
- 2.1.7 Review and update position descriptions as needed to uniformly reflect the distinguishing characteristics, essential job functions, qualifications, and working conditions. Conduct interviews and/or job audits as appropriate.
- 2.1.8 Conduct a comprehensive compensation and benefits survey; consultant to compile and analyze data;
- 2.1.9 Evaluate the current pay plan and salary ranges, review pay grades and progression opportunities and recommend a compensation structure that supports organizational goals and financial sustainability;
- 2.1.10 Recommend appropriate salary ranges for each position and any needed changes to benefits based on classification study, market analysis, internal equity considerations and best practices;
- 2.1.11 Identify potential pay compression issues and any significant individual or group compensation inequities and recommend potential solutions;
- 2.1.12 Identify career ladders/promotional opportunities as deemed appropriate.
- 2.1.13 Consultant to make recommendations related to other key compensation practices including exemplary performance awards, bilingual premium pay, promotional increases, and cost of living adjustments;
- 2.1.14 Consultant to provide recommendations for integrating the compensation plan with the performance management rating system, clearly defining how merit increases and exemplary performance awards are determined and tied to annual performance review outcomes and ensuring consistent application across the organization;
- 2.1.15 Recommend implementation strategies including calculating the cost of implementing the plan;
- 2.1.16 Analyze base salaries, salary ranges, pay compression issues, market competitiveness, recruitment and retention challenges;
- 2.1.17 Recommend short-term and long-term compensation strategies; and
- 2.1.1 Consultant to review current compensation structure to understand current challenges in recruiting and retaining employees;
Resources
Tallahassee Housing Authority will provide copies of the following to the successful respondent:
- Organizational charts
- Job Description
- Salary Schedules
- Personnel Policies
- Employee Handbook
- Budget Information
The Authority will also provide any other available in-house information requested by the selected consultant that may be required to complete the study.
Questions and inquiries concerning this solicitation may be sent via email to TawanaThompson@tallha.org no later than Tuesday, September 8, 2026, by 3 pm EST.
The Agency intends to retain the Vendor pursuant to a "Best Value" basis, not a "Low Bid" basis ("Best Value," in that the Authority will consider factors other than just cost in making the award decision). Therefore, so that the Agency can properly evaluate the offers received, all responses must include the sequence of information requested within the table below.
- Tab No 1
- Description: Form of Proposal. This Form is attached hereto as Attachment A to this RFP document. This 2-page Form must be fully completed, executed where provided thereon and submitted under this tab as a part of the proposal submittal.
- Description: Form of Proposal. This Form is attached hereto as Attachment A to this RFP document. This 2-page Form must be fully completed, executed where provided thereon and submitted under this tab as a part of the proposal submittal.
- Tab No 2
- Description: Profile of Firm Form. The Profile of Firm Form is attached hereto as Attachment C to this RFP document. This 2-page Form must be fully completed, executed, and submitted under this tab as a part of the proposal submittal. Attach a current organizational chart for your firm.
- Description: Profile of Firm Form. The Profile of Firm Form is attached hereto as Attachment C to this RFP document. This 2-page Form must be fully completed, executed, and submitted under this tab as a part of the proposal submittal. Attach a current organizational chart for your firm.
- Tab No 3
- Description: Proposed Services. Provide a detailed breakdown and description of the specific steps, services, and study products that will be provided. Describe how the final product will be structured and presented upon completion. Work plan schedule including completion time for major tasks and overall time frame for completion. It is expected that the work will commence as soon as possible after the contract is awarded and the final study and recommendations be completed by November 18, 2026.
- Description: Proposed Services. Provide a detailed breakdown and description of the specific steps, services, and study products that will be provided. Describe how the final product will be structured and presented upon completion. Work plan schedule including completion time for major tasks and overall time frame for completion. It is expected that the work will commence as soon as possible after the contract is awarded and the final study and recommendations be completed by November 18, 2026.
- Tab No 4
- Description: DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE in performing similar work and the proposer's DEMONSTRATED SUCCESSFUL PAST PERFORMANCE (including meeting costs, schedules, and performance requirements) of contract work substantially similar to that required by this solicitation as verified by reference checks or other means.
- Description: DEMONSTRATED EXPERIENCE in performing similar work and the proposer's DEMONSTRATED SUCCESSFUL PAST PERFORMANCE (including meeting costs, schedules, and performance requirements) of contract work substantially similar to that required by this solicitation as verified by reference checks or other means.
- Tab No 5
- Description: Final Product. Provide a statement that the proposer agrees to provide a final report, tables, schedules, job descriptions, charts, spreadsheets, salary surveys, and other materials necessary for the implementation and maintenance of the compensation/ classification system. Proposal must be signed by a representative of the firm with appropriate signature authority to commit the firm to the quoted prices and all terms and requirements stated in the RFP.
- Description: Final Product. Provide a statement that the proposer agrees to provide a final report, tables, schedules, job descriptions, charts, spreadsheets, salary surveys, and other materials necessary for the implementation and maintenance of the compensation/ classification system. Proposal must be signed by a representative of the firm with appropriate signature authority to commit the firm to the quoted prices and all terms and requirements stated in the RFP.
- Tab No 6
- Description: Client Information. The proposer shall submit a listing of former or current clients (at least 3), including any other Public Housing Authority, for whom the proposer has performed similar or like services to those being proposed herein. The listing shall, at a minimum, include:
- The client's name;
- The client's contact name;
- The client's telephone number and email address;
- A brief description and scope of service(s) and the dates the services were provided.
- Description: Client Information. The proposer shall submit a listing of former or current clients (at least 3), including any other Public Housing Authority, for whom the proposer has performed similar or like services to those being proposed herein. The listing shall, at a minimum, include:
- Tab No 7
- Description: References. Include the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address for contact persons at three (3) other public entities, preferably housing authorities for which comparable services have recently been rendered.
- Description: References. Include the name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address for contact persons at three (3) other public entities, preferably housing authorities for which comparable services have recently been rendered.
- Tab No 8
- Description: Other Information (Optional Item). The proposer may include hereunder any other general information that the proposer believes is appropriate to assist the Agency in its evaluation.
Include proposed pricing in sealed envelope.