AEC Marketing Services in South Florida

We provide AEC marketing services in South Florida to companies located in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Our extensive knowledge of proposals, certification requirements, and guidelines with numerous government agencies include the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), Florida Department of Management Services (DMS); as well as local agencies, such as Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties.

Here’s a list of AEC marketing services we currently offer:

✔️ Proposal Management Support: Request for Proposals (RFPs) Strategy, Content Development, and Graphic Design; including proposal forms
✔️ State/Local Minority and Technical Certifications: Vendor Qualification Applications, Certification Packages for State, County, Cities, and Local Municipalities
✔️ Resumes and Project Descriptions: New/Existing Master Resume Template Design and Individual/Key Personnel Resumes (by Area of Expertise)
✔️ Marketing Materials: Statement of Qualifications (SOQs), Capability Statements, Presentations and Company Brochures

With close to three decades of experience, our AEC marketing solutions are customized to meet each client’s specific needs and requirements.

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What Is AEC Marketing?

Not all marketing efforts are created equally. Traditionally, AEC businesses have relied on word-of-mouth or print advertising to gain customers. But in today’s economy, savvy customers favor online services for finding vendors. 

To build a customer base, AEC Marketing focuses on social media and an online presence in addition to in-person and traditional media. You want to attract visitors to your website and turn them into viable leads.  

Setting yourself apart from the competition is crucial. If you’re among five architects who all offer the same services, you need to give your customers a reason to choose you. 

The good news is that you have plenty of ways to reach new customers, and a combination of strategies might be what you need.

Some proven strategies include:

  1. Posting relevant blogs or guides. They give the customer confidence in your knowledge and abilities and also provide valuable industry information.
  2. Optimizing your website for search engines. It enables customers to find you when they need services.
  3. Using website analytics. These measure the effectiveness of your campaign. Is your website coming up on search engines? Do customers click on your site? Do they explore your pages? How long do they stay? Do they subscribe to your email site or contact you?
  4. Creating an email list. This helps foster more personal relationships with existing and potential customers. Using emails effectively will grow your business and keep your name fresh in their minds.
  5. Capitalizing on new technology or products. This satisfies your customers’ desire for the latest and greatest. Making sure you’re up on the latest trends will position your business at the top of the market. Your customers will turn to you as an expert.

Other AEC Marketing Materials

Marketing materials enhance your reach to customers. One or more of these strategies can bring a fresh look to your business and effectively demonstrate your brand.

Statement of Qualifications (SOQs) are often required when submitting a proposal.  Similar to a resume, SOQs outline the qualifications and experience related to the contract. Skills and knowledge are laid out concisely and customized to the proposal.

Capability Statements spell out the competencies of your organization to perform work. They differentiate your business from the competition, highlight past performances, summarize company data, and provide contact information. Capability Statements are required for federal contracts and are a great way to market your services.

Company Brochures introduce your organization to potential customers. Well-written brochures add excitement, facts, and confidence and will keep your name at the forefront. Your brochures should feature an easily recognizable logo and describe what you can do for your customers. Adding graphic designs brings a visual spark to your marketing collateral.

Ready-to-go Presentations ensure that your business has a clear vision and can assure customers of your ability to complete jobs. They can be presented to a customer at a moment’s notice.  

Capture Planning

Before submitting a proposal or an RFP to the state of Florida, careful preparation takes place to logically lay the groundwork for it.

Called capture planning, it involves identifying opportunities, assessing the environment, and writing the proposal with forethought and specifics. 

Capture plans not only save time and money during proposal writing, but they also uncover additional opportunities to pursue. All information is gathered upfront, and no details are missed.

Registering as a Vendor in Florida

Businesses need to register with Miami-Dade County as a vendor. It’s an important first step to moving forward with any technical or minority certification.

When a vendor receives a contract award, having an active and valid vendor registration avoids delays in the process.

It ensures that the business is listed in the master vendor list, which is used by the Department of Procurement Management and the purchasing units for various other county departments to obtain quotes for goods and services.

Once a company is registered with the county, they can log into the system and update their profile at any time.

What Is a Proposal?

A proposal is a plan designed to solve a specific problem. There are two types: solicited and unsolicited. 

An unsolicited proposal is handled internally within a company, while a solicited proposal is when a government agency — whether federal, state or local — needs to find a solution to a problem. 

In the case of Miami-Dade County, a local government agency, the Internal Services Department issues what is known as a Request for Proposal (RFP), which presents and describes the problem, and the services to be provided. Qualified firms then prepare a response to the proposal based on the required technical certifications, contract measures, and scope of services.

Once the responses from all of the participating vendors are received, a shortlist is produced, which narrows down the list of qualified firms selected for final consideration. An oral presentation then follows and a selection committee ranks the three highest-scoring firms.

The highest-ranked firm is presented to the County Commission and Mayor for approval. After that, contract negotiations begin and a Professional Services Agreement (PSA) is then executed.

B&FPS is an AEC marketing firm specializing in completing and submitting technical certification applications for engineering and architecture firms to Miami-Dade County for review and final approval. 

According to Miami-Dade County guidelines, if a business plans on providing AEC services, they are required to complete a technical certification application as a requirement of the pre-qualification process. A technical certification is proof that a business has the required technical expertise to provide services for future projects. 

Employees of the company, known as qualifying agents, are listed under each individual technical category for which they are seeking certification in.

There are various technical certification categories ranging from 1.0 to 19. For example, Category 3.0 is for Roadway Design, and sub category 3.02 is for Minor Roadway Design.

Each firm seeking certification under this specific sub category must submit a form, which lists a minimum of 3 projects completed within the last 10 years, as well as project information, technical duties performed, the project’s start and completion date, and the name of the qualifying agents.

Each individual form must be signed and sealed by a registered professional engineer.

Finally, B&FPS also assists qualifying businesses in applying for minority certifications with Miami-Dade County’s Small Business Enterprise Architectural & Engineering (A&E) program.  This program is gender and race neutral to provide contracting opportunities to small businesses. 

Here are the current list of requirements on Miami-Dade County’s SBE page:

  1. The average gross revenue for the last three years cannot exceed $4.5 million for architectural services and cannot exceed $6 million for engineering services.
  2. The business must be located within Miami-Dade County and perform a “commercially useful function.”
  3. A local business tax receipt is required one (1) year prior to certification.
  4. The qualifier must own at least 25% of the certified firm’s issued stock.
  5. The personal net worth of each owner cannot exceed $1.5 million dollars.
  6. The owner can only operate one (1) Small Business Enterprise A&E-certified firm.
  7. An annual renewal of certification is required.

Ideally, this summary will help businesses see the immense value in outsourcing AEC marketing functions out to B&FPS. Doing so ensures that their business is in full compliance with all Miami-Dade County vendor registration requirements.

Technical Certification

Any firm interested in providing architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, and/or surveying and mapping services to Miami-Dade County must have technical certification approval. Technical certification approval is one of the three components for the prequalification certification.

The following technical certification guidelines are provided by Miami-Dade County to assist applicants in completing and submitting their technical certification application for new, renewed, or additional categories.

Miami-Dade County’s Technical Certification Committee reviews applications and approves a firm’s eligibility to provide professional services for various technical certification categories.

Technical certification must be established at the time of submittal via a Notice to Professional Consultants (NTPC), throughout the selection process, at time of award, and throughout the duration of the contract term without any lapses.

A firm’s technical certification is valid for two (2) years.

Continuing Education

Another way to keep up with the latest industry practices is through continuing education.

Sorted by organization, AEC Daily has online courses and certifications from the leading organizations in the AEC sector.

These free courses can give you an edge and boost credibility with your customers.  

Enhance Your AEC Marketing Strategy

We specialize in elevating your business above the competition and enhancing your ability to win proposals.

From our first conversation, we embark on a mission to help you grow your business.

Find out how we can help you win contracts and become a leader in your specialty.

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