Frequently asked questions

Florida's Consultants' Competitive Negotiation Act governs how public owners hire architects and engineers for many projects, and construction is usually put out to competitive bid. Local purchasing policies add their own thresholds and steps, so your purchasing office decides how a contractor may be selected.

Generally yes. Public buildings are built to the Florida Building Code and checked under the Florida Fire Prevention Code like private work, with engineer-sealed steel drawings and accessible public areas. Which office reviews and inspects an agency's own project can vary, so confirm how your jurisdiction handles it.

The largest machine serviced indoors, how many bays are worked at once, and the rooms around them: parts, tools, a wash bay, offices and a crew room. Door sizes follow the tallest truck, including any dump bed raised for service inside the building.

Open-sided sheds cost less and keep sun and rain off mowers, trailers and trucks. Enclosed buildings add security, protect tools and electronics, and can be cooled or ventilated for crews working inside. Many yards use both, with the shop enclosed and the parking under cover.

Yes. Masonry, stucco or architectural panels, canopies and storefront glass can face the public side, while the service side stays in plain metal panels. Many towns give a steel operations building a finished front where it faces a main road.

Often. A project paid for partly with federal or state grant money may come with its own procurement, wage and reporting rules on top of local ones. Your grants administrator will know which apply; tell the contractor early so the quote reflects them.