2026 SPECIAL DISTRICTS QUALIFYING PROCEDURE Qualifying Period – Noon, Monday, June 8, 2026 – Noon, Friday, June12, 2026 (Dates are subject to change) Special District Candidates who WILL NOT incur election expenses or contributions will do the following: 1. Present the items listed below during the qualifying period • Form 1 – Statement of Financial Interest • Form DS-DE 302NP Candidate Oath – Nonpartisan Office • Notice of Intent Special District Candidate • Qualifying fee of $25.00 or • 25 valid petitions (deadline to submit candidate petitions is Noon, Monday, May 11, 2026) Special District Candidates who WILL incur election expenses or contributions must do the following: 1. File DS-DE9 Appointment of Campaign Treasurer/Designation of Campaign Depository (open campaign account). This must be completed prior to accepting campaign contributions and making campaign expenditures, (section 99.061(3), F.S.). 2. Read Chapter 106 of the Florida Statutes and submit a DS-DE84 Statement of Candidate. 3. File required campaign treasurer’s reports 4. Present qualifying documents during the qualifying period. • Form 1 – Statement of Financial Interest • Form DS-DE 302NP Candidate Oath – Nonpartisan Office • Notice of Intent Special District Candidate • Qualifying fee of $25.00 or • 25 valid petitions (deadline to submit candidate petitions is Noon, Monday, May 11, 2026) Candidates Paying the Qualifying Fee: All special district candidates, except a person certified to qualify by the petition method or seeking to qualify as a write-in candidate, must pay the qualifying fee of $25.00. The qualifying fee for a special district candidate is not required to be drawn upon the candidate’s campaign account. Candidates Qualifying by Petition Method: Special district candidates need 25 valid signatures of qualified electors within the district. There is a fee of 10 cents per petition to be paid to the Supervisor of Elections for the cost of verifying the signature. The fee must be paid at the time the petitions are submitted. The deadline for submitting candidate petitions is Noon, Monday, May 11, 2026. Special district candidates are not required to file Form DS-DE 9 prior to collecting signatures. See Section 99.061(3), Florida Statutes. LAKE EMMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS District Auditing Services for Fiscal Year 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030 City of Groveland, Florida INSTRUCTIONS TO PROPOSERS SECTION 1. DUE DATE. Sealed proposals must be received no later than Monday, July 13, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., to the District Recording Secretary, Brittany Brookes by e-mail at bbrookes@gmscfl.com. Proposer is responsible for confirming its proposal is received by the District Recording Secretary. SECTION 2. FAMILIARITY WITH THE LAW. By submitting a proposal, the Proposer is assumed to be familiar with all federal, state, and local laws, ordinances, rules and regulations that in any manner affect the work. Ignorance on the part of the Proposer will in no way relieve it from responsibility to perform the work covered by the proposal in compliance with all such laws, ordinances and regulations. SECTION 3. QUALIFICATIONS OF PROPOSER. The contract, if awarded, will only be awarded to a responsible Proposer who is qualified by experience and licensing to do the work specified herein. The Proposer shall submit with its proposal satisfactory evidence of experience in similar work and show that it is fully prepared to complete the work to the satisfaction of the District. SECTION 4. SUBMISSION OF ONLY ONE PROPOSAL. Proposers shall be disqualified and their proposals rejected if the District has reason to believe that collusion may exist among the Proposers, the Proposer has defaulted on any previous contract or is in arrears on any previous or existing contract, or for failure to demonstrate proper licensure and business organization. SECTION 5. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL. Submit one (1) electronic copy (PDF only) of the Proposal Documents, and other requested attachments, if any, by the date, time, and method indicated herein. Proposer is responsible for confirming its proposal is received by District Recording Secretary. The District Recording Secretary is available at bbrookes@gmscfl.com or (407) 841-5524. SECTION 6. MODIFICATION AND WITHDRAWAL. Proposals may be modified or withdrawn by an appropriate document duly executed and delivered to the place where proposals are to be submitted at any time prior to the time and date the proposals are due. No proposal may be withdrawn after opening for a period of ninety (90) days. SECTION 7. PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS. The proposal documents shall consist of the notice announcing the request for proposals, these instructions, the Evaluation Criteria Sheet, and a proposal with all required documentation pursuant to Section 12 of these instructions (“Proposal Documents”). SECTION 8. PROPOSAL. In making its proposal, each Proposer represents that it has read and understands the Proposal Documents and that the proposal is made in accordance therewith. SECTION 9. BASIS OF AWARD/RIGHT TO REJECT. The District reserves the right to reject any and all proposals, make modifications to the work, and waive any informalities or irregularities in proposals as it is deemed in the best interests of the District. SECTION 10. CONTRACT AWARD. Within fourteen (14) days of receipt of the Notice of Award from the District, the Proposer shall enter into and execute a Contract (engagement letter) with the District in the form satisfactory to the District. SECTION 11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Nothing herein shall be construed as or constitute a waiver of the District’s limited waiver of liability contained in Section 768.28, Florida Statutes, or any other statute or law. SECTION 12. MISCELLANEOUS. All proposals shall include the following information in addition to any other requirements of the Proposal Documents. A. List the position or title of all personnel to perform work on the District audit. Include resumes for each person listed; list years of experience in present position for each party listed and years of related experience. B. Describe proposed staffing levels, including resumes with applicable certifications. C. Three references from projects of similar size and scope. The Proposer should include information relating to the work it conducted for each reference as well as a name, address and phone number of a contact person. D. The lump sum cost of the provision of the services under the proposal, plus the lump sum cost of four (4) annual renewals. SECTION 13. PROTESTS. In accordance with the District’s Rules of Procedure, any protest regarding the Proposal Documents, must be filed in writing, at the offices of the District Manager, within seventy-two (72) calendar hours (excluding Saturday, Sunday, and state holidays) after the receipt of the Proposal Documents. The formal protest setting forth with particularity the facts and law upon which the protest is based shall be filed within seven (7) calendar days (including Saturday, Sunday, and state holidays) after the initial notice of protest was filed. Failure to timely file a notice of protest or failure to timely file a formal written protest shall constitute a waiver of any right to object or protest with respect to the aforesaid Proposal Documents. SECTION 14. EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS. The criteria to be used in the evaluation of proposals are presented in the Evaluation Criteria Sheet, contained within the Proposal Documents. LAKE EMMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT AUDITOR SELECTION EVALUATION CRITERIA 1. Ability of Personnel. (20 Points) (E.g., geographic location of the firm’s headquarters or permanent office in relation to the project; capabilities and experience of key personnel; present ability to manage this project; evaluation of existing work load; proposed staffing levels, etc.) 2. Proposer’s Experience. (20 Points) (E.g., past record and experience of the Proposer in similar projects; volume of work previously performed by the firm; past performance for other or current Community Development District(s) in other contracts; character, integrity, reputation of Proposer, etc.) 3. Understanding of Scope of Work. (20 Points) Extent to which the proposal demonstrates an understanding of the District’s needs for the services requested. 4. Ability to Furnish the Required Services. (20 Points) Extent to which the proposal demonstrates the adequacy of Proposer’s financial resources and stability as a business entity necessary to complete the services required. 5. Price. (20 Points)*** Points will be awarded based upon the lowest total proposal for rendering the services and the reasonableness of the proposal. Total (100 Points) ***Alternatively, the Board may choose to evaluate firms without considering price, in which case the remaining categories would be assigned 25 points each. LAKE EMMA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR ANNUAL AUDIT SERVICES The Lake Emma Community Development District hereby requests proposals for annual financial auditing services. The proposal must provide for the auditing of the District’s financial records for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, with an option for four (4) additional optional annual renewals. The District is a local unit of special-purpose government created under Chapter 190, Florida Statutes, for the purpose of financing, constructing, and maintaining public infrastructure. The District is located in the City of Groveland, Florida, and has an annual operating budget of approximately $205,307. The final contract will require that, among other things, the audit for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, be completed no later than April 15, 2027. The auditing entity submitting a proposal must be duly licensed under Chapter 473, Florida Statutes, and be qualified to conduct audits in accordance with “Government Auditing Standards,” as adopted by the Florida Board of Accountancy. Audits shall be conducted in accordance with Florida Law and particularly Section 218.39, Florida Statutes, and the rules of the Florida Auditor General. Proposal packages, which include evaluation criteria and instructions to proposers, are available from the District Recording Secretary at 219 East Livingston Street, Orlando, Florida 32801 or via e-mail at bbrookes@gmscfl.com. Proposers must provide one (1) electronic copy (PDF only) of their proposal to the District Recording Secretary, Brittany Brookes, by e-mail at bbrookes@gmscfl.com. Proposals must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, July 13, 2026. Please direct all questions regarding this Notice to the District Recording Secretary at bbrookes@gmscfl.com or (407) 841-5524. George Flint District Manager