Contract C5F346

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection awarded a fixed-cost contract valued at $207,118.50 for a coral reef ecosystem research project, with performance period from July 25, 2025 to June 30, 2026. The contract focuses on understanding, reducing, and mitigating coral reef ecosystem declines in Southeast Florida, encompassing seven primary tasks: coral monitoring and reconnaissance, population genetics research, hyposalinity stress experiments, restoration monitoring at St. Lucie Reef, algal symbiont analyses, thermal stress and disease investigation, and comprehensive reporting.

The contract's deliverables are structured across two quarterly milestones, with specific technical requirements for each task. Q1 deliverables (due September 15, 2025) include quality assurance documentation, permit copies, and project milestone reporting. Q2 deliverables (due November 14, 2025) involve detailed scientific outputs such as dive logs, genetic sequence data, experimental data, monitoring spreadsheets, and photographic documentation. The project's technical scope emphasizes comprehensive marine research methodologies, including field observations, laboratory analyses, and systematic documentation to support coral reef conservation and restoration efforts in Florida.