01_AR_Permit_NearshoreEast_DEP.pdf

This is a permit document from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the Escambia Nearshore East Artificial Reef Site, prepared in conjunction with the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) authorization. The solicitation seeks proposals for the manufacture, transportation, and precise deployment of approximately 25 Patch Reef modules at a site located approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass in the Gulf of Mexico at water depths of 45-65 feet. Modules will be deployed approximately 500 feet apart within a 2 square nautical mile permitted site centered at coordinates 30°17.600'N; 087°13.700'W. The Request for Proposals includes a pre-solicitation meeting scheduled for November 7, 2025, with a question submission deadline of November 20, 2025, and a proposal response deadline of December 1, 2025 at 10:00 am. The estimated construction date is March 2026, with project completion required by May 1, 2026. Contractors must demonstrate experience with at least three similar Patch Reef artificial reef deployments at comparable depths within the past three years. Proposals will be evaluated on five criteria: module construction and durability (20 points), habitat value (20 points), horizontal and vertical stability (20 points), deployment capability (20 points), and price (20 points).

The total project funding is $450,000, with Escambia County reserving the right to reject all submissions or select a submittal to be funded at a lower amount. The final number and specific coordinates of reef modules will be determined by Escambia County upon receipt of module pricing. Contractors must provide comprehensive insurance including Protection & Indemnity (Marine Liability) with $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, Maritime Workers Compensation with $1,000,000 limits, and Marine Pollution liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, with insurers maintaining a minimum AM Best Rating of VIII and preferably "A" or better. The project is funded through the Florida Artificial Reef Program as part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Phase III Early Restoration Plan related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Successful contractors will be responsible for replacing any damaged modules discovered during inspections conducted within 1-3 weeks after deployment at no cost to Escambia County. No explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations are specified in the solicitation.