01_AR_Permit_NearshoreEast_DEP.pdf

This file is an Army Corps of Engineers and Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit document related to Escambia County's Artificial Reef Construction, Transportation, and Deployment project (AR2609 NRDA EscaRosa) in the Gulf of Mexico. The project involves manufacturing, transporting, and precisely deploying approximately 25 Patch Reef modules within a 2 square nautical mile site located approximately 5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass at water depths of 45-65 feet, with modules spaced approximately 500 feet apart. The final number and design of modules will be determined by Escambia County upon receipt of module pricing. Key dates include a pre-solicitation meeting on November 7, 2025, 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 at least three similar Patch Reef artificial reef deployments at comparable depths within the past three years. Modules will be inspected within 1-3 weeks after deployment, and any damaged modules must be replaced by the contractor at no cost to Escambia County.

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 project is funded through the Florida Artificial Reef Program and is part of the Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Phase III Early Restoration Plan related to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. The solicitation does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. Contractors must provide comprehensive insurance documentation, including Protection & Indemnity (Marine Liability) with $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 policy 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 an "A" or better rating preferred. Proposals will be evaluated across five equally weighted 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).