SUWANNEE RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

INVITATION TO BID

NO. 25/26-004

SUWANNEE RIVER ACCESS SITE LEASE

Table of Contents

Section Title Page 1 Introduction 2 2 Proposed Schedule 2 3 Instructions to Bidders 2-3 4 Key Points 3-5 5 Terms of Lease 5 6 Bid Response Form 6-8

Suwannee River Water Management District

9225 CR 49

Live Oak, FL 32060 386-362-1001

386-362-1056 (Fax) 800-226-1066 (Florida only) www.mysuwanneeriver.com

SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION

The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) is requesting bids for the lease of six Suwannee River access sites located on five tracts of land within Suwannee and Hamilton Counties for conducting commercial vendor shuttle drop off / pick up operations for recreational paddlers.

SECTION 2 - PROPOSED SCHEDULE

December 11, 2025 Release of Invitation to Bid December 17, 2025 Questions DUE BY 4:00 P.M.

December 18, 2025 District will post all questions that were asked during the question period and answers to those questions on or before 5:00 PM.

December 24, 2025 Bids DUE PRIOR TO 10:00am. Opening will occur at this time. * February 10, 2026 Board Consideration of Lease Agreement February 16, 2026 Anticipated start date.

* Denotes an optional public meeting. The District is located at the corner of U.S. 90 and C.R.

49 in Live Oak, Florida. All times are Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

Bid packages are to be submitted through DemandStar no later than 10:00 a.m.

December 24, 2025. Bids received after this time, for any reason, will be rejected.

SECTION 3 - INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS

Bidder Qualifications: Bidders shall be bonded, licensed, and insured.

Questions: To provide equal opportunity and ensure the same information is provided to all proposers, any questions should be submitted by email to Sharon Hingson at Sharon.Hingson@srwmd.org on or before December 17, 2025, 2025. The questions with answers will be posted on the District website www.mysuwanneeriver.com, and DemandStar on December 18, 2025. District staff are not authorized to orally interpret the meaning of the specification or other agreement documents, or correct any apparent ambiguity, inconsistency, or error therein.

Delivery of Bid: The bid package must be submitted electronically through Demand Star.

https://www.demandstar.com/app/agencies/florida/suwannee-river-water-management-district/procurement .

Additional Information: Additional Invitation to Bid packages may be obtained from the District website www.mysuwanneeriver.com .

ADA Compliance: Vendor must ensure that the electronic version of the response and all documents submitted electronically are accessible according to 282.603 Florida Statutes and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 relating to the creation and use of electronic documents. This requirement applies to editable formats, such as Microsoft Word, as well as portable document formats (PDF). All proposals submitted in electronic/digital format must include a certification by the Vendor that the electronic submission and all supporting documents are accessible according to 282.603 Florida Statutes and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 relating to the creation and use of electronic documents.

mailto:Ashley.Spivey@srwmd.org http://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/ https://www.demandstar.com/app/agencies/florida/suwannee-river-water-management-district/procurement https://www.demandstar.com/app/agencies/florida/suwannee-river-water-management-district/procurement http://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/

It is the obligation of the bidder to ensure that it has reviewed all amendments and all questions and answers to this ITB as posted on the District website to ensure that the proposal responds to the most current information available for the ITB.

SECTION 4 – KEY POINTS

Challenge of Solicitation Process: If a potential bidder protests any provisions of this bid invitation, a notice of intent to protest shall be filed with the District, in writing, within 72 hours after the posting of the Invitation to Bid on the District’s website and the bidder shall file a formal written protest within ten (10) days after filing of notice of intent to protest. Any bidder who files a formal written protest pursuant to Chapter 28-110, Florida Administrative Code, and Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes shall post with the District at the time of filing the formal written protest, a bond pursuant to Section 287.042(2)(c), Florida Statutes (2010).

Failure to file a notice of intent to protest or failure to file a formal written protest within the time prescribed in Chapter 28-110, Florida Administrative Code and Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. More specifically, “Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3) Florida Statutes shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120 of Florida Statutes.”

Challenge of District’s Intent to Award Contract: If a bidder intends to protest District’s intent to award contract, the notice of intent to protest must be filed with the District, in writing, within 72 hours after posting of a notice of intent to award contract and the bidder shall file a formal written protest within ten (10) days after filing of notice of intent to protest. Any bidder who files a formal written protest pursuant to Chapter 28-110, Florida Administrative Code, and Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes shall post with the District at the time of filing the formal written protest, a bond pursuant to Section 287.042(2)(c), Florida Statutes (2010).

Failure to file a notice of intent to protest or failure to file a formal written protest within the time prescribed in Chapter 28-110, Florida Administrative Code and Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. More specifically, “Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3) Florida Statutes shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120 of Florida Statutes.”

Americans with Disabilities Act: The District does not discriminate upon the basis of any individual’s disability status. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District’s functions including one’s access to, participation, employment, or treatment in its programs or activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the District at (386) 362-1001 or (800) 226-1066 (Florida only).

The District’s fax number is (386) 362-1056.

Minority Business Enterprises: The District recognizes fair and open competition as a basic tenet of public procurement. Bidders doing business with the District are prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, handicap, age, or sex. The District encourages participation by minority business enterprises. Whenever two or more service providers are ranked equally, a minority business enterprise shall be given preference in the award process.

Veteran’s Preference: In the absence of minority business enterprise, whenever two or more service providers are ranked equally by the District, a veteran-owned business enterprise shall be given preference in the award process.

Drug Free Workplace Act: The selected bidder shall represent that it has established a drug free workplace.

Public Entity Crime: Section 287.133(2)(a), Florida Statutes, states “A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in s.287.017 for CATEGORY TWO for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list.”

Scrutinized Company: Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, states “A company is ineligible to, and may not, bid on, submit a proposal for, or enter into or renew a contract with an agency or local governmental entity for goods or services of:

a. Any amount if, at the time of bidding on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing such contract, the company is on the Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List, created pursuant to s. 215.4725, or is engaged in a boycott of Israel; or

b. One million dollars or more if, at the time of bidding on, submitting a proposal for, or entering into or renewing such contract, the company:

1. Is on the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in Sudan List or the Scrutinized Companies with Activities in the Iran Petroleum Energy Sector List, created pursuant to s. 215.473; or

2. Is engaged in business operations in Cuba or Syria.”

Insurance Requirements: If awarded, bidder shall represent and guarantee that all employees, agents, servants or representatives of the bidder, and all employees, agents, servants, or representatives of subcontractors are covered by workers' compensation insurance as required by Florida Statute. Prior to entering into contract with the District, bidder shall furnish District with certificates of insurance, naming District as named or additional insured without waiving any defense of sovereign immunity or increasing the limits of District’s liability in excess of the Florida Statutory Cap under Florida Statute 768.28(5) for items 2 and 3 below, providing evidence that bidder has in full force and effect the following minimum insurance with insurers authorized to do business in the State of Florida:

1) Workers' compensation insurance as required above;

2) Motor vehicular liability insurance with limits of not less than $300,000 combined single limit which insurance shall be applicable to any and all vehicles utilized by bidder to provide the services requested by District;

3) Commercial general liability insurance for all services rendered by bidder for the requested services with a minimum of $300,000 personal and advertising injury and $300,000 general aggregate.

The certificate of insurance shall also provide that District shall be notified in writing by the carrier at least 30 days prior to any cancellation of said insurance.

http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0200-0299/0215/Sections/0215.4725.html http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0200-0299/0215/Sections/0215.473.html

Rejection of Responses: The District reserves the right to reject any and all bids or other proposals submitted in response to District invitation. District also reserves the right to waive any minor deviations in an otherwise valid proposal. The District reserves the right to waive technical, non-substantive deficiencies in responses.

Bidders to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-business hour period following the agency posting the notice of intended award, any employee or officer of the District concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing as indicated above. Violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a response.

SECTION 5 – TERMS OF LEASE

The following provides fundamental information about the property and is provided to assist the respondent in preparing its offer.

1. BACKGROUND:

In accordance with Section 373.1391(1)(b) Florida Statutes, the District will make its lands available for outdoor recreational activities to the maximum extent possible considering the environmental sensitivity of those lands.

Any activity that requires access beyond that ordinarily provided for the public, is commercial in nature is subject to 373.093 F.S. and 40B-9.145 F.A.C. and must be approved by the District in advance.

A lease agreement will be required for activities which are commercial in nature. All leases require Governing Board approval.

1. DESCRIPTION:

The Suwannee River Water Management District is offering commercial vendors conducting shuttle drop off / pick up operations for recreational paddling activities the opportunity to launch or pickup paddling equipment and/or recreationalists at District owned sites through a lease.

The property to be leased is a total of six access points located on five tracts of land within Suwannee and Hamilton Counties for conducting commercial vendor shuttle drop off / pick up operations. The sites are located at Suwannee Springs Park, Mattair Springs Tract, Woods Ferry Tract, Blue Sink Tract, and Swift Creek Tract. See Attachment A for a map of the sites.

SECTION 6 - BID RESPONSE FORM

ITB 25/26-004

Qualifications Response Form

Bidders are required to complete and submit this form as part of the bid package.

PLEASE USE ADDITIONAL SHEETS AS NECESSARY

Date: _________________

Company:

Telephone: _

Address: _

Website: _

Point of Contact for this submittal: _

Telephone: Email: _

Have you previously done work for the District? Yes____ No . If Yes, explain.

Are you currently under contract with or have been selected on a services shortlist for the District? Yes No . If yes, explain.

Have you previously done work for, or do you currently represent any clients who may cause a potential conflict of interest if you are selected? Yes_____ No______ If Yes, list clients and nature of conflict:

Is your company eligible for veteran's preference? Yes______ No______ Please include supporting documentation.

Are you a minority Business or Enterprise? Yes_____ No_______ Please include supporting documentation.

REFERENCES

Agency/Company: _

Contact: _

Telephone: Email: _

Project Description: _

Agency/Company: _

Contact: _

Telephone: Email: _

Project Description: _

Agency/Company: _

Contact: _

Telephone: Email: _

Project Description: _

BID SHEET

Date: Contractor: ___________________________

Please complete the table listed below.

Bid award will be to multiple vendors based on the individual site lease amount.

Minimum acceptable bid is $100.00 per site, per year.

*Bids can be for one to six sites.

*Type N/A in Bid box where you do not wish to bid.

TRACT

COUNTY

BID PER SITE

PER YEAR

Suwannee Springs Park

Suwannee

NW Mattair Springs

Suwannee

NE Mattair Springs

Suwannee

Woods Ferry Suwannee

Blue Sink Suwannee

Swift Creek Hamilton

By: ___________________________________

Print Name: ____________________________

As its _________________________________

EXHIBIT A LOCATION MAP