41668RFP26 | Page 1 of 43

It is the responsibility of Respondents who receive this solicitation from sources other than the above listed platforms or St. Johns River Water Management District to contact the District’s Procurement staff prior to the due date to ensure any updates/addenda are received in order to submit a responsible and responsive offer. If you fail to submit a complete and accurate document, the District may deem the offer non-responsive and reject your submittal.

ADDENDA ACKNOWLEDGMENT: Prior to submitting my offer, I have verified that all addenda issued to date are considered as part of my offer:

Addendum No. Date Addendum No. Date Addendum No. Date

RESPONDENT NAME:

STREET ADDRESS:

MAILING ADDRESS (IF DIFFERENT):

PRIMARY E-MAIL ADDRESS (required)

SECONDARY E-MAIL ADDRESS (required)

TELEPHONE: ( ) YEAR COMPANY WAS ESTABLISHED

NAME/TITLE OF PERSON SUBMITTING PROPOSAL:

SIGNATURE OF PERSON SUBMITTING PROPOSAL:

This document must be completed and returned with your submittal

THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

The St. Johns River Water Management District (the “District”) is seeking proposals from qualified Firms to provide visual, quantitative, archivable, georeferenced aquatic habitat monitoring and mapping data, analyses, and reporting of designated District springs and their associated spring runs on a rotating schedule every three years (at most) (the “Work”). Minimal characteristics to be included in the proposal are: flora, channel morphological characteristics, water quality, fauna, identification of restoration areas, and identification of physical impacts.

Interested and qualified Respondents are invited to submit a complete proposal package in accordance with the requirements and specifications detailed in this solicitation. Submittals must address all elements of the Scope of Work and comply with the terms and conditions set forth herein.

Further information is available through DemandStar at demandstar.com, Vendor Registry at vendorregistry.com, Central Bidding at centralbidding.com, the state of Florida’s MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) at myfloridamarketplace.com or the District’s website at sjrwmd.com. Solicitation packages may be obtained from the above platforms. Vendors may also request the solicitation package directly from the District.

For all requests or questions relating to this solicitation, please contact:

Kendall Siemiatkoski, Contracts Manager

Phone: 386-312-2324 or E-Mail: ksiemiat@sjrwmd.com

Pre-Proposal Meeting – No Pre-Proposal Meeting Scheduled

LAST DAY FOR QUESTIONS – January 29, 2026; 5:00PM

SUBMITTAL DUE DATE

1:00 PM Monday, February 9, 2026

41668RFP26 | Page 2 of 43

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

SUBMITTAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM

The undersigned, on behalf of Respondent, hereby certifies and declares the following:

Authority to Bind: The individual signing this form is authorized to represent and legally bind Respondent to the terms and conditions of the solicitation and to Respondent’s submittal.

Commitment to Contract: If selected, Respondent agrees to enter into an Agreement with the District based on the terms set forth in the solicitation documents, including the draft Agreement, Instructions to Respondents, all exhibits and attachments, addenda, certifications, affidavits, and the submittal. Respondent further agrees to provide all required goods and services in accordance with the stated timeline and to submit proof of the required insurance coverage.

Conflict of Interest: Except as disclosed in any attached addendum, no officer, employee, or agent of the District has any direct or indirect interest in Respondent’s business or in any agreement that may result from this submittal.

Respondent affirms that no such interest will exist throughout the term of any awarded Agreement.

Disclosure of Interested Parties: All individuals or entities with a significant interest in this solicitation, whether as principals or key participants in performing the Work, are listed in the form entitled Respondent’s Certificate as to the Entity’s Authority to do Business in Florida. No other party holds any interest in this solicitation or in any resulting Agreement.

Due Diligence: Respondent affirms that it has reviewed and understands the attached draft Agreement and all related documents, including the specifications, addenda, and conditions related to this solicitation. Respondent acknowledges receipt of all issued addenda and confirms it is fully informed regarding the Work to be performed.

Fair Solicitation Submission: This submittal is made independently, without collusion, connection, or agreement with any other person, company, or organization submitting on this solicitation. It is made in good faith and without any attempt to defraud.

By signing this Submittal Acknowledgement Form, I acknowledge I have read and understand it, and I affirm that Respondent complies with all conditions and requirements set forth herein.

RESPONDENT NAME

AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE DATE

PRINTED NAME

TITLE

41668RFP26 | Page 3 of 43

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Sheet Page 1

Solicitation Acknowledgement Form Page 2

Table of Contents Page 3

PART 1 – Scope of Work Pages 4-8

Required Documents & Forms Pages 9-15

(NOTE! Additional documents not included in this section may be required)

PART 2 – Submittal Requirements & General Information Pages 16-25

PART 3 – Draft Agreement Pages 26-43

41668RFP26 | Page 4 of 43

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

PART 1 – SCOPE OF WORK

1. DESCRIPTION

The District is seeking a Firm with a minimum of three (3) years of experience performing springs and spring runs monitoring and mapping services, to perform District Springs and Spring Runs Monitoring and Vegetation Mapping throughout the District’s 18-county jurisdiction in northeastern and central eastern Florida. Respondent (or a combination of the firm, individual or project manager assigned to the Work) must show that it has successfully completed a minimum of three (3) similar projects (monitoring and mapping services) within the last five years immediately preceding the date of the proposal response due date.

Respondent will submit a complete project proposal that meets the Required Project Specifics listed below, is within the project budget, and includes a rotating mapping schedule for the District springs and spring runs listed in Table 1. Proposals shall include a detailed description of proposed scheduling, methods, data collection, post-processing, analyses, reporting, and data transfer.

A proposed schedule shall be included in the submitted Project proposal for a three-year timeframe to provide the following:

• Determination of tasks and detailed annual listing of task benchmarks for fieldwork/data collection, post-processing, analyses, reporting, and all deliverables, including proposed milestones, completion dates and associated costs.

• Information regarding annual reporting, scheduled updates, data delivery, presentations, and a tutorial for use and data transfer to the District should be also included.

Respondent will outline its cost structure clearly and completely. Clarity of the proposed costs, reasonableness of cost and the relationship of cost to completed services/deliverables are important elements in the evaluation of Respondent’s cost proposal.

2. INTRODUCTION

Florida has one of the largest concentrations of freshwater springs on Earth, with more than 1,000 springs within its boundaries. There are 148 known springs within the St. Johns River Water Management District (District). As water levels rise and fall over time, new springs are discovered and reported.

Springs provide natural environmental, recreational and economic benefits for Florida’s residents and visitors. The crystal-clear water from springs supplies the base flow for many rivers and streams and the habitat for wildlife and fish, including manatees, alligators, limpkins, herons and turtles. Springs provide a “window” into the aquifer, allowing for a measure of the health of the Floridan aquifer system. In addition, springs systems have deep historic and cultural significance.

Florida's springs face various complex threats. In recent years, some springs have experienced increased algal growth, declines in native submersed aquatic vegetation, increases in nonnative or exotic vegetation, and/or lower fish abundance. Historic impacts within springsheds may still be affecting many springs’ water quality today. The past residential and commercial use of fertilizers, wastewater from treatment plants, and septic tanks within springsheds have contributed to the reduction in water quality.

Recreation concentrated in springs and their downstream spring runs has caused physical damage as visitors can physically damage vegetation in and around the springs. Swimming, snorkeling and tubing in spring runs can cause water to be cloudy, or turbid, which prevents sunlight from reaching underwater grasses.

Due to these factors, these unique water resources are monitored for the continuation and perpetuation of their unique habitats for fish and wildlife, deep historical and cultural significance, as well as enjoyment and use by people.

Monitoring and aquatic mapping of these springs and spring runs will allow the District to track changes within these systems over time.

41668RFP26 | Page 5 of 43

3. OBJECTIVES

Project Objectives include the assessment of physical characteristics along the thalweg and at specified cross-sections at the time of GIS data collection for each spring and spring run. Minimal characteristics to assess are:

3.1 Flora:

o Percent terrestrial canopy coverage o Emergent vegetation: species present, density, and percent of channel o Emergent floating-leaved vegetation: species present, density, and percent of channel o Submerged aquatic vegetation: species present, density, and percent of channel o Algae: algal type and/or species present, density, and percent of available habitat within the channel

3.2 Channel morphological characteristics:

o Total channel width and depth o Bottom hardness o Navigable channel width o Coarse woody debris: size/type, density, percent of channel o Bank assessment: stable/intact, eroding/sloughing, sedimentation, etc.

3.3 Water quality:

o Temperature o Specific conductivity o Dissolved Oxygen o Colored Dissolved Organic Matter (CDOM) o Turbidity o pH o Visibility

3.4 Fauna:

o Fish: species, abundance, diversity o Turtles: species, abundance, diversity o Manatees: age class (calf, subadult, adult), abundance o Alligators: size class, abundance

3.5 Identification of restoration areas (e.g., exclusion areas, planted areas, etc.)

3.6 Identification of physical impacts (e.g., prop scars, catfish holes, physical disturbances, etc.)

The initial three-years of the Proposed Contract is intended to collect the baseline data for each of the District Springs and Spring Runs listed in the Scope. Subsequent years will collect the same data but will additionally conduct a change analyses between years to determine differences between data collection periods. This would allow District staff to assess habitat composition and distribution, restoration areas, recreational impacts, species abundance and diversity, water quality, and channel morphology over time.

4 SCOPE

Firm will ensure quantitative archivable georeferenced aquatic habitat monitoring and mapping data, post-processing, analyses, and reporting of designated District springs and their associated spring runs on a rotating schedule of (at most) every three-years within the project budget by providing the following services/data:

4.1 Longitudinal mapping of designated District springs and spring runs along the stream thalweg, with methods and timing to maximize visibility in order to maximize detectability.

4.2 Cross-sectional mapping of designated locations along the stream thalweg that align with existing minimum flows and levels or springs monitoring biological or modelling transects.

4.3 Provide archivable visual georeferenced digital documentation.

4.4 Determine continual measurements of percent canopy cover along the thalweg.

4.5 Determine continual measurements of bottom type and hardness, channel characteristics, coarse woody debris, and water depths along the thalweg.

41668RFP26 | Page 6 of 43

4.6 Determine continual measurements of water quality analytes of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductivity, turbidity, CDOM, and visibility.

4.7 Determine continual measurements of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) species presence and abundance, diversity, density, and percent of the channel.

4.8 Determine continual measurements of emergent vegetation (EV) species presence and abundance, diversity, density, and percent of the channel.

4.9 Determine continual measurements of emergent floating-leaved vegetation (EFV) species presence and abundance, diversity, density, and percent of the channel.

4.10 Determine continual measurements of algal type (epiphytic, periphytic, and filamentous algae) presence and abundance, density and percent cover of available habitat for each algal type.

4.11 Determine continual measurements of visible fish, manatee, alligator, and turtle species presence, species abundance, diversity and documentation of visible impacts.

4.12 Determine locations of visible impacts, either observed or evident (e.g., people walking and disturbing SAV, boat scouring, fish beds/burrowing, prop scars, etc.), and document impacts.

4.13 Determine locations of active habitat restoration (e.g., areas with exclusion fencing, identifying signage or posts, etc.), document and quantify, if possible.

4.14 Provide an individual quantitative GIS analysis and summary report (Report) for each of the springs and spring runs mapped annually (i.e., one report per spring/spring run).

4.15 After collection of initial baseline data (within the first three-years), provide a Geographic Information System (GIS) georeferenced change analyses section in the Report (above in Section 2.14) quantifying the differences between years to determine georeferenced changes in submerged and emergent aquatic vegetation, algae, and areas of impact through time at specific locations and summarized for each spring and spring run mapped/monitored.

4.16 Provide the District with all data: original field-collected data, processed/refined data, georeferenced GIS data, and generated data annually, preferably on an appropriately sized hard-drive.

4.17 Provide a recorded virtual tutorial to District staff on how to set up data for optimal use and digital dashboard operation.

4.18 Provide specific reference documentation on data use and operation.

For each spring and spring run area annually monitored and mapped, provide at least one ESRI ArcPro GIS georeferenced visual dashboard and its associated GIS shapefile(s) and data attribute tables. The GIS georeferenced dashboard should show the visual data collected along the thalweg at each location along the spring run and shall be adjustable to allow the user to move it to see data at any point of the spring or along the run.

5 PERMIT RESPONSIBILITIES

Firm shall be responsible for obtaining and complying with any required permits and regulatory approvals from any applicable parties, with the exception of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection State Park Service. The District has already obtained a permit with FDEP State Parks for access and data collection. The District will add the Firm as a subcontractor.

Firm is required to coordinate with all land owning agencies for appropriate access and to have copies of ALL permits available while conducting work for the District. Firm is responsible for complying with all permits at all times.

6 WILDERNESS AREA

The Wilderness Act of 1964 established The National Wilderness Preservation System , creating the federal land designation of wilderness areas. While the meaning of "wilderness" varies, a designated wilderness area is a legal definition of a specific place set aside to preserve natural conditions, provide opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, and to protect cultural, ecological, and historical values. In addition to the Wilderness Act of 1964, numerous laws and administrative policies influence wilderness management today. It is important to be familiar with the laws and regulations that pertain to these Wilderness Areas prior to conducting fieldwork there.

There are three US Forest Service (USFS) federally designated Wilderness Areas associated with District Springs: Billies Bay, Juniper, and Alexander Wilderness Areas. The Successful Respondent must know (or learn) the unique regulations within Wilderness Areas and not violate any of these federal rules. Some examples of Wilderness Area restrictions are the use of any motorized or mechanical equipment, including but not limited to any motorized vehicles including all-terrain https://www.wilderness.org/articles/article/national-wilderness-preservation-system

41668RFP26 | Page 7 of 43 vehicles, four-wheelers and side-by-sides, motorized equipment of any kind (including chain saws), motorboats, airboats, and any landing aircraft. This is essential to be aware of in case of an emergency within the Wilderness Areas, since these regulations may greatly affect emergency response time and extraction plans.

More information about Wilderness Areas can be found here: https://wilderness.net/learn-about-wilderness/regulations.php.

7 ACCESSIBILITY

The District Project Manager will work closely with the Successful Respondent to assist coordinating with State Park, State Forest, U.S. Forest Service, and County contacts necessary to have access to the full Springs and Spring Run areas for mapping.

https://wilderness.net/learn-about-wilderness/regulations.php

41668RFP26 | Page 8 of 43

Table 1. District Springs and Spring Runs designated for mapping of aquatic vegetation and other characteristics listed in the Objectives and Scope.

Discharge

Magnitude Spring Name

Spring Run/River Length

(estimated km) County

Outstanding

Florida Springs Wilderness Areas

1 Alexander Springs 19.3 Lake * Billies Bay & Alexander Wilderness

1 Blue Spring 0.6 Volusia *

1 Silver Glen Springs 1.2 Marion *

1 Silver Springs 8.0 Marion *

2 Juniper Springs 16.1 Marion Juniper Wilderness

2 Rock Springs 14.0 Orange *

2 Salt Springs 6.4 Marion

Wekiwa Springs 25.7

Lake, Orange, Seminole, Volusia

> 100 cubic feet per second (cfs) 10-100 cfs

41668RFP26 | Page 9 of 43

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

PROPOSAL COST AND SCHEDULE FORM

All sections must be completely filled in by Respondent *Each FY must total <=$200,000

Fiscal Year Spring/Spring Runs Total Cost per Fiscal Year

Fiscal Year 1 1.

2.

3.

4.

Fiscal Year 2

Fiscal Year 3

Spring/Spring Run Name

Scheduled FY* (Oct-Sept) Task Cost

Inclusive of: Field Data Collection, Data QA/QC, Data Post- Processing, Analysis and Mapping, Map, Reporting & Data Tutorial, and Data transfer

41668RFP26 | Page 10 of 43

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

RESUME OF KEY INDIVIDUALS

Use one page per individual and additional pages as necessary

Name of Individual: ______________________________________________________________________________________

Title and/or Position: _____________________________________________________________________________________

Indicate if individual is authorized to sign contracts on behalf of Respondent:

Name of Company

Office Location

City of Residence

Years of Experience in

Field

Years with this Firm

Education/Degrees/Professional Designations/Certifications

Describe Related Experience within the last 3 years and individual’s SPECIFIC role ___ This Firm ___ Previous Firm Project Description -

Describe Related Experience within the last 3 years and individual’s SPECIFIC role ___ This Firm ___ Previous Firm Project Description -

Describe Related Experience within the last 3 years and individual’s SPECIFIC role ___ This Firm ___ Previous Firm Project Description -

Significant Accomplishments

41668RFP26 | Page 11 of 43

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

SIMILAR WORK DETAIL

Provide at least three (3) unique projects, similar in scope to the Work described in this solicitation, that Respondent has successfully completed within the last five (5) years. No more than one of the similar projects can be from a project completed for the District.

REFERENCE LETTERS from each project listed below, that address completion time, manner and scope of work, and budget adherence, are required as part of your responsive submittal. Please ensure provided contact information is current. If a District project is cited, do not contact District Staff for a reference letter, simply indicate the District’s Project Number for the similar project you are citing.

The District reserves the right to determine whether or not a project shall be considered “similar.”

Project Owner/Administrator:

Point of Contact: E-Mail:

Phone: Project Start/Completion Dates:

Project Name:

Describe how the scope of work applies to this solicitation:

Reference Letter included (required) - Total Project Cost:

Project Owner/Administrator:

Point of Contact: E-Mail:

Phone: Project Start/Completion Dates:

Project Name:

Describe how the scope of work applies to this solicitation:

Project Owner/Administrator:

Point of Contact: E-Mail:

Phone: Project Start/Completion Dates:

Project Name:

Describe how the scope of work applies to this solicitation:

41668RFP26 | Page 12 of 43

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

PROPOSED SUBCONTRACTORS

FIRM NAME:

Please list all known Subcontractors to be used in connection with your performance of the Agreement. The District reserves the right to accept or reject any Subcontractor based on past performance, location, or any other grounds that may conflict with the best interests of the District. (Use additional pages, if necessary):

Check which applies:

Respondent will NOT utilize Subcontractors: ☐

Respondent will utilize the Subcontractors listed below: ☐

1. Name and address of Subcontractor:

Description of work to be performed:

Estimated % of workload/responsibility:

2. Name and address of Subcontractor:

3. Name and address of Subcontractor:

4. Name and address of Subcontractor:

41668RFP26 | Page 13 of 43

CERTIFICATE AS TO ENTITY’S AUTHORITY TO DO BUSINESS IN FLORIDA

The below entity is incorporated/organized/formed under the laws of the State of ; is authorized by law to respond to this solicitation and perform all Work and furnish materials and equipment required under the Agreement and is authorized to do business in the State of Florida.

Entity name:

Address:

Registration No:

Registered Agent:

By:

(Official title)

(Affix corporate seal, if utilized by Respondent)

Attest:

(Secretary)

The full names and business or residence addresses of persons or firms interested in the foregoing submittal as principals or officers of Respondent are as follows (specifically include the President, Secretary, and Treasurer and state the corporate office held of all other individuals listed):

Identify any parent, subsidiary, or sister entities involving the same or substantially the same officers and directors that will or may be involved in performance of the Project, and provide the same information requested above on a photocopy of this form.

ATTACH a copy of Respondent’s active registration with the State of Florida Division of Corporations proving Respondent’s authority to do business in the State of Florida, or a copy of the application for same that has been accepted by the State of Florida.

41668RFP26 | Page 14 of 43

AFFIDAVIT AS TO NON-COLLUSION AND CERTIFICATION OF

MATERIAL CONFORMANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS

STATE OF

COUNTY OF

I, the undersigned, being first duly sworn, depose and say that:

1. I am the owner or duly authorized officer, representative, or agent of:

, Respondent that has submitted the attached submittal package.

2. The attached submittal is genuine. It is not a collusive or sham submittal.

3. I am fully informed respecting the preparation and contents of, and knowledgeable of all pertinent circumstances respecting the attached submittal.

4. Neither Respondent nor any of its officers, partners, owners, agents, representatives, employees, or parties in interest, including this affiant, has in any way colluded, conspired, connived, or agreed, directly or indirectly, with any other Respondent, firm, or person to submit a collusive or sham submittal package in connection with the Agreement for which the attached submittal package has been submitted, or to refrain from proposing in connection with such Agreement, or has in any manner, directly or indirectly, sought by agreement, collusion, communication, or conference with any other Respondent, firm, or person to fix the price or prices in the attached submittal of any other Respondent , or to fix any overhead, profit, or cost element of the submitted prices or the submitted price of any other Respondent, or to secure through collusion, conspiracy, connivance, or unlawful agreement any advantage against the District or any other person interested in the proposed Agreement.

5. The price(s) included in the attached submittal are fair and proper and are not tainted by any collusion, conspiracy, connivance, or unlawful agreement on the part of Respondent or any of its agents, representatives, owners, employees, or parties in interest, including this affiant.

6. No official or other officer or employee of the District, whose salary or compensation is payable in whole or in part by the District, is directly or indirectly interested in this submittal, or in the supplies, materials, equipment, work, or labor to which it relates, or in any of the profits therefrom.

7. Any materials and equipment proposed to be supplied in fulfillment of the Agreement to be awarded conform in all respects to the specifications thereof. Further, the proposed materials and equipment will perform the intended function in a manner acceptable and suitable for the intended purposes of the District.

Signature:

Title:

The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me by means of ☐ physical presence or ☐ online notarization, this day of , 202 , by as (title) of (Respondent), the party on behalf of whom instrument was executed.

(SEAL)

(Signature)

Notary Public, State of at Large

My commission expires:

41668RFP26 | Page 15 of 43

41668_RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

NO RESPONSE FORM

Your reasons for not responding to this solicitation are valuable to the St. Johns River Water Management District’s procurement process. Please complete this form and return it to the Office of Financial Services no later than the date set for receipt of submittals. Thank you for your cooperation.

Please check (as applicable):

Specifications too “general” (explain below)

Insufficient time to respond to the solicitation

Do not provide this type of work for this project

Schedule would not permit us to perform

Unable to meet solicitation specifications

Specifications unclear (explain below)

Disagree with solicitation or Agreement terms and conditions (explain below)

Other (specify below)

Remarks:

DATE

RESPONDENT (FIRM NAME)

ADDRESS

E-MAIL ADDRESS

SIGNATURE TYPED NAME AND TITLE

TELEPHONE NUMBER

41668RFP26 | Page 16 of 43

41668RFP26 DISTRICT SPRINGS AND SPRING RUNS MONITORING AND MAPPING

PART 2 – SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS & GENERAL INFORMATION

Thank you for your interest in working with the St. Johns River Water Management District. Please direct questions regarding the submittal documents and specifications to the District’s Procurement staff in writing. We look forward to working with you. Pertinent information and required documents regarding this solicitation as part of a responsive submittal are listed below.

St. Johns River Water Management District expects interested individuals and firms will make every effort to assemble a team with the requisite expertise and qualifications to supply the product or service.

The District will publish notice of specifications and criteria, including addenda, intended agency decisions, or other matters pertinent to this solicitation on portals identified on the first page of this document.

2.1 AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA)

The District does not discriminate on the basis of disability in its services, programs, or activities. Special accommodations for disabilities may be requested through Kendall Siemiatkoski, Contracts Manager, or by calling (800) 955-8771 (TTY), at least five (5) business days (Mon – Fri) before the date needed.

2.2 PROHIBITED COMMUNICATION

To ensure a fair and impartial evaluation process, the District strictly prohibits any communication related to this solicitation with any District office, department, bureau, or employee during the submission and evaluation period, except as expressly authorized in this solicitation. Respondents are specifically prohibited from initiating any contact or communication with any District official or employee involved in the evaluation or consideration of submittals, including but not limited to the Executive Director and members of the Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District, prior to the issuance of an award decision. All communication regarding this solicitation shall be initiated by the District’s Procurement staff, and solely for the purpose of obtaining information or clarification necessary for the proper evaluation of submittals. Any attempt by a Respondent to engage in unauthorized communication may result in disqualification from consideration for award under this solicitation and may further result in exclusion from future procurement opportunities with the District.

2.3 PRE-SUBMITTAL MEETINGS, INQUIRIES AND ADDENDA

If scheduled, the pre-submittal meeting information will appear on the first page of this solicitation. If the pre-submittal meeting is not designated as mandatory, then attendance at the pre-submittal meeting is strongly recommended. If the pre-submittal meeting is designated as MANDATORY, each Respondent must attend or its submittal will not be accepted.

During this meeting, the project scope, procedures, and specifications will be discussed. It is also the only opportunity during the open solicitation period for attendees to ask questions directly to the end user.

District staff are not authorized to provide oral interpretations or clarifications of the solicitation documents, including specifications or other agreement terms. All binding interpretations or corrections must be provided in writing, come only from Procurement staff, and be issued as part of an official addendum to this solicitation. The assigned Procurement Specialist may provide general guidance on District procedures and assist in referencing applicable sections of the solicitation documents; however, Respondents remain fully responsible for understanding and following all written requirements and submit accordingly.

In order to be considered, all requests for a written interpretation or correction must be submitted via e-mail before the deadline for questions as stated in this solicitation. All official responses, including clarifications, corrections, or supplemental instructions, will be issued in writing via addenda and posted on the solicitation portals listed on Page 1 of this document, prior to the submittal due date.

By submitting on this solicitation, Respondent is bound by and must acknowledge receipt of all issued addenda.

Submittals will be interpreted as if all addenda were received, whether or not Respondent actually reviewed them. Failure to receive or reviewed the addenda does not relieve Respondent of any obligations under the solicitation or resulting Agreement. All addenda become an official part of the Contract Documents (defined in the Agreement).

41668RFP26 | Page 17 of 43

2.4 PREPARATION, ORGANIZATION AND SUBMITTAL OF PROPOSAL

a. Respondent’s submittal must be submitted in electronic format (no paper copies) either by uploading to DemandStar directly at www.demandstar.com OR to Central Bidding directly at www.centralbidding.com (NOT BOTH); OR by delivering all files on a single pin/thumb/jump drive in a sealed envelope either by mail or hand delivery.

Label all sealed envelopes as follows:

SEALED SUBMITTAL – DO NOT OPEN

Respondent’s Name: ___________________________________________ Request for Proposals: 41668, District Springs and Spring Runs Monitoring and Mapping Opening Time: 1:00 PM Opening Date: February 9, 2026

Kendall Siemiatkoski, Contracts Manager St. Johns River Water Management District District Headquarters 4049 Reid Street Palatka, FL 32177

**Please note that the United States Postal Service does not deliver regular mail or express mail to the above address. The District’s experience is that Federal Express and United Parcel Service will. The District is not responsible for and will not accept or consider late submittals due to delays caused by any mail, package or courier service, including the US mail, or caused by any other occurrence.

DO NOT SUBMIT VIA EMAIL — THIS WILL RESULT IN THE SUBMITTAL BEING REJECTED AS NON-

RESPONSIVE.

b. All blank spaces on the solicitation documents must be typewritten or legibly printed in ink. In the event you decline to submit a response, the District would appreciate submittal of the “No Response Form” provided in this solicitation to describe the reason for not submitting a response.

c. Please do not password protect files saved to a pin/thumb/jump drive. The District recommends that Respondents confirm their submittal documents will open correctly on a non-Respondent-owned computer.

Any electronic submittal received by the District that does not open on a District-owned computer is subject to rejection as a defective response. The file naming conventions for the solicitation must clearly identify specific information such as the solicitation number and Respondent’s name (Example: 12345RFP78, ABC Company).

NOTE! A Respondent’s submittal may be rejected as Non-Responsive for:

(1) Failing to complete all forms.

(2) Failure to provide all required materials; or

(3) Otherwise failing to comply with instructions for preparation and organization of submittal.

2.5 EVALUATION OF SUBMITTALS AND AWARD PROCEDURES

Submittals will be reviewed and evaluated by a staff Evaluation Committee (“Committee”) based on the criteria and weighting outlined in Section 2.6, Scoring Guidelines and Evaluation Criteria.

A Committee meeting will be scheduled, and notice of the meeting, including the date, time, and location, will be posted at least five (5) days in advance on DemandStar, Central Bidding, Vendor Registry, MyFloridaMarketPlace and Florida Administrative Register (FAR). The Committee will meet at District headquarters or another suitable location to discuss and score the submittals. Each Committee member will complete an electronic evaluation form during the meeting, and the compiled results will be used to determine the overall ranking.

a. Evaluation Process

(1) The committee will evaluate and rank the submittals, based upon the established evaluation criteria. If the Committee determines that oral presentations will assist in the evaluation, presentations may be conducted at District headquarters, at another designated location, or remotely, as appropriate.

http://www.demandstar.com/ http://www.centralbidding.com/

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(2) If the Committee determines that not all Respondents will be asked to make an oral presentation, the Committee will complete an initial evaluation to develop a preliminary ranked list. This list will be used to determine which Respondents will be asked to make an oral presentation.

(3) After oral presentations are completed, the committee members will conduct a final evaluation and ranking using the same criteria. Scores from the initial evaluation will not be carried over. All Respondents will be notified in writing of the evaluation committee’s final ranking results.

b. Confidentiality of Evaluation Meetings

Under §286.0113, Fla. Stat., certain portions of meetings related to the solicitation process are exempt from public attendance. These include any part of a meeting where (1) a negotiation with a Respondent is conducted pursuant to a competitive solicitation; (2) a Respondent makes an oral presentation as part of a competitive solicitation; (3) a Respondent answers questions as part of a competitive solicitation; or

(4) negotiation strategies are discussed. Recordings and materials from exempt meetings are confidential and exempt from public disclosure under §119.07(1), Fla. Stat., and §24(a), Article I of the Florida Constitution until the District issues a notice of intended decision or until thirty (30) days after the submittal opening, whichever comes first. All exempt portions of meetings must be fully recorded. No portion of the exempt meeting may be held off the record.

c. Rejection and Reissuance

Pursuant to §286.0113 Fla. Stat., if the District rejects all submittals and concurrently provides notice of its intent to reissue the competitive solicitation, the recording and any records presented at any exempt meeting shall remain exempt from §119.07(1) Fla. Stat., and §24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution (Public Records) until such time as the District provides notice of an intended decision concerning the reissued competitive solicitation or until the District withdraws the reissued competitive solicitation. A recording and any records presented at an exempt meeting are not exempt for longer than 12 months after the initial District notice rejecting all submittals.

d. Approval of Ranking

Once the evaluation process is complete, the Committee’s final ranking will be presented to the Governing Board for approval, unless the Governing Board has delegated authority to the Executive Director or designee to approve and execute the Agreement.

e. Negotiations and Award

Negotiations will begin with the highest-ranked Respondent. If negotiations are unsuccessful, the District may end discussions and proceed to the next highest-ranked Respondent, and so on, until an agreement is reached. The Agreement will be awarded to Respondent that successfully completes negotiations with the District (“Successful Respondent”). The District may include in the Agreement any proposed alternatives determined to be in its best interest.

f. Failure to Execute Agreement

In the event the Successful Respondent fails to enter into the Agreement or the Agreement with said Respondent is terminated within 90 days of the effective date, the District reserves the right to negotiate and award the Agreement to the next highest-ranked Respondent, if available.

g. Notice of Award

All Respondents will be notified of the District’s intent to award or decision to award the Agreement. The time period for filing a protest under §120.57(3), Fla. Stat. will begin as provided in Section titled, PROTEST PROCEDURES, herein.

2.6 SCORING GUIDELINES & EVALUATION CRITERIA

All submittals received in accordance with this solicitation will be evaluated using the following scoring guidelines (multiplied by weights when applicable) unless other scoring is specifically identified in the category.

0 No information included on subject criteria; blank; unacceptable 1 Poor – Indicated responses, but indecipherable or incomplete for subject criteria; unacceptable 2-3 Fair – Contained adequate information, but information is less than required of subject criteria; unacceptable 4-6 Average – Included minimum information requested in subject criteria; acceptable

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7-9 Good – Response was thorough and complete for subject criteria; acceptable 10 Excellent – Response exceeds requested criteria; exceptional resources, staff, materials, etc.; excellent

Failure by Respondent to include the required information may result in the Proposal being considered non-responsive or may receive a correspondingly low score pursuant to the evaluation rating scale.

CRITERIA WEIGHT SCORE TOTAL

A. COMPANY/FIRM AND PROFESSIONAL PERSONNEL

QUALIFICATIONS, CAPABILITIES

Respondent demonstrated its ability and capability to perform services as described in this RFP.

• Respondent provided a brief narrative describing its experience performing vegetation monitoring and mapping services.

• Respondent included its organization profile showing adequacy of staff & proposed project management including specific names, functions and resumes of key personnel assigned to the project (to include years of experience & years with the submitting company), applicable professional certifications and/or licenses, and specific knowledge with regards to the services under this RFP.

• Respondent provided a list of resources and equipment that will be required to execute this proposal.

B. CLIENT REFERENCES AND EXPERIENCE FOR SIMILAR PROJECTS

Respondent provided a minimum of three (3) favorable, applicable, and comparable references with associated reference letters (required) for services performed within the last five (5) years, and they represent the type of services requested for the scope under this RFP.

C. METHODOLOGY

Respondent demonstrated a clear understanding of the required services by providing a detailed plan specifying the methods to be used and the Tasks needed for a three-year timeframe, including scheduling, methods, data collection, post-processing, analysis, reporting, and data transfer.

D. COST PROPOSAL

The responsive and responsible Respondent who submits the lowest proposed overall cost to the District’s budget will receive a raw score of “5.” All other responsive and responsible proposed costs will be scored proportionately.

E. COMPLETENESS OF RESPONSE

Professional presentation, proposal in ordered layout as directed, and included all information as required.

TOTAL 100

*Scores are per Committee Member; to gain maximum points, verify that each item above is supported by all necessary and required documentation listed in the tabs below.

Respondent must adhere to the following organized structure for its submittal as described below:

2.8 SUBMITTAL LAYOUT/ORDER OF DOCUMENTS

Tab 1

A. Agency & Personnel Qualifications /Introduction Letter

1. How is Respondent qualified to provide the required functions of this solicitation?

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(a) Provide a brief history of Respondent, including the number of years in operation and an overview of your organizational structure. Include information demonstrating the adequacy of staffing and proposed project management approach. Identify the key personnel who will be assigned to this project, specifying their names, roles, and responsibilities. For each key individual, include a resume outlining their years of experience and time with Respondent, relevant professional designations, certifications and/or licenses. Additionally, describe any specific expertise as it relates to the services outlined in this solicitation.

(b) Resumes of key individuals and personnel assigned to this project.

2. Has Respondent previously been engaged in the same or similar business under another firm or trade name?

If so, please describe each such instance.

3. Describe any prior or pending litigation or investigation, either civil or criminal, involving a governmental agency or which may affect the performance of the services to be rendered herein, in which Respondent or any of its employees intended for this project is, or has been, involved within the last three (3) years.

4. Has Respondent ever been adjudicated bankrupt, initiated bankruptcy, or been the subject of bankruptcy proceedings on behalf of the current entity submitting the Proposal or a prior entity that Respondent substantially operated or controlled? If yes, please describe the nature and result of those proceedings and the entity involved.

5. Provide a letter from a financial institution with which Respondent has conducted business for at least the last 12 months stating Respondent is in good standing. (Note, this letter should be generic enough to not be considered confidential.)

6. List any current or past clients, projects, or engagements that may present a potential conflict of interest if Respondent is selected to provide services under this solicitation for the District. Include a brief description of the nature of the potential conflict. If no such conflicts exist, please state so explicitly.

Tab 2

B. Client References and Experience

1. **Similar Work Detail

(a) Reference Letters from all entities listed on B1 (if entity cannot or will not provide a letter, select a new reference).

Tab 3

C. Methodology

1. Provide a 3-year plan with proposed schedule including the following:

• Determination and identification of tasks with a detailed listing of Task benchmarks for fieldwork/data collection, post-processing, analyses, reporting, training tutorial and all deliverables, including proposed milestones and completion dates.

• Information regarding annual reporting, scheduled updates, data delivery, presentations, and a tutorial for District use and data transfer to the District should be also included.

Tab 4

D. Cost Proposal

• Cost structure shall be laid out clearly and completely.

Tab 5

E. Insurance Requirements (Proof of Insurability)

The submittal shall contain proof of insurability issued by a company authorized to do business in the State of Florida and with an A.M. Best Company rating of at least A- or greater for the required insurance(s) listed below.

1. Worker’s Compensation Insurance

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Coverage to apply for all employees at STATUTORY Limits in compliance with applicable state and federal laws.

a. Workers’ compensation and employer’s liability coverage, including Longshore and Harbor Workers’ compensation, if applicable, in not less than the minimum STATUTORY limits required by Florida law.

b. Respondent, and its insurance carrier, waives all subrogation rights against St. Johns River Water Management District, its officials, employees and volunteers for all losses or damages which occur during the contract and for any events occurring during the Agreement term, whether the suit is brought during the Agreement term or not.

c. If Respondent claims an exemption from workers’ compensation coverage, Respondent must provide a copy of the Certificate of Exemption from the Florida Division of Workers’ Compensation for all officers or members of an LLC claiming exemption who will be participating in the Work. In addition, Respondent must provide a completed District “Affidavit (Non-Construction)” for non-construction contracts. Respondent is solely responsible for compliance with any Federal workers’ compensation laws such as Jones Act and USL&H Act, including any benefits available to any workers performing work on this project.

2. Commercial General Liability

a. Commercial General Liability Insurance on an “Occurrence Basis,” with limits of liability for each occurrence of not less than $1,000,000 for personal injury, bodily injury, and property damage, with a(n) project aggregate of $2,000,000.

b. Coverage shall include: (1) contractual liability, (2) products and completed operations, (3) independent contractors, and (4) property in the care, control, or custody of Respondent. Extensions shall be added or exclusions deleted to provide the necessary coverage.

3. Business Automobile Liability

a. $500,000 combined single limit.

4. Watercraft Liability.

a. Coverage: $1,000,000 (each occurrence) for bodily injury and property damage.

NOTE! The Successful Respondent will be required to obtain and provide a Certificate of Insurance that meets all requirements listed above, references the Agreement number and shows St. Johns River Water Management District named as additional insured.

F. Proof of Respondent’s active registration on www.sunbiz.org G. Proof of Respondent’s active registration with E-Verify H. Copy of all licenses and certifications required by the City/County/State/Federal/this solicitation

Required forms included in this solicitation

I. Proposal Cost and Schedule Form J. Certificate as to Respondent’s ability to do business in the State of Florida K. Affidavit as to Non-Collusion and Certification of Material Conformance with Specifications L. Proposed Subcontractors M. Proposal Acknowledgement Form N. Cover Page /Addenda Acknowledgement

2.9 PROPOSAL SPECIFICATIONS, ASSEMBLY, AND SUBMITTAL

(a) Proposal requirements:

(1) One (1) Original Document – uploaded into DemandStar or Central Bidding as a single .pdf file.

(2) Page Limit – None, if not otherwise specified herein this document.

(3) Page Size – 8 ½ x 11; oversized pages must be scanned to print out to appropriate page sizes, if necessary.

(b) Assembly requirements:

Submitted in order of Submittal Layout as listed above – documents should be scanned as PDF or similar format as one complete package.

(c) Submittal requirements:

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Complete package – Complete package shall consist of all required information and documents as listed in Section 2.8 under Submittal Layout/Order of Documents.

2.10 SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

An individual submitting on this solicitation must sign his/her name therein and state his/her address and the name and address of every other person interested in this solicitation as principal.

If a partnership submits on this solicitation, state the name and address of each member of the partnership.

If the Respondent is a corporation or limited liability company, the submittal must be executed by an authorized officer, member, or duly authorized agent. The signature shall include the legal name of the entity and the signer’s name and title, and the corporate seal shall be affixed if applicable. Such agent or officer/member must also provide the name of the state under which the entity is chartered/formed, and the names and business addresses of the officers/members.

All entities must submit evidence of registration with…