42257QR26 Herbicide at LMCA.pdf

Rev. 5.15.26 42257QR26 | Page 1 of 48

It is the responsibility of Respondents who receive this solicitation from sources other than the portals identified above 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 QUOTE:

SIGNATURE OF PERSON SUBMITTING QUOTE:

This document must be completed and returned with your submittal

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

QUOTE REQUEST

42257QR26 MANUAL CUTTING/HAND CLEANING AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT AT LAKE MONROE

CONSERVATION AREA

The St. Johns River Water Management District (the “District”) is seeking submittals from qualified contractors to manually cut approximately 40 acres of trees and shrubs, along with cut stump herbicide application in and along ditches in specified areas of scrub at the Lake Monroe Conservation Area (LMCA) (the “Work”). Contractor must provide a field supervisor with a valid Florida Pesticide Applicators License for Natural Areas. The estimated budget for the Work is $40,000. All Work must be completed by September 15, 2026.

Interested and qualified Respondents are invited to submit a complete submittal 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, Central Bidding at centralbidding.com, the state of Florida’s MyFloridaMarketPlace at myfloridamarketplace.com or the District’s website at sjrwmd.com. Solicitation packages may be obtained from the above portals. Respondents may also request the solicitation package directly from the District.

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

Breanna Pierce, Procurement Specialist

Phone: 386-643-1168 or E-Mail: BPierce@sjrwmd.com

MANDATORY PRE-QUOTE MEETING – June 8, 2026, at 11:00 am, at 282 Lemon Bluff Road, Osteen, Florida 32764, 28°49'50.2"N 81°09'58.6"W.

LAST DAY FOR QUESTIONS – June 8, 2026; 5:00PM

QUOTE DUE DATE

2:00 PM Thursday, June 11, 2026

*PLEASE NOTE – Submittals must include all required documents and forms that are requested in this solicitation or the submittal may be deemed non-responsive.

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42257QR26 MANUAL CUTTING/HAND CLEANING AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT AT LAKE MONROE

CONSERVATION AREA

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Sheet Page 1

Table of Contents Page 2

PART 1 – Scope of Work Pages 3 - 8

Quote Form Page 9

PART 2 – Submittal Requirements & General Information Pages 10 - 16

PART 3 – Required Documents & Forms Pages 17 - 25

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

PART 4 – Draft Agreement Pages 26 - 48

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42257QR26 MANUAL CUTTING/HAND CLEANING AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT AT LAKE MONROE

CONSERVATION AREA

PART 1 – SCOPE OF WORK

I. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND

This project calls for manually cutting of up to 40 acres of trees and shrubs, along with cut stump herbicide application in and along ditches in specified areas of scrub at the Lake Monroe Conservation Area (LMCA) owned by St. Johns River Water Management District (the “District”).

The objectives in purchasing these lands are to acquire land for water resource conservation, natural resource management, and natural resource protection. Protection and improvement of natural systems is a District core mission. Included in the management plan goals for the LMCA are the restoration, maintenance and protection of native vegetation, fish and wildlife communities and their diversity. These areas of overgrown vegetation have potentially degraded portions of the surrounding scrub decreasing productive scrub jay habitat. Prescribed fire is the preferred tool to use for the protection, maintenance and improvement of the natural community however much of the scrub in the project area is to the point where fire alone cannot maintain nor improve suitable habitat. By strategically managing vegetation in and along these ditches, the project will increase suitable scrub jay habitat.

II. OBJECTIVES

The objective of this project is to eliminate overgrown vegetation (trees and shrubs whether dead or alive) in and along the ditches to allow scrub jays a clear line-of-sight across the scrub habitat and also to reduce fire shadows along fire lines and wetland edges.

III. SCOPE

This project consists of manually cutting down up to 40 acres of fire suppressed scrub in an area of LMCA in Osteen (Exhibit 1). The contractor will manually cut down all trees and shrubs whether live or dead inside and adjacent to drainage ditches and along wetland edges in the project area. Contracted work will include the use of chainsaws and hand cutting equipment to eliminate concerns of heavy equipment impact. All trunks will be cut flush with the ground (or flush with water level if in standing water). Cut material will be left on-site and left in place, except that felled debris will be cleared from fire breaks, trails, and removed from ditches. All stumps of non-native and resprouting species (such as but not limited to Brazilian pepper, lantana, oak species, sweetgum, wax myrtles) will be treated with District supplied chemicals. The project area is heavily impacted by rainfall and water levels will fluctuate drastically.

The contractor must plan for and adjust all necessary equipment, staff and chemical applications accordingly.

Completing this project before rainy season would be advantageous for the contractor and will allow for the maximum billable acreage.

Site work may require the following equipment:

a) Small boats, kayaks or canoes (if water level in ditches dictate the need).

b) 4WD UTV’s and/or ATV’s with winches for traversing off roads and fire lines.

c) 4WD trucks for traversing ONLY on roads and fire lines.

IV. TASK IDENTIFICATION

Materials and Application

a) Application shall be performed in such a manner as to protect non-target species, the environment, and the public. Terrestrial vegetation to be treated includes, but is not limited to: broadleaf plants, grasses, vines, brush and certain tree species. These are general guidelines only.

b) The District shall provide the spray materials and use rates. Mixing of the materials shall be the responsibility of Contractor at the site. Contractor shall be responsible for rinsing containers according to specified regulations. District personnel, at their discretion, may dispose of the containers after proper rinsing has been completed by Contractor.

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c) Contractor shall have the right to examine the spray materials.

d) Once mobilized, work effort shall continue consecutive workdays until the project is complete. Upon the agreement between the District’s Project Manager (“DPM”) and Contractor, work may be suspended due to inclement weather or other unforeseen need for delay. The DPM shall determine when work can commence after a break is necessary.

e) Contractor shall adhere to the organo-auxin rule (5E-2.033, FAC) while applying organo-auxins and plant growth regulator products. It is recommended that the Contractor fill out the FDACS suggested pesticide record keeping form (Exhibit 2) for these applications.

f) Upon completion of the treatments, Contractor must provide GPX or GPS tracklogs with the data required for daily application records to the DPM.

g) Contractor shall assume full responsibility for systematically treating the areas as directed by the DPM. Areas not treated or not responding to treatment may be required to be retreated at the Contractor's sole expense if it is determined that the Contractor provided faulty treatment measures.

h) Contractor has full responsibility for accurately treating the sites. Areas not treated, either by malfunctioning equipment or missed treatment patterns, as well as not treated or not responding to treatment may be required to be reapplied at Contractor’s expense.

Contractor Responsibilities include:

a) Contractor is responsible for the repair, restoration, or replacement of any non-target species of vegetation or property damaged as a result of any activity by the Contractor, at no cost to SJRWMD and to the satisfaction of the DPM.

b) Contractor shall provide one field supervisor assigned as the main point of contact for the duration of the Work Order to ensure maximized application time.

c) Contractor must provide one supervisor licensed with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in the natural areas category for each accepted work order. There shall be one licensed staff for every 15 crew members to remain on-site, each day that work is performed for the duration of the work order.

d) Contractor shall Adhere to all federal, state and local regulations governing the application, transportation, storage, use and disposal of products utilized in the performance of this contract. These regulations include, at a minimum, F.I.F.R.A., CFR 1920, OSHA General Industry Standards, and Chapter 487, Florida Statutes.

e) Herbicide chemicals shall be handled and applied according to the most current manufacturer’s label instructions.

f) Ensure that work only occurs during daylight hours and within the project area specified.

g) Provide mobilization and demobilization to and from each site.

h) Ensure that all stumps, stubble and downed vegetation are cut to ground level (or water level if applicable; that cut debris is removed from fire breaks, trails and inside ditches; and that all stumps of non-native and resprouting species (such as but not limited to Brazilian pepper, lantana, oak species, sweetgum, wax myrtles) will be chemically treated. Chemicals and adjuvants will be supplied by the District at no cost to the Contractor. Measuring, mixing and application staff and equipment will be supplied by the Contractor.

i) Complying 100% with the agreed-upon plan of work. Method of treatment will be low volume cut-stump.

Applications must be at the appropriate rate suggested by the manufacturer and in accordance with the label.

All work must be done according to the work statement, EPA standards and herbicide label restrictions.

j) Providing adequate personnel and equipment for the purpose of mixing, loading and applying the chemicals.

The Contractor shall be responsible for all unloading/loading operations. Movement of chemicals, water, and equipment in and around the treatment locations shall be the sole responsibility of the Contractor’s applicators.

k) The Contractor shall be responsible for providing sufficient equipment, fuel (for equipment), safety items, spill response kit, personnel and their subsistence needs during the project period, as well as checking all work sites for hazards of any type which could affect their ability to accomplish the spraying project.

l) Supplying equipment to meter chemicals and water mixtures and shall provide mixing and loading equipment and water. Water hauling services may be required. The Contractor must be capable of calibrating equipment

Rev. 5.15.26 42257QR26 | Page 5 of 48 to the final application rate specifications. *NOTE: All equipment and personnel must be able to work at a semi-remote and semi-primitive site (i.e., no electrical or water hookups, bathrooms, or other facilities available).

m) Perform joint inspection of completed work with DPM. Verification of work being performed will be done by on-site observation by District’s Project Manager.

n) Properly maintain all equipment. District reserves the right to require Contractor to submit copies of equipment maintenance records, if requested.

o) Ensuring that the work area is always kept clear of rubbish. Discharge of oil, diesel, hydraulic fluid or excess pesticides (including rinsate) is prohibited on all District lands. Contractor shall have always onsite an adequate spill kit.

p) In the event of equipment failure, the Contractor shall replace the on-site equipment with similar or better equipment within 72 hours of the breakdown. However, if the Contractor cannot repair and return the equipment to active service within the 72-hour timeframe the DPM shall be notified.

q) Work performance shall be defined as complete treatment of the project area by the acre. Any acreage not meeting required standards shall be retreated prior to September 15, 2026 at no additional cost to the District.

r) Provide the DPM with at least 24-hour notice to inspect completed work.

s) Due care shall be exercised against starting and spreading fires during operations by Contractor and/or its employees. The Contractor shall be held liable for all damage caused by such fires.

t) The Contractor shall repair or replace, at his/her expense, any damages to fences, cattle guards, gates, power lines, water control structures or any other improvements. Any repairs necessary after operations are complete shall be the responsibility of the contractor.

u) Project site roads and firebreaks shall be returned to their original pre-work condition prior to final site visit by District’s Project Manager.

v) If route(s) go through gate(s), the Contractor shall close and lock, if applicable, upon ingress/egress.

w) The Contractor shall take due care in avoiding gopher tortoises, burrows and any other wildlife encountered in the area. Contractor shall be familiar with endangered species (plant and animal) identification and associated setbacks. If a Contractor observes endangered species, it shall be immediately reported to the Site Manager.

Contractors shall be familiar with rules, laws and guidelines that restrict activities around endangered species.

x) Public safety must be ensured during the project. LMCA is a multi-use property with occasional heavy visitation by the public. In application areas where there is potential for public use, the District shall advise the Contractor of any public use hazards. It shall be the ultimate responsibility of the Contractor to initiate operations safely – GO/NO GO. The Contractor shall mitigate for herbicide contamination on District land and adjacent private property, and any adjacent waters. Herbicides shall be applied and utilized as approved or recommended on the label. Any fines or penalties for herbicide contamination or resultant environmental damage shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

y) The Contractor shall prevent the introduction of non-native vegetation by following the procedures for equipment inspection and cleaning as outlined in the publication: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, Colorado, Technical Memorandum No. 86-68220-07-05, Inspection and Cleaning Manual for Equipment and Vehicles to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species, May 2010. Any vehicles or equipment brought onsite shall be properly decontaminated prior to entering District lands and will be inspected by the District. The District reserves the right to perform equipment inspections as necessary.

z) The Contractor is solely responsible for being fully informed of the conditions under which the Work is to be performed in relation to existing conditions. The Contractor is responsible for carefully examining the general area of the Work, the requirements of the Request and other contract documents related to the Work, the time in which the Work must be completed, and any other details of the Work. The Contractor must satisfy itself from its own personal knowledge and experience or professional advice as to the character of the Work, the conditions and materials to be encountered, the character, quality, and quantities of the Work, and any other conditions affecting the Work, including surrounding land. Failure to satisfy the obligations of this paragraph will not relieve a Contractor from its obligation to furnish all material, equipment, and labor necessary to perform and to complete the Work for the consideration set forth in the Work Order. Any such failure will not

Rev. 5.15.26 42257QR26 | Page 6 of 48 be sufficient cause to submit a claim for additional compensation. No verbal agreement or conversation with any District officer, agent or employee, either before or after the execution of the Agreement or Work Order, will affect or modify any of its terms.

District Responsibilities include:

a. Provide access to the Project Area.

b. Describe specifically the nature of the work to be accomplished to the equipment operator via the project statement of work and on site.

c. Describe specific equipment parameters desired/necessary to complete the work in respective project statements of work.

d. Delineate the project area and provide a map.

e. Coordinating the project and scheduling with the Contractor.

f. The Project Manager, or their designated representative will make unscheduled inspections of equipment and work accomplished to ensure compliance with job specifications and evaluate performance. Project Manager may order removal and replacement of any unsatisfactory equipment.

g. Perform reconnaissance of the work area to ensure protected species are not present. Should any be located, operations within impacted areas will be delayed or possibly terminated.

h. The Project Manager, or their designated representative, reserves the right to suspend or terminate project activities if site conditions become excessively wet, or if the area is closed to the public for safety reasons due to a natural disaster or other emergency.

V. TIME FRAMES AND DELIVERABLES

Project shall begin no later than 30 days from the date of the Work Order execution, weather permitting, and be completed and verified by Project Manager prior to September 15, 2026.

Exhibits:

Exhibit 1 – Lake Monroe Conservation Area Scrub Restoration Hand Cleaning Map Exhibit 2 – FDACS Suggested Pesticide Recordkeeping Form

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EXHIBIT 1 – LAKE MONROE CONSERVATION AREA SCRUB RESTORATION HAND

CLEANING MAP

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EXHIBIT 2 – FDACS SUGGESTED PESTICIDE RECORDKEEPING FORM

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42257QR26 MANUAL CUTTING/HAND CLEANING AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT AT LAKE MONROE

CONSERVATION AREA

QUOTE FORM

PUBLIC RECORDS: Florida Statutes provide that sealed submittals or replies received by the District shall remain exempt from disclosure until an intended decision is announced or until 30 days from the opening, whichever is earlier.

This means that Respondents will not be able to obtain a copy of their competitors’ submittals until the statutory time has elapsed.

UNIT PRICES: Unit prices on the Quote Form may be used to correct any extensions, and if adjusted, will be identified on the detailed tabulation as corrected. Unit costs will not be changed. If Respondent fails to include a unit price and only includes the total, the District reserves the right to mathematically calculate the unit cost and enter to establish a price for the Agreement and potential additional purchases of affected line items.

AIS REQUIREMENT: If the solicitation concerns a public works project or involves the procurement of materials for use in a public works project as defined in §255.0993, Fla. Stat., the Respondent hereby acknowledges that it is obligated to comply with the American Iron and Steel Requirement (the “AIS Requirement”) set forth therein and Respondent hereby certifies that any iron or steel product contained in this Cost Schedule that is to be permanently incorporated into the subject project will be produced in the United States in accordance with the AIS Requirement. Respondent agrees that it shall be responsible for any penalty imposed as a result of Respondent’s failure to comply with the AIS Requirement. In addition, Respondent has included any costs associated with the AIS Requirement into this cost schedule.

UNDER PENALTIES OF PERJURY, I, as the Respondent’s authorized officer or representative, hereby declare that I have fully reviewed the Respondent’s submittal, of which this Cost Schedule is a part; that all facts stated in the submittal are true; that I understand all terms and conditions set forth in the District’s solicitation; and that, if awarded, the Respondent shall fully comply with all terms and conditions.

Name of Respondent Company

Authorized Representative Signature Date

Printed Name/Title

DESCRIPTION

EST.

ACRES

UNIT

COST PER

ACRE

TOTAL

Manually cut trees and shrubs, along with cut stump herbicide application in and along ditches in specified areas of scrub at the Lake Monroe Conservation Area

(LMCA)

40 Acre $ $

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42257QR26 MANUAL CUTTING/HAND CLEANING AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT AT LAKE

MONROE CONSERVATION AREA

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 member listed on the first page of this solicitation, 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.

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

2.1 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Respondent must satisfy the following minimum qualifications. Instructions for providing this documentation is provided herein. Failure to provide required documentation as instructed may result in a submittal being rejected as non-responsive.

(a) Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of experience performing Work of a similar nature as set forth on the Scope of Work.

(b) Similar projects: Respondent must have successfully completed a minimum of three (3) projects similar in size and scope to the services described in this solicitation. Respondent shall provide the required project information on the SIMILAR PROJECTS FORM. The District reserves the right to determine whether a project qualifies as “similar”.

(c) Respondent must provide a field supervisor with a valid Florida Pesticide Applicators License for Natural Areas and must be onsite during all herbicide applications. (Respondent provided documentation must be included with its Bid).

Irrespective of the minimum qualifications stated above, the District may make such investigations as it deems necessary to determine the ability of the Respondent to perform the Work. The District reserves the right to reject any submittal if the evidence submitted by such Respondent and/or the District’s independent investigation of such Respondent fails to satisfy the District that such Respondent is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the Agreement and complete the Work in a manner acceptable to the District within the time period specified.

2.2 BUDGET ESTIMATE

The estimated budget is an estimate only and does not limit the District in awarding the Agreement.

Respondents are cautioned to not make any assumptions from the Project Manager’s construction estimate about the total funds available for the Work. The District retains the right to adjust the estimate in awarding the Agreement. The District also reserves the right to reject all Quotes if subsequent negotiations with qualified Respondents result in costs over the engineer's construction estimate. In addition, the District reserves the right to increase, decrease, or delete any class, item, or part of the Work in order to reduce costs for any reason. The District may discuss alternatives for reducing the cost of the Work with Respondents and make such modifications as it determines to be in its best interest.

2.3 HOW TO ASSEMBLE YOUR SUBMITTAL

The following documents and forms must accompany any submittal in the order identified. Please do not include items not requested. A submittal returned without these documents may be deemed the submittal non-responsive. The District reserves the right to request additional information from any Respondent prior to award.

Forms included in this solicitation Cover Page/Addendum Acknowledgement Quote Form General Qualifications Questionnaire Similar Projects Form Proposed Subcontractors Certificate as to Respondent’s Authority to do Business in the State of Florida

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Affidavit as to Non-collusion and Certification of Material Conformance with Specifications Drug-Free Workplace Form (not required unless there is a tie bid) Submittal Acknowledgement Form

Respondent provided documentation Certificate of Insurability - as noted in Section titled PROOF OF INSURABILITY, herein Proof of Respondent’s active registration on www.sunbiz.org Proof of Respondent’s active registration with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s E-Verify system

(Answers to questions regarding E-Verify as well as instructions on enrollment may be found at the E-Verify website: www.e-verify.gov).

Copy of any applicable and current license or certification required by the City/County/State/this solicitation.

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.

2.4 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- for the required insurance(s) listed in the attached Agreement.

NOTE! The successful Respondent shall be required to obtain and provide a Certificate of Insurance, submitted concurrently with the executed Agreement, that meets all specified requirements, references the applicable Agreement number, and names the St. Johns River Water Management District as an additional insured.

2.5 HOW TO SUBMIT ON THIS SOLICITATION

(a) Respondent’s submittal must be 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 either by mail or hand delivery in a sealed envelope.

Label all sealed envelopes as follows:

SEALED SUBMITTAL – DO NOT OPEN

Respondent’s Name: ___________________________________________ Quote Request: 42257QR26, Manual Cutting/Hand Cleaning and Herbicide Treatment at Lake Monroe Conservation Area Opening Time: 2:00 PM Opening Date: June 11, 2026 Breanna Pierce, Procurement Specialist St. Johns River Water Management District District Headquarters 4049 Reid Street Palatka, Florida 32177

**Please note that the U.S. 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 U.S. 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

Rev. 5.15.26 42257QR26 | Page 12 of 48 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: 12345QR78, ABC Company).

2.6 SIGNATURE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

If an individual submits a response to this solicitation he/she 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 a response to this solicitation, state the name and address of each member of the partnership.

If a corporation or limited liability company submits a response to this solicitation, an authorized agent or officer/member must sign the submittal, subscribing the name of the entity with the individual’s own name and affixing the corporate seal (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 Respondents must:

(a) Submit evidence of registration with the Florida Secretary of State for doing business in the state of Florida.

(b) Certify that all persons or entities having an interest as principal in this solicitation or in substantial performance of the Work have been identified in the submittal forms.

2.7 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.

2.8 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 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 the addenda.

Failure to receive or review an addendum 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).

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2.9 OPENING OF SUBMITTALS

Respondents or their authorized agents are invited to attend the opening of the submittals. The Florida Public Records Act, §119.071(1)(b), Fla. Stat., exempts sealed submittals from inspection and copying until such time as the District provides notice of an intended decision pursuant to §120.57(3)(a), Fla. Stat., or until 30 days after opening of submittals or final replies, whichever is earlier. This exemption is not waived by the public opening of the submittals.

Unless otherwise exempt, Respondent’s submittal is a public record subject to disclosure upon expiration of the above exemption period. If any information included in the submittal is a trade secret as defined in §812.081, Fla. Stat., and exempt from disclosure pursuant to §815.04, Fla. Stat., Respondent must clearly identify any such material as “CONFIDENTIAL TRADE SECRET” in its submittal and explain the basis for such exemption. The District reserves the right, in its sole judgment and discretion, to reject a submittal for excessive or unwarranted assertion of trade secret confidentiality and return the submittal to Respondent.

2.10 DISQUALIFICATION OF RESPONDENTS

Any of the following causes will be considered as sufficient grounds for disqualification of a Respondent and rejection of the submittal:

(a) Contacting a District employee or officer other than the procurement employee named in this solicitation about any aspect of this solicitation before the notice of intended decision is posted.

(b) Submission of more than one submittal for the same subject matter by an individual, firm, partnership, or corporation under the same or different names.

(c) Evidence of collusion among Respondents.

(d) Submission of materially false information.

(e) Information gained through checking references or other sources which indicates that Respondent may not successfully perform the Work.

(f) Respondent is failing to adequately perform on any existing agreement with the District.

(g) Respondent has defaulted on a previous agreement with the District.

(h) The evidence submitted by Respondent, or the District’s investigation of Respondent, fails to satisfy the District that Respondent is properly qualified to carry out the obligations of the Agreement in a manner acceptable to the District and within the time period specified.

(i) Any documented unsatisfactory past performance by Respondent on work performed on a District project.

(j) Any other cause that is sufficient to raise doubt regarding the ability of a Respondent to perform the Work in a manner that meets the District’s objectives for the Work.

2.11 REJECTION OF SUBMITTAL

Submittals must be delivered to the specified location and received before the designated due date and time in order to be considered. Untimely submittals will be returned unopened. Submittals will be considered irregular and may be rejected if they show material omissions, alterations of form, additions not called for, conditions, limitations, or other material irregularities. The District may consider incomplete any submittal not prepared and submitted in accordance with the provisions specified herein and the District reserves the right to waive any minor deviations or irregularities in an otherwise valid submittal.

The District reserves the right to reject any and all submittals and cancel this solicitation when it determines, in its sole judgment and discretion, that it is not in its best interest to award the Agreement.

2.12 WITHDRAWAL OF SUBMITTALS

Respondent may withdraw its submittal if it submits such a written request to the District prior to the designated date and hour of opening. Respondent may be permitted to withdraw its submittal no later than 72 hours after the submittal opening for good cause, as determined by the District in its sole judgment and discretion.

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2.13 PROTEST PROCEDURES

Notices of Intended Decision will be posted for a minimum of 72 hours. The time period for filing a Notice of Protest pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Fla. Admin. Code R. 28-110.003, commences at the time notices are posted.

As a courtesy to Respondents, the District may send copies of the notices of intended District decisions via e-mail to Respondent. These courtesy communications neither constitute official notice nor vary the times of receipt set forth above.

(a) Pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Fla. Admin. Code R. 28-110.003, any person adversely affected by the terms, conditions, or specifications contained in a solicitation, including addenda, must file a Notice of Protest with the District Clerk within 72 hours after its posting.

(b) Pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Fla. Admin. Code R. 28-110.003, any person adversely affected by a District decision or intended decision to award a contract, or to reject all submittals, proposals, or qualifications, must file a written Notice of Protest with the District Clerk within 72 hours after posting of the decision or intended decision.

(c) Pursuant to §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., and Fla. Admin. Code R. 28-110.004, a Formal Written Protest must be filed with the District Clerk within ten (10) days after the date the Notice of Protest is filed with the District. The Formal Written Protest must state with particularity the facts and law upon which the protest is based. Pursuant to §287.042(2)(c), Fla. Stat., any person who files an action protesting the decision or intended decision must post with the District Clerk at the time of filing the formal written protest a bond, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to the St. Johns River Water Management District in an amount equal to one percent (1%) of the District’s estimated agreement amount.

(d) No additional time will be added for mailing. All filings must comply with Fla. Admin. Code R. 28-106.104 and must be addressed to and received by the District Clerk at the District Headquarters in Palatka, Florida within the prescribed time periods. The District will not accept any electronically transmitted facsimile pleadings, petitions, Notice of Protest or other documents.

(e) The District’s acceptance of pleadings, petitions, Notice of Protest, Formal Written Protest, or other documents filed by e-mail is subject to certain conditions set forth in the District’s Statement of Agency Organization and Operation (issued pursuant to Fla. Admin. Code R. 28-101.001), which is available for viewing at sjrwmd.com.

These conditions include, but are not limited to, the document being in the form of a PDF or TIFF file and being capable of being stored and printed by the District.

(f) Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in §120.57(3), Fla. Stat., or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond will constitute a waiver of proceedings under chapter 120, Fla. Stat. Mediation under §120.573, Fla. Stat., is not available.

2.14 AWARDING THE AGREEMENT

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

(b) The Agreement will be awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible Respondent, being the Respondent with the lowest Total Bid as reflected on the Quote Form who demonstrates, in accordance with the requirements of the submittal documents, a verifiable history of the skill, ability, integrity, and reliability necessary for the faithful performance of the Agreement (the “Successful Respondent”). The Agreement may be modified based on the District’s acceptance of any alternatives listed in the submittal that the District deems in its best interest.

(c) If two or more submittals are equal in all respects, the Agreement will be awarded as follows: (1) to Respondent that certifies compliance with §287.087, Fla. Stat., via the Drug-Free Workplace Form; (2) to a Respondent university in the State University System pursuant to §373.63, Fla. Stat.; (3) to a Respondent whose submittal contains commodities manufactured, grown, or produced within the state of Florida pursuant to §287.082 Fla.

Stat.; or (4) by lot.

(d) The District reserves the right to award the Agreement to the next lowest available Respondent 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.

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(e) Section 286.0113, Fla. Stat., exempts from being open to the public, any portion of a meeting at which: (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. Also, recordings of, and any records presented at, the exempt meeting are exempt from §119.07(1) and §24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution (Public Records) until such time as the District provides notice of an intended decision or until 30 days after opening the submittals or final replies, whichever occurs earlier. A complete recording shall be made of any portion of an exempt meeting. No portion of the exempt meeting may be held off the record.

(f) Pursuant to §286.0113 Fla. Stat., if the District rejects all submittals and concurrently provides notice of its intent to reissue the competitive solicitation, any recordings or records presented at any exempt meeting relating to the solicitation shall remain exempt from §119.07(1) 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.

2.15 EXAMINATION OF CONTRACT DOCUMENTS

Respondent is solely responsible for being fully informed of the conditions under which the Work is to be performed in relation to existing conditions. Respondent is responsible for carefully examining the general area of the Work, the requirements of the drawings and other Contract Documents (defined in the Agreement) related to the Work, the time in which the Work must be completed, and any other details of the Work. Respondent must satisfy itself from its own personal knowledge and experience or professional advice as to the character of the Work, the conditions and materials to be encountered, the character, quality, and quantities of the Work, and any other conditions affecting the Work, including surrounding land.

Failure to satisfy the obligations of this paragraph will not relieve a Successful Respondent of its obligation to furnish all material, equipment, and labor necessary to perform the Agreement and to complete the Work for the consideration set forth in its submittal. Any such failure will not be sufficient cause to submit a claim for additional compensation.

No verbal agreement or conversation with any District officer, agent or employee, either before or after the execution of the Agreement, will affect or modify any of its terms.

2.16 EXECUTION OF AGREEMENT

(a) By submitting a response to this solicitation, Respondent represents and warrants that its submittal is a firm offer. Upon the District’s issuance of a notice of award (or other written acceptance), the Successful Respondent is bound to the terms, pricing, and commitments set forth in its submittal, as accepted by the District, together with the District’s solicitation documents.

(b) The Successful Respondent shall execute the District’s Agreement in the form provided (with any District-approved changes) and shall not condition, qualify, or withdraw its submittal, or refuse to sign the Agreement, after award. Failure to timely execute the Agreement and proceed with performance as required may be deemed a breach and may result in rejection of the submittal, cancellation of award, and any other remedies available to the District under the solicitation, the Agreement, or applicable law.

(c) Unless all submittals are rejected, the Successful Respondent must execute and return the Agreement to the District within 10 business days of receipt along with each of the following:

(1) A completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-9.

(2) Satisfactory evidence of all required insurance coverage.

(3) Proof satisfactory to the District of the authority of the person or persons accepting the terms and conditions of this Solicitation on behalf of Respondent.

(4) All other information and documentation required by the Agreement.

(d) The District will not execute the Agreement until the above documents have been executed and delivered to the District. The Agreement will not be binding until executed by the District. A copy of the fully executed Agreement will be sent via e-mail to the Successful Respondent. The District reserves the right to cancel award

Rev. 5.15.26 42257QR26 | Page 16 of 48 of the Agreement without liability at any time before the Agreement has been fully executed by all parties and delivered to the Successful Respondent.

(e) Failure upon the part of the Successful Respondent to execute the Agreement or timely submit the required evidence of insurance coverage, or any other matter required by the Agreement, will be just cause, if the District so elects, for the recommended award to be annulled.

2.17 FLORIDA SALES TAX

The District is exempt from payment of State of Florida sales tax pursuant to §212.08(6), Fla. Stat. Any tangible personal property that is the subject of this solicitation is intended to remain tangible personal property and not become part of a public work owned by the District.

2.18 PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES/DISCRIMINATORY VENDORS

In accordance with §287.133 and §287.134, Fla. Stat., a person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime or placed on the discriminatory vendor list may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on an agreement to provide any goods or services to a public entity; may not submit a bid, proposal, or reply on an agreement with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work; may not submit quotes, proposals, or replies on leases of real property to a public entity; may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, subcontractor, supplier, 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 §287.017 for CATEGORY TWO ($35,000) for a period of 36 months following the date of being placed on the convicted or discriminatory vendor lists.

2.19 PROHIBITION AGAINST CONSIDERING SOCIAL, POLITICAL, OR IDEOLOGICAL INTERESTS

IN GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

Notice is hereby provided that pursuant to §287.05701, Fla. Stat., the District (1) will not request documentation of or consider a Respondent’s social, political, or ideological interests when determining if Respondent is a responsible Respondent, and (2) may not give preference to a Respondent based on Respondent's social, political, or ideological interests.

2.20 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 Breanna Pierce, Procurement Specialist, or by calling (800) 955-8771 (TTY), at least five (5) business days (Mon – Fri) before the date needed.

2.21 DEFINITIONS

The definitions of capitalized terms used in this solicitation that are not otherwise defined herein can be found in the draft Agreement below.

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42257QR26 MANUAL CUTTING/HAND CLEANING AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT AT LAKE MONROE

CONSERVATION AREA

PART 3 – REQUIRED DOCUMENTS AND FORMS

The following forms must be included in Respondent’s submittal:

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42257QR26 MANUAL CUTTING/HAND CLEANING AND HERBICIDE TREATMENT AT LAKE MONROE

CONSERVATION AREA

GENERAL QUALIFICATION QUESTIONNAIRE

Respondent’s company name

Number of years engaged in business under the present company name.

Has Respondent previously been engaged in the same or similar business under another company or trade name? If so, please describe each such instance.

Total number of years of Respondent’s experience performing similar Work as described in this solicitation.

Has Respondent ever been adjudicated bankrupt, initiated bankruptcy, or been the subject of bankruptcy proceedings on behalf of the current entity submitting on this solicitation or a prior entity that Respondent substantially operated or controlled? ____ Y ____ N

If yes, please describe the nature…