Adv. Package 3-21-25.pdf

This is an Invitation to Bid (ITB) issued by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), specifically Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, for a Long-Term Protected Gopher Tortoise Conservation Recipient Site project. The solicitation seeks a vendor to accept and relocate gopher tortoises from a specific Donor Site within FDOT's SR 91 Florida's Turnpike Widening project in Lake County. The Department estimates relocating up to 40 adult/subadult and 10 juvenile gopher tortoises, with the contract initially running for two years and potential renewals for up to two additional years. Bids are due on March 31, 2025, at 2:30 PM Eastern Time, with a public bid opening on the same day at 3:00 PM, and an anticipated posting of the intended award on April 1, 2025.

The compensation structure involves unit pricing per gopher tortoise, with bidders required to provide unit rates for adult/subadult and juvenile tortoises. Bidders must have a valid Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) Long-Term Protected Gopher Tortoise Recipient Site permit and demonstrate the capacity to accept the specified number of tortoises. The vendor will be responsible for permanently marking and tracking the relocated tortoises according to FFWCC guidelines. Partial payments will be processed for each gopher tortoise received, with invoicing requirements including detailed documentation such as identification numbers, tortoise data, and health status. The contract includes provisions for budget limitations and potential permit amendments to accommodate additional tortoise relocations.