FWC 23.24-87 ITB - Final.pdf

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVENUE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

INVITATION TO BID

FWC 23/24-87

TARGETED PYTHON REMOVAL

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing to provide survey and removal services to assist the Commission in mitigating the spread and impact of pythons on specified target locations in south Florida, per the specifications contained herein. Only responsive and responsible Contractors will be considered for award of this Invitation to Bid (ITB).

Responsive: To be responsive, a bid must constitute a definite, firm, unqualified and unconditional offer to meet all of the material terms of this ITB. Material terms are those that could affect the price, quantity, quality, or delivery. Also included as material terms are those which are clearly identified in this ITB and which, for reasons of policy, must be complied with at risk of bid rejection for non-responsiveness.

Non-Responsive: Any submission that does not comply with this ITB in any way, does not contain all the properly signed forms, supplements or deviates from the Bid requirements or has an incomplete Price Sheet may be considered nonresponsive at the discretion of the Procurement Manager.

Responsible Companies: The Commission shall only consider responsible companies. Responsible companies are those that have, in the sole judgment of the Commission, the financial ability, experience, resources, skills, capability, reliability and business integrity necessary to perform the requirements of the contract. The Commission may also consider references and quality to determine the responsibility of the bid. The Commission reserves the right to use any information, whether supplied through the Bidder’s submission or otherwise obtained, in determining responsibility.

Rejection of Bids: The Commission reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any minor irregularity in the submissions received in response to this ITB. The Commission reserves the right to consider all information, whether submitted or otherwise, to determine responsiveness and responsibility and to reject bids accordingly.

Name of Business: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Business Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________ State: ____________________________ Zip code: ____________________________________

Phone: __________________________ Fax: _____________________________ Email: ____________________________________

Federal Employer Identification Number: __________________

The undersi gned attest to the fo l l owi ng:

“We understand all of the terms, conditions and the specifications contained herein and agree to abide by all of the terms, conditions and the specifications in their entirety. We have examined the site in reference to the specifications contained within this ITB and have familiarized ourselves with the entire site and have exami ned care ful l y the extent o f the work that i s needed.”

Authorized Signature (Manual): ___________________________________________________________________________________

Authorized Signature Name (Typed) and Title: ______________________________________________________________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 2 of 63

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 23/24-87

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised February 14, 2024 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

(VIP)

Deadline for Questions Must be received

PRIOR to:

February 21, 2024

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions February 26, 2024 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

SEALED BIDS DUE

(REMEMBER: The bid number should be clearly marked on envelope)

Must be received PRIOR to:

March 7, 2024

@ 2:00 PM ET

Mailing Address:

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Attn: Purchasing 1875 Orange Ave E Tallahassee, Florida 32311-6160 Submissions are due BEFORE the date and time of the public opening.

Public Bid Opening March 7, 2024

@ 2:00 PM ET

Public Opening Options for Attendance:

-In Person- 1875 Orange Ave E Tallahassee, FL 32311-6160

-Teleconference- Conference call phone number:

1.888.585.9008 Conference room number: 218-721-199

Anticipated Date of Intended Award March 12, 2024 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 3 of 63

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 23/24-87

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC or Commission) mission is to manage fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people. The Commission administers six (6) major programs including habitat and species conservation, freshwater fisheries management, law enforcement, marine fisheries management, hunting and game management and fish and wildlife research.

A Bidder submitting a bid shall be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and where required, the Sunbiz system prior to the bid opening. Business entities which must be on file with Sunbiz include the following foreign and domestic entities: Corporations for and not for profit, Limited Liability Companies (LLC), Limited Partnerships (LP) including Limited Liability Limited Partnerships (LLLP), and organizations doing business under a fictitious name (DBA). A Bidder may not be considered for an award, if not registered in the MFMP and Sunbiz system. The Bidder’s registration address and federal employer identification (FEID) number should match the Bidder’s address and FEID number listed on the Bidder Acknowledgment form (page 1).

Certified Minority-owned, Woman-owned and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, as certified by the State of Florida Office of Supplier Diversity, are encouraged by the Commission to participate in the bidding process.

Bids from Bidders shall include all necessary equipment to complete the job. The bidder is required to supply all specified documentation when submitting a bid for this project.

Please note:

• The terms “Contract,” “Agreement” and “Purchase Order” are used interchangeably in the document.

• The terms “Commodities” and “Goods” are used interchangeably in the document.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

PUR 1000 and PUR1001 are hereby incorporated by reference. PUR1000 and PUR1001 can be found at the Department of Management Services website at the following link:

https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/state_agency_resources/state_purc hasing_pur_forms

The following terms and conditions take precedence over the PUR1001 and PUR1000 forms where applicable. The Commission objects to and shall not consider any additional terms or conditions submitted by a Bidder or Contractor, including any appearing in documents attached as part of a Bidder’s response.

In signing and submitting its bid, a Bidder agrees that any additional terms or conditions, whether submitted intentionally or inadvertently, shall have no force or effect. Failure to comply with terms and conditions, including those specifying information that must be submitted with a bid, shall be grounds for rejecting a bid.

The terms and conditions of Attachment A, Purchase Order Terms and Conditions, are hereby incorporated into this solicitation. Any contract resulting from this solicitation will include the terms and conditions of this solicitation and the terms and conditions contained in Attachment A.

https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/state_agency_resources/state_purchasing_pur_forms https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/state_agency_resources/state_purchasing_pur_forms

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 4 of 63

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Ruth Heggen ruth.heggen@myfwc.com

ESTIMATED BUDGET

The Commission has an estimated budget for this project of $500,000.00.

Any bid submitted with a total cost that is over the estimated budget shall be considered non-responsive.

Bid prices per day (per Bidder’s Price Sheet) will be multiplied by 250 (the number of working days per year discounting 10 FWC holidays) to determine whether bids are within budgetary allowances.

TERM

The contract will be effective for one year from issuance of the Purchase Order.

If circumstances constituting Force Majeure have occurred, or if anything occurs beyond the Contractor’s control, the Contractor shall submit an extension request in writing. The Project Manager and Contract Manager will review the extension request and if they determine it is justified, will forward to the Bid Request Inbox (bidrequest@myfwc.com) for procurement review and approval/disapproval.

RENEWAL

The Commission has the option to renew this Contract on a yearly basis for a period of one (1) year after the initial Contract period upon the same terms and conditions contained herein. Pursuant to Sections 287.057(1)(a)2., and 287.057(1)(a)3., Florida Statutes (F.S.), each Bidder shall supply a price for each year that a contract may be renewed. Evaluation of bids shall include consideration of the total cost of the contract, including the total cost for each renewal year, as submitted by the Bidder.

Exercise of the renewal option is at the Commission’s sole discretion and shall be conditioned, at a minimum, on the Contractor’s satisfactory performance of this Contract and is subject to the availability of funds. The Contractor if it desires to exercise this renewal option will provide written notice to the Commission no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Contract expiration date. The renewal term shall require written approval from the Commission’s Procurement Manager.

SUBCONTRACTS

Subcontracting IS NOT permitted pursuant to the Terms and Conditions of the Purchase Order.

DIVERSITY

The Commission is committed to supporting Florida’s diverse business industry and population through ensuring participation by minority, women, and veteran-owned business enterprises in the economic life of the state. The State of Florida Mentor Protégé Program connects minority, women, and veteran-owned business enterprises with private corporations for business development mentoring. We strongly encourage contractors doing business with the State of Florida to consider this initiative. For more information on the Mentor Protégé Program, please contact the Office of Supplier Diversity at (850) 487-0915 or osdinfo@dms.myflorida.com.

FWC encourages diversity in its procurement program and requests that all subcontracting opportunities afforded by this solicitation enthusiastically embrace diversity. The award of subcontracts should reflect the vast array of citizens in the State of Florida. Bidders can visit the Office of Supplier Diversity website for information on certified business enterprises that may be considered for subcontracting opportunities.

mailto:bidrequest@myfwc.com?subject=Extension%20Request https://www.dms.myflorida.com/agency_administration/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd/mentor_protege_program mailto:osdinfo@dms.myflorida.com https://www.dms.myflorida.com/agency_administration/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd/mentor_protege_program

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 5 of 63

NON-MANDATORY BIDDER SITE VISIT

A non-mandatory site visit is open to prospective bidders, allowing them to inspect one of the project sites prior to submitting a bid. Bidders shall visit the sites on their own. FWC will only issue an official written response to questions subsequently submitted in writing in accordance with the Deadline for Questions clause below.

Prospective Bidders who would like to make a site visit can visit the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

VERBAL INSTRUCTION PROCEDURE

Bidders may not consider any verbal instructions as binding upon the Commission. No negotiations, discussions, or actions shall be initiated or executed by the Bidder as a result of any discussion with any Commission employee. Only those communications from the Commission that are in writing, may be considered as a duly authorized expression on behalf of the Commission.

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

Any questions from Bidders that require an official FWC answer concerning this project shall be submitted in writing to the Procurement Manager. This includes specification inquiries, such as questions or requests for additional or altered terms and conditions. Questions to the Procurement Manager shall not constitute formal protest of the specifications or of the solicitation. Questions must be received no later than the date and time specified in the Calendar of Events (Page 2). Questions may be sent via email with the solicitation number in the subject line. It is the responsibility of the bidder to confirm receipt of questions if needed.

If questions are received, an addendum will be issued and shall be posted on the Vendor Information Portal (https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com).

LIMITATION ON BIDDER CONTACT DURING SOLICITATION PERIOD

Bidders to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-hour period following the Commission posting the notice of intended award, (i.e., the 72-hour posting period excludes Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays) any employee or officer of the executive or legislative branch concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing to the Procurement Manager or as provided in the solicitation documents. Violation of this provision may be grounds for rejecting a response.

BIDDER SPECIFICATION CHALLENGE

Any protest concerning the specifications of this solicitation shall be made in accordance with PUR1001, paragraph 20, “Protests”. A notice of protest of the solicitation documents shall be made within seventy-two hours after the posting of the solicitation. Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3)(b), F.S., shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, F.S.

ADDENDUMS

If the Commission finds it necessary to supplement, modify or interpret any portion of the specifications or documents or answer any Bidder questions during the ITB period an addendum shall be posted on the Vendor Information Portal internet site. Each Bidder is responsible for monitoring the Vendor Information Portal website (https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com) for new or changing information relative to this procurement. The Commission bears no responsibility for any delays, or resulting impacts, associated with a Bidder’s failure to obtain the information made available through the Vendor Information Portal.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 6 of 63

BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In order for this bid to be valid, the bid must be completed in its entirety, signed by the Bidder and returned, as part of the bid or the bid will be rejected. By affixing your signature to the ITB Bidder Acknowledgement Form (page 1), the Bidder hereby states that the Bidder has read all bid specifications and conditions and agrees to all terms, conditions, provisions, specifications, and is currently licensed to do business within the State of Florida, if required by State or Federal Law, for the services or commodities the Bidder will provide the Commission under these bid specifications.

REFERENCES

Each prospective Bidder shall provide references for a minimum of one professional wildlife removal contract awarded to the Bidder within the past 5 years. Current contact names and phone numbers shall be included with the bid package. See the attached References Form for more detail. The Reference Forms shall be completed in their entirety and returned as part of the ITB response, or the response shall be deemed non-responsive.

EXPERIENCE FORMS

Each prospective Bidder shall complete and submit the Experience Forms, enclosed herein, which should include a chronological list of Bidder experience with work similar to that described herein which demonstrates the following:

1. Bidder must, at a minimum, possess 5 years of experience surveying for and euthanizing nuisance and/or nonnative invasive wildlife.

2. Bidder must have at least 3 year of experience capturing wild nonnative constrictors in Florida.

3. Bidder must not have any wildlife violations and/or animal cruelty violations as determined by internal background check.

4. Bidder must, at a minimum, possess 3 year of experience in appropriately using a handheld GPS unit and downloading data from and to Google Earth or ArcGIS.

5. Bidder must, at a minimum, possess 3 years of experience in data collection, managing databases, and writing professional technical reports.

Each project listed must provide a description of the services provided, the duration of each project and the type of experience demonstrated by each project. The Experience Forms shall be completed in their entirety and returned as part of the ITB response, or the response shall be deemed non-responsive.

IDENTICAL TIE BIDS

Preference shall be given to businesses with drug-free workplace programs. If two (2) or more bids which are equal with respect to price, quality, and service are received by the State or by any political subdivision for the procurement of commodities or contractual services, a bid received from a business that certifies that it has implemented a drug-free workplace program shall be given preference in the award process.

Contractors must complete the Identical Tie Bid / Drug Free Workplace form (Attachment B) provided and return it with their bid.

SUPPORTING/SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The Commission requires that bidders submit all required technical, specification, and other supporting information with their bid, so that a detailed analysis and determination can be made, by the Contract Manager that the product/service offered meets this ITB’s specifications and that other requirements of this ITB have been met. However, provided a bid meets the requirements for a definite, firm, unqualified, and unconditional offer, the Commission reserves the right to request supplemental information from the

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 7 of 63 bidder after the bids have been opened to ensure that the products/services offered completely meet this ITB’s requirements. The requirement for such supplemental information will be at the reasonable discretion of the Commission and may include the requirement that a bidder will provide a sample product(s) so that the Commission can make a first-hand examination and determination.

A bidder's failure to provide this supplemental information or the product sample(s), within the time set by the Commission, will cause the Commission to consider the Contractor non-responsive and reject the Contractor’s bid.

CONFIDENTIALITY/PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

Bidders are cautioned that Florida law generously defines what constitutes a public record and grants broad rights of public access to those records; see, for example, section 119.07, F.S. If a Bidder believes that its response contains information that is confidential or exempt from disclosure under Florida Law, the Bidder shall clearly segregate and mark that information (for example, stamp each page "Confidential" and place it in an envelope marked "Confidential") and briefly describe in writing the grounds and specific legal citations for claiming exemption from the public records law. If after the notice of intended decision or thirty

(30) days after bid opening, whichever is earlier, the Commission receives a public record request related to the solicitation, the Commission will provide copies of public records that are not exempt to the requester.

The Commission will endeavor to provide notice to the Bidder of all public records requests received related to documents provided by the Bidder that were marked pursuant to this paragraph. In no event shall the Bidder hold the Commission or any of its employees or agents liable for disclosing, or otherwise failing to protect the confidentiality of, information submitted in response to this solicitation.

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

All bids shall be submitted in a SEALED ENVELOPE addressed to:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Attn: Purchasing 1875 Orange Avenue E Tallahassee, Florida 32311-6160.

The envelope shall be plainly marked on the outside with: BID NUMBER, DATE AND TIME OF THE BID

OPENING.

THE COMMISSION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPENING OF ANY ENVELOPES THAT ARE NOT PROPERLY

MARKED.

PLEASE NOTE: The Commission’s official business hours of operation are 8:00 AM–5:00 PM ET, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and state holidays. Selecting delivery services, such as next day first delivery, may result in attempted delivery prior to opening or closing, and the Commission will not be available to accept those deliveries. THE COMMISSION IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR LATE SUBMISSIONS DUE TO COMPLICATIONS

RELATED TO SELECTED DELIVERY SERVICES.

SOLICITATION PUBLIC OPENING

The public opening of this bid will be conducted at the date, time and method specified on the Calendar of Events (Page 2). BIDS RECEIVED AFTER THE SPECIFIED DATE AND TIME WILL BE REJECTED.

Any person with a qualified disability shall not be denied equal access and effective communication regarding any bid/proposal documents or the attendance at any related meeting or bid/proposal opening. If

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 8 of 63 accommodations are needed because of a disability, please contact the Purchasing Section at (850) 488-6551 at least three (3) workdays prior to the opening.

AWARDED BID/INSPECTION

The Commission will award the bid to the responsive, responsible bidder who submits the lowest total bid price. If deemed necessary, an interview with the bidder by the Contract Manager may be required before the bid is awarded.

The Commission reserves the right to inspect the prospective Contractor’s materials and background record prior to making an award of the Contract. If the Contract Manager determines the lowest bidder does not have sufficient experience, equipment, etc. to meet the specifications of this ITB, the Commission reserves the right to reject the bidder and evaluate the next lowest bidder.

POSTING OF BID TABS

Bid Tabulations with Contractors identified as awarded bidders will be posted electronically as Agency Decisions on the Department of Management Services Vendor Information Portal as a Public Notice. The Agency Decision may be viewed at https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com, and will remain posted for a period of 72 hours. Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3)(b), F.S., shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, F.S.

Awarded Bidders are instructed not to proceed until a Purchase Order, Formal Written Contract, Lease, Notice to Proceed, or some other form of written notice is given to the Contractor by the Commission. A company or person who proceeds prior to receiving a Purchase Order, Formal Written Contract, Lease, Notice to Proceed, or some other form of written notice from the Commission does so without a contract and at their own risk.

Sealed bids, proposals, or replies received by an agency pursuant to a competitive solicitation are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution until such time as the agency provides notice of an intended decision or until thirty (30) days after opening the bids, proposals, or final replies, whichever is earlier.

SCOPE CHANGES AFTER CONTRACT EXECUTION

The Commission shall provide written notice to the successful bidder thirty (30) days in advance of any Commission required changes to the technical specifications and/or scope of service that affect the successful bidder’s ability to provide the service as specified herein. Any changes that are other than purely administrative changes will require a change order.

FWC CONTRACT MANAGER

The FWC employee identified as the Contract Manager shall perform the following on behalf of the FWC:

• review, verify, and approve receipt of services/deliverables from the Contractor;

• submit requests for change orders/amendments/renewals, if applicable;

• review, verify, and approve invoices from the Contractor; and, if applicable, complete the Certificate of Contract Completion form; and

• maintain an official record of all correspondence between the Commission and the Contractor and forward the original correspondence to the Procurement Manager for the official file.

https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/ http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&Search_String=&URL=0100-0199/0119/Sections/0119.07.html

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 9 of 63

DELIVERABLES

The following services or service tasks are identified as deliverables for the purposes of the subsequent Contract:

a. Performance of all services set forth in the Scope of Work.

b. Submission of all invoicing, supporting documentation, Corrective Action Plans and reports.

PERMITTING

Permitting for this project, if needed, is the responsibility of the Contractor. A copy of all permits shall be posted at the work site location at all times during the project. The Contractor is responsible for complying with all permit conditions and the Contractor shall pay any penalties arising from the Contractor’s permit violations.

AUTHORIZED COMPENSATION

It is understood and agreed that all compensation under this ITB is specifically limited to the Contractor’s bid price accepted by the Commission, and to the specific procedure for payment established in this ITB and the Purchase Order executed pursuant to it. The Commission is not liable for any costs, fees, expenses or any other compensation whatsoever incurred or charged by the Contractor, other than the bid price paid for the work specifically described in the Scope of Work, which work is actually accomplished and invoiced by the Contractor subsequent to the Commission’s notice to proceed (or other notice to begin work). Thus, the Commission is not liable for any costs incurred or charged by the Contractor in anticipation of responding to, or performing work described in, this ITB including, but not limited to, equipment or personnel procured by the Contractor in anticipation of such work. The Commission is not responsible to the Contractor for any loss or damages resulting from circumstances unforeseen at the time of publication of this ITB including, but not limited to, those resulting from a “force majeure”.

ADDITIONAL LEGAL REQUIREMENT

All corporations seeking to do business with the State shall, at the time of submitting a bid, be on file with the Department of State in accordance with provisions of Chapter 607, F.S.; similarly, partnerships seeking to do business with the State shall, at the time of submitting such bid, have complied with the applicable provisions of Chapter 620, F.S. For further information on required filing and forms, please go to the following sites: http://sunbiz.org or http://dos.myflorida.com.

USE OF CONTRACT BY OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND ELIGIBLE USERS

As provided in Chapter 60A-1.045, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), and Section 287.042(16), F.S., other State of Florida agencies may purchase from the resulting contract of this ITB, provided that the Department of Management Services has determined the contract’s use is cost effective and in the best interest of the State, and with the Contractor’s consent.

Other State of Florida governmental entities and eligible users may also request of the Contractor to be able to use this contract. If the Contractor agrees to other entities to utilize this ITB contract, such agencies shall coordinate their use of this contract with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in order to reduce scheduling conflicts.

CONDITIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS

The bidder is required to examine carefully the conditions and specifications of this bid and to be thoroughly informed regarding any and all requirements of the conditions and specifications.

http://www.sunbiz.org/ http://dos.myflorida.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 10 of 63

SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 23/24-87

TARGETED PYTHON REMOVAL

PURPOSE

Invasive Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) are an established snake species in southern Florida where they pose a risk to native wildlife and the Everglades ecosystem. Management and control of invasive pythons, and other large non-native constrictor species, present a unique challenge to land managers as these snakes are difficult to detect due to their cryptic nature and ability to occupy largely inaccessible habitats (Nafus et al. 2020). This species was likely established by the early 1990’s through introductions via releases or escapes from the pet trade (Willson et al. 2011). Burmese pythons are active year-round with a breeding and nesting season from December through August (Snow et al. 2007). They can grow to be over 18 feet long and feed on a variety of prey including birds, reptiles, and mammals.

The Wildlife Impact Management Section (WIM) of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (“Commission” or “FWC”) is charged with managing nonnative fish and wildlife issues in Florida. This purview includes control efforts for priority invasive species and collecting data on nonnative species distribution and natural history that can be used to develop invasive species management strategies.

The FWC participates in the Florida Python Control Plan Workgroup which is a team of 14 partnering organizations formed to mitigate the spread and impact of pythons in south Florida. The Workgroup continues to support the use of a multi-pronged approach to python control which has included python detector dogs, scout snake programs, testing new technologies for removal, and maintaining a python removal contractor program. Use of visual surveys has been an effective management tool for detecting and removing pythons and this approach has been important to mitigating the negative impact this nonnative snake poses on native Florida wildlife. These programs have focused on removing as many pythons as possible from multiple locations in south Florida, but generally most of these programs remove pythons from easily accessible areas, such as levees and roadways. Many sensitive habitats, such as tree islands that provide a dry refuge for mammals in the water inundated Everglades, are not often surveyed due to the difficulty of access. Pythons are found throughout the entire landscape in south Florida’s Everglades ecosystem, not just along levees, and focusing removal in these sensitive, often under surveyed, habitats is particularly important. The awarded Bidder (Contractor) will provide survey and removal services to assist the Commission in achieving the goals for these activities on specified target locations in south Florida.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The Contractor will visit agency directed target locations to visually survey for, catch, remove, and humanely kill Burmese pythons and any other large nonnative constrictors that may be found including the following Prohibited species, hereafter referred to as Constrictors, listed in F.A.C. 68-5.006: Indian or Burmese python (Python molurus), Northern African python (Python sebae), Southern African python (Python natalensis), Green anaconda (Eunectus murinus), Yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), Beni anaconda (Eunectus beniensis), DeSchauensee’s anaconda (Eunectes deschauenseei), Reticulated python (Python reticulatus), Amethystine python (Morelia amethistinus), and Scrub python (Morelia kinhorni).

The Contractor will humanely kill all captured Constrictors, collect morphometric data on all captured Constrictors, submit photographs of all captured Constrictors to the Commission, and properly dispose of Constrictor carcasses collected over the contract period.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 11 of 63

B. Service Standards

1. The Contractor will remove nonnative Constrictors in targeted locations using visual surveys:

i. The Contractor will be required to visually survey to find and remove Constrictors from public lands in south Florida.

1. Timeframe from issuance of the Purchase Order through June 15, 2024.

Contractor will complete a minimum of 5 hours of survey time per day, Monday-Friday (unless otherwise approved beforehand by the Commission project manager), per Survey Team. A Survey Team is defined as at least two individuals surveying together in a single location. The Contractor is expected to have one Survey Team active during each workday under this scope of work.

a. Survey time does not include commute to and from target sites.

i. Walking surveys: Survey start time begins when the Contractor has stopped mode of transportation and begun visual searching for Constrictors.

ii. Vehicle surveys: In cases where Contractor is doing surveys by vehicle, boat or airboat, survey start time begins once the Contractor is at the site beginning to visually survey for Constrictors.

b. Contractor will visually survey at Commission assigned targeted locations primarily in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, but may include additional counties in southern Florida (Figure 1).

Survey locations will be determined in consultation with the Commission and the Contractor will email the Commission Project Manager with a proposed pre-determined survey location schedule, for the Survey Team, at least one week in advance of weekly operations for approval by the Commission Project Manager. The Commission Project Manager will either email approval or the proposed schedule submission edits within two business days. Survey locations will predominately include:

i. Three Survey days per week at Tree Islands and Spoil Islands in Water Control Area 3 (WCA3) in Everglades and Francis S.

Taylor WMA (EVER-FST) (Figure 2). Airboats must be used to commute to the Tree Islands before walking surveys begin on each island (see an example of some of the Tree Island locations and names in Table 1).

ii. Two Survey days per week on roads and levees south Florida locations included but not limited to the following counties: Lee, Hendry, Palm Beach, Collier, Broward, Monroe, and Miami- Dade. Vehicles will be used to traverse the area for the duration of the survey.

1. Contingent on weather and discussion with Contract Manager.

c. Contractor will collect survey data using datasheets provided by the Commission (Figure 3) and the following smartphone apps (licenses provided by the Commission, app download is free): ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS Survey123.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 12 of 63

i. ArcGIS Field Maps: An ESRI created app that tracks real time movement geolocation data. It also provides a geographical map of survey areas correlated with the phone’s location.

ii. ArcGIS Survey123: An ESRI created app that the Commission uses to track specific data for each survey, such as start time, end time, and how many pythons were captured during a survey.

iii. ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS Survey123 are two apps that work together to track survey information.

2. All native wildlife will be left undisturbed as only nonnative Constrictors will be captured.

3. While conducting daily Constrictor surveys, Contractor will record all Constrictor observations and individuals found dead, or dead on road (DOR) per each Survey Team. Data recorded will include species of Constrictor observed, date of observation or capture, and GPS coordinates. See minimum requirements regarding data submission.

ii. The Contractor will humanely kill captured Constrictors unless marked as a scout snake (see section iii below):

1. All captured Constrictors will be placed in a snake bag and secured with either electrical tape or the open end of the bag tied in a knot, then placed inside a second bag (secured with either electrical tape or tied in a knot), and locked secure container (e.g., lockable action packer) clearly labeled “Prohibited Species.” All bags will contain no more than one Constrictor at a time and shall be labeled with unique identifiers for each individual Constrictor using flagging tape to ensure that captured individuals are kept separate from each other during transport.

2. Constrictors captured during this project shall be humanely killed at an appropriate location away from the public’s view. If the site of capture is out of the public’s view, then Constrictors can be humanely killed at the site of capture. Any other recommended locations by the Contractor will be approved by the Commission prior to the project’s start date. Humane killing of Constrictors captured during a given workday will be completed by the end of each workday.

3. Constrictors will be humanely killed using a captive bolt gun followed by pithing of the brain cavity (https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/python/removing/ )and methods shall be consistent with ss. 828.12, F.S. and 68A-4.001, FAC.

4. All Constrictor eggs from a verified nest will be humanely destroyed on site (unless a Burmese python is found curled around the nest of eggs, a photo must be taken and verified by the Commission before the nest is destroyed).

iii. The Contractor shall not kill Burmese python scout snakes (Figure 7):

1. Scout snakes are Burmese pythons used as an additional python removal tool by Commission partner agencies. Scout snakes are clearly marked with external tags (see Figure 7). If a scout snake is found by the Contractor, follow data collection steps below and then immediately release the animal at site of capture. If a scout snake is accidently bagged and identified as such by the Contractor at the end of the workday, document the capture then release the scout snake at site of capture no later than the next workday. If a scout snake is accidentally humanely killed, the Contractor must immediately report this information to the Commission Project Manager and return the full carcass to the Commission.

https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/python/removing/

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iv. The Contractor will collect morphometric data on all captured Constrictors, all observed/ captured scout snakes, all Constrictor nests, and submit these data to the Commission (data sheet template provided by Commission; Figure 3):

1. Morphometric measurements including snout to vent length (SVL), total length (TL), sex (male, female; using probing method and not only spur size), and mass (kg) will be recorded on the Commission-issued data sheet after each Constrictor has been humanely killed. See minimum requirements below regarding data submission.

2. All verified Constrictor nests will be documented on the data sheet and will include information on the number of eggs in each nest, and the nest location.

3. If a scout snake is found by the Contractor, document the GPS location, take a photo (that clearly shows the tag number), and record the tag number on the data sheet in the Notes section.

4. Contractor will take clear, high-resolution photographs of all captured Constrictors, observed scout snakes, python nests, and all photograph files labeled using the following format: Last Name_First Name_Date of Capture (DayMonthYear)_Standardized acronym of species (Table 2) _ID number_GPS Coordinates (using Latitude_Longitude in decimal degrees).

Example:

Smith_John_25April2020_PyMo_ID_25.1234_-80.1234

5. All photograph files (JPEG) for Constrictors captured or noted within the previous quarter will be submitted by close of business on 7 January 2024, 4 April 2024, and 15 June 2024 via a USB drive and mailed to the Commission’s Contract Manager and/or Project Manager OR at a Commission approved coordinated drop off time from M-F between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the FWC Sunrise Office staff at 10052 NW 53rd St., Sunrise, FL 33351.

v. The Contractor may either keep the Constrictor carcasses for personal use or dispose of Constrictor carcasses:

1. All Constrictor carcasses not kept by the Contractor will be disposed at the South Dade Landfill (23707 SW 97th Ave, Homestead, FL 33032, Gate A) or alternative landfill pending notification and approval by the Commission. All disposal costs will be covered by the Contractor.

2. Contractor will dispose of un-used carcasses at their convenience.

vi. The Contractor will clean all vehicles, vessels, clothing, and equipment from non-native species (seeds, eggs, whole organisms, etc.) when entering and leaving different access points to lands in order to prevent unintentional introduction of spread of non-native species.

1. All equipment including but not limited to vehicles, trailers, and airboats, must be cleaned with a pressure washer to reduce the spread of exotic vegetation prior to initiating work activities on public lands. Decontamination protocols include spraying down all equipment surfaces including the undercarriage and tires to insure that mud, sand, dirt muck and vegetative debris and other debris is not transported from the previous work site.

2. In areas of exotic vegetation infestations (e.g., Lygodium microphyllum, Scleria lacustris) concerted effort will be made to avoid driving or walking through infestations and to clean boot lugs prior to leaving the site as necessary.

3. Prior to the commencement of work, the Project Manager shall address the necessity for a decontamination plan. The Contractor will be required to follow any site-specific decontamination plans. Conversely, if the Project Manager

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 14 of 63 requires a plan, then the Contractor shall submit a brief decontamination plan in writing, to the Site Manager for approval. The decontamination plan shall identify specific decontamination procedures and decontamination locations.

vii. The Contractor shall not pull large equipment (i.e. airboats) up onto tree islands.

1. Vehicles and/or transportation equipment are prohibited on the tree islands as per area rules and regulations. Vehicles/equipment must be parked adjacent to tree islands.

viii. The Contractor shall not use machetes or tools to cut any vegetation on tree islands as these are sensitive habitats and it is ideal to leave a minimal footprint.

1. Every effort shall be made by the vendor to avoid damage to native vegetation and wildlife. No items (equipment, trash, etc.) are to be left at the work site.

ix. All equipment used shall be in good repair and operating condition at all times, and be in compliance with all federal, state, and local vehicle regulations. All equipment shall meet all safety standards as established for that piece of equipment. All equipment shall be operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. All equipment shall be equipped with all appropriate safety guards, as specified by the manufacturer. The Commission reserves the right to request replacement of equipment or personnel if deemed to be unsafe or operating in an unsafe manner.

C. Required Equipment The Contractor must possess the following equipment prior to issuance of the Purchase Order and any other necessary equipment required to perform these services:

1. Smart phones with the capacity to run the following apps: ArcGIS Field Maps, ArcGIS Survey123

2. Captive bolt guns

3. Captive bolt gun cartridges

4. Pithing tools

5. GPS units

6. Lockable action packer(s) or other securable heavy-duty tote(s) clearly labeled “Prohibited

Reptiles”

7. Double seem cloth snake bags

8. Protective gloves

9. Snake hook(s)

10. Flagging tape

11. Snake probing kits (with multiple size probes)

12. Measuring tapes

13. Scale(s) with the capability to measure between 0.5 kg to 100 kg

14. Access to airboat(s) (including everything associated with transporting an airboat to a location and safely using it at that location and following all registered boating safety requirements).

15. Vehicle(s) capable of driving on levees

D. Service Area

The service areas consist of multiple locations and habitat types in south Florida. Targeted surveys will primarily occur on tree islands and spoil islands in Water Conservation Area 3 (WCA3). WCA3 tree island access can be challenging and if access to a tree or spoil island is not feasible during a planned survey the Contractor will communicate with the Project Manager to identify an alternate site to survey. Vehicle surveys may be conducted in south Florida locations including but not limited to the following counties: Lee, Hendry, Palm Beach, Collier, Broward, Monroe, and Miami-Dade).

Access can be limited by South Florida Water Management (SFWMD) gates, which require an

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 15 of 63

SFWMD key. Access may be limited by locked SFWMD gates for some survey locations. The Contractor is required to obtain an SFWMD key to have full access to these locations.

E. Minimum Level of Performance

1. A single Contractor Survey Team must survey five days a week, Monday through Friday

(except for designated state holidays, force majeure or other circumstances in consultation), upon execution of the contract through 15 June 2024,unless minimum days/ work have been adjusted due to force majeure in consultation with the Commission. This contract calls for one, two-person Survey Team.

2. The Contractor Survey Team must survey a minimum of 5 hours on any survey day for it to count toward the minimum number of survey days. This 5-hour requirement can be split among multiple target locations in a single day not to exceed 5 target locations.

3. Contractor must record all data on data sheets (Figure 3 and 4). In cases where smartphone apps malfunction in the field, Contractor will need to supply the Project Manager with additional Excel spreadsheets provided by the Commission (Figures 5 and 6) for each Survey Team. An app malfunction is defined as the phone apps not collecting survey data and/or snake capture data. Blank template data sheets and digital Excel spreadsheets will be provided by the Commission at the start of the project.

i. The data sheets will include: survey location (Latitude, Longitude), survey start time, survey end time, distance during timed survey (this does not include commute time to and from survey location), number of Constrictors captured, Constrictor capture location (Latitude, Longitude), associated morphometric data for each captured Constrictor, removed python nests (a python nest is easily identifiable as it will have a female python on it), observed scout snakes, and photograph file names associated with each Constrictor capture or observation.

ii. Contractor will submit additional files to the Project Manager including completed Excel spreadsheet files (Figure 5) for surveys where the smartphone apps malfunctioned and completed Morphological Excel spreadsheet files (Figure 6).

iii. All scanned data sheets and electronic files shall be submitted via email to Project Manager no later than five (5) business days after the beginning of each month. Each report will include all data requirements from the previous month’s work.

Photographs of individual Constrictors with identifying file names will be placed on a thumb drive and mailed or dropped off to the Project Manager.

4. The Contractor Survey Team must use the ArcGIS Field Maps and ArcGIS Survey123 apps on a smart phone according to Standard Operating Procedures provided by the Commission.

The Commission will provide a single license for each of the two Contractor Survey Teams to use during the entirety of the contract time frame. The Contractor will be assigned one license.

F. Contract Reporting The Contractor shall submit reports in accordance with the following schedule:

Report Name Period Covered

Description Due Date

Proof of Insurance

Annual Proof of appropriate General Liability and Worker’s

Upon policy renewal.

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Compensation Insurance

Daily App Data Submission

Daily App data must be submitted at the end of each day and this will happen automatically when the survey is ended on the apps unless the apps malfunctioned, see Monthly Data Submission in cases of malfunction.

Daily

Monthly Data Submission

Calendar Month

Report shall be in an Excel spreadsheet for python morphometric data.

If smartphone apps malfunctioned in the field, then survey information must be submitted using data sheets provided by the Commission.

Report shall contain all data recorded on data sheets.

Five (5) business days after close of the period.

Constrictor photographs

Quarterly Photographs of individual captured or observed Constrictors and nests with file names specific to each Constrictor.

Five (5) business days after close of the period.

G. Other Fees and Charges

Additional fees including, but not limited to, property taxes, delivery charges, pick-up charges, fuel surcharges, interest fees, late payment fees (if paid within thirty days of the invoice date), or removal charges are not permitted under this Scope of Work.

H. Routine Communications Upon issuance of the Purchase Order, all routine communications and reports related to this solicitation shall be sent to the Commission’s Contract Manager and Project Manager.

Communications may be by e-mail, regular mail, or telephone.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 10.3.2023 FWC 23/24-87, Page 17 of 63

I. Invoices Invoices must clearly identify the Purchase Order number, invoice date, invoice number, purchase order number if applicable, dates of service, remittance address and total cost. Invoices for services shall be submitted monthly in accordance with the Fee Schedule. The same monthly dates of service will apply to any subsequent annual renewal periods.

1. Fee Schedule

Invoices due five…