FWC 25.26-57 ITB Final.pdf

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

JW Corbett WMA and Hungryland WEA Custom Swamp Buggies

FWC 25/26-57

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for custom swamp buggies to be used by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area and John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area, 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 Vendors: The Commission shall only consider responsible vendors. Responsible vendors 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.

Sealed Bid: In response to an Invitation to Bid (ITB), a sealed bid is the final submission of a bid from a vendor prior to the bid deadline, after which no further submissions will be considered.

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 undersigned attest to the following:

“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.

Authorized Signature (Manual): ________________________________________________________________________________________

Authorized Signature Name (Typed) and Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-57, Page 3 of 74

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 25/26-57

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised January 15, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

(VIP)

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

January 22, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions January 26, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

SEALED BIDS DUE

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

Must be received PRIOR to:

February 4, 2026

@ 4:00 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 February 4, 2026

@ 4:00 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 February 10, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-57, Page 4 of 74

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 25/26-57

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 2).

Certified Minority-owned, Woman-owned and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, as certified by the State of Florida Office of Supplier Development, 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 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-57, Page 5 of 74

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Elbert Orellana elbert.orellana@myfwc.com

TERM

The contract will be effective one year upon issuance of 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.

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 Development 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 Development website for information on certified business enterprises that may be considered for subcontracting opportunities. However, pursuant to Section 287.05701 F.S., the Commission may not request documentation of or consider a vendor’s social, political, or ideological interests when determining if the vendor is a responsible vendor, nor give preference to a vendor based on the vendor’s social, political, or ideological interests.

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 3). 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).

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 https://www.dms.myflorida.com/agency_administration/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd/mentor_protege_program

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-57, Page 6 of 74

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.

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 2), 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 a minimum of three (3) references for similar projects completed.

Current contact names and phone numbers shall be included with the bid package. See the attached references form for more detail.

EQUAL BIDS

In the event that there is no multiple award contemplated in the ITB, and the Commission receives equal bids eligible for award, the Commission will comply with the following, as applicable: sections 287.057(12), 287.082, 287.087,287.092, 295.187(4)(a), and 295.187(4)(b), F.S. In order to clarify the Bidders’ status with regard to the applicable statutory preference requirements, the Commission may request information from Bidders with equal bids. A Bidder will not be permitted to amend or supplement its Bid in response to such request for clarification. If the tie has not been broken by application of the aforementioned statutes, the Commission will proceed with a random selection to decide the award.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-57, Page 7 of 74

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 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 Ave 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. DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS SHALL BE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE

AND SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-57, Page 8 of 74

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 3). 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 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 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;

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 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-57, Page 9 of 74

• 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.

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.

LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

If the Contractor fails to complete the work or the conditions of the Purchase Order and/or Change Orders by the completion date, the Commission shall have the right to deduct liquidated damages from any amount due and payable to the Contractor. Liquidated damages shall be assessed in the amount of $100 per calendar day of delay. Exceptions to this provision may be made if a delay is attributable to circumstances that are clearly beyond the control of the Contractor. The burden of proof of unavoidable delay shall rest with the Contractor and shall be supplied in a written form and submitted to the Contract Manager.

WARRANTIES/DAMAGED ITEMS/DELIVERY

The Contractor shall assume full responsibility for providing or ensuring warranty coverage and/or warranty service on any and all items including goods, materials, or equipment provided to the Commission.

If Contractor is not the Manufacturer, all Manufacturer warranties must be passed through to the Commission.

Delivery shall be made no later than the specified Delivery Date. The Contractor shall pay all costs associated with delivery and shall assume full responsibility for all item(s) damaged prior to the F.O.B.

destination delivery and agree to hold harmless the Commission of all responsibility for prosecuting damage claims.

The Contractor shall assume full responsibility for replacement of all defective or damaged goods within thirty (30) days of notice by the Commission of such defect or damage.

GUARANTEE

If products do not comply with the specifications contained herein, the Contractor shall replace the product(s), or the purchase price shall be refunded. The refund or the delivery of the replacement product(s) shall be made within thirty (30) days following the Contract Manager’s notification to the Contractor that the original product(s) was non-compliant. Costs of returning the original product(s) will be the sole responsibility of the Contractor.

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT ON COMMISSION PROPERTY

If the Commission allows the Contractor to have project materials or equipment delivered to and/or stored upon the Commission-managed or owned property before, during, or after the term of the project, the Contractor will be fully and solely responsible for all expenses and liability incurred as a result of the delivery or storage. Should the Commission, in its sole discretion, determine that any project materials or equipment stored on its property must be moved in response to an emergency, the Contractor shall hold

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-57, Page 10 of 74 harmless, indemnify, defend, and may be responsible for costs of any reasonably necessary actions taken by the Commission.

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/

SCOPE OF WORK

JW CORBETT WMA AND HUNGRYLAND WEA CUSTOM SWAMP BUGGIES

PURPOSE

The intent of this ITB is to obtain competitive pricing for and purchase two deck-style swamp buggies, and other bid items, to be used by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on J.W.

Corbett Wildlife Management Area and John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area. The buggies shall be capable of safely and efficiently transporting people and equipment through mud, rocky or uneven terrain, and wet marshes and swamps typical of south Florida. All parts and equipment shall be new or remanufactured to original equipment manufacturers’ specifications. No junk yard, salvage, or “as is” parts will be accepted.

MINIMUM VENDOR QUALIFICATIONS

Bidders shall have manufactured a minimum of five (5) swamp buggies, used in support of prescribed burning, habitat management, or fire suppression activities. At least one (1) of these buggies must have been built for a government entity. Bidders shall provide information regarding their experience building swamp buggies on the attached Experience Form (ATTACHMENT B). Bidders shall specify the intended use of each previously built swamp buggy and the specialized equipment installed for each previous contract on the Experience Form.

Bidders shall provide a minimum of three references that may be contacted for details for previous swamp buggy builds, at least one of which shall be a government entity.

1. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

1.1. Partial payments of total bid value shall be made after completion of the following tasks:

20% = Frame, running gear, suspension, shocks, and upper structure assembly 20% = Wheels, tires, motor, transmission, transfer case assembly, and pre-paint inspection 20% = Console, steering, seats, rail and step assembly 20% = Fuel tank, water tank, torch tank, stowage boxes and deck assembly prior to coating 20% = Final delivery

1.2.This payment schedule follows the required inspection schedule, whereby no additional work is to be performed until previous work is approved by the FWC Contract or Project Manager and decisions are made to clarify the specifications for items identified in the bid packages as “to be determined.”

2. DELIVERY

2.1.The completed swamp buggy must be delivered (FOB destination) to the following FWC location:

FWC Field Office J.W. Corbett WMA 11835 Seminole Pratt Whitney Road West Palm Beach, Fl 33412

3. REQUIRED SPECIFICATIONS FOR EACH SWAMP BUGGY

3.1.Each final product shall be a complete and functional deck-style vehicle (Figure 1) in all respects and require no additional parts or modifications to be safely and efficiently used for travel over and through roads, rocky or uneven terrain, mud, and wet marshes/swamps typical of south Florida.

4. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

4.1. Vehicle shall be easy to operate in field conditions and easy to maintain for preventative maintenance purposes.

4.2. All parts shall be new or remanufactured to original equipment manufacturers’ specifications. Typed written receipts shall be provided to the FWC Project Manager to validate all parts acquisitions. When brand names are specified, state approved equivalents are acceptable. Equivalent approval shall be done by the FWC Project Manager.

4.3. Dry road speed must be a maximum of 20 miles per hour (mph). The swamp buggy must be designed and stability performance tested to not sway, shimmy, or shake when operated at all speeds. Requestor is not looking for fast driving swamp buggy.

4.4. Power steering hydraulic cylinder assist, and 40 feet (ft.) maximum turning radius are required to provide excellent maneuverability.

4.5. Properly positioned controls and instrumentation are required to provide maximum operator access and view of required gauges and accessories.

4.6. Before work begins, the Awarded Contractor must complete site visit at the JW Corbett WMA Field Office for a walk-through of an existing buggy to ensure all specifications and information are understood.

5. WARRANTY AND PARTS LIST

5.1. Successful bidder will supply a parts list of all commercially manufactured components that will include part, source, part number, and model (if applicable).

5.2. All components, labor, and workmanship shall carry a minimum of one (1) year warranty. A copy of the warranty(s) shall be delivered with the unit. Any modifications to parts used shall be listed with the respective modifications and explanation of why it was modified.

5.3. Successful bidder will provide an easy to understand schedule of routine maintenance, including recommended fluid types and volumes at the completion of project.

5.4. The vendor shall be responsible for pick-up and delivery of the vehicle if any drive train repairs are necessary during the warranty period.

6. ENGINE

6.1. Engine must be a new Chevrolet 350ci engine or approved equivalent, 325-350hp. Edelbrock 4-barrel performer carburetor and intake required. Carburator shall have an electric choke. An 80 amp alternator, non-computer OEM style HEI, and manual fuel pump required. Air cleaner shall be Spectre 14” airbox kit #98625. Air cleaner shall have aluminum spacer. All engine parts shall be new or remanufactured.

Serpentine drive belts are required and shall be Chevrolet Performance early small block serpentine belt drive package, part # 12497697. Fuel lines shall be stainless steel tubing and fuel hoses shall be braided stainless steel.

6.2. Exhaust system shall be quiet and without leaks and is to include a three stage stainless steel muffler with tail pipes that meet or exceed automotive standards. Ceramic coated steel tube exhaust headers are required. Headers shall be JBA 1830S shorty smog headers. Headers shall be reversed to bring exhaust system under deck and exhaust shall be routed to the rear of the buggy and come out at side rear end.

Exhaust tubing shall be stainless steel.

6.3. Cooling system: The radiator must be 1971-1979 Dodge truck/van V8 3 core New radiator or radiator reworked by radiator shop which must include new radiator core and heavy duty transmission oil cooler.

All new hoses, thermostat, radiator cap, and new pump that meet or exceed original equipment manufacturers’ (OEM) specifications are required. In addition, an external heavy duty transmission cooler with electric fan shall be mounted under front step ahead of radiator, but not on radiator. Transmission fluid shall be routed to radiator then through transmission cooler then back to transmission with fan temperature switch mounted on inlet to cooler. Power steering cooler required. Shall be B&M, Summit part # BMM 70255 or equivalent. Cooler shall be mounted under front step ahead of radiator.

7. DRIVE TRAIN

7.1.Transmission: GM Turbo 400 Hydromantic with short tail shaft. Shift kit is to be installed, and vent is to be extended to deck. Shifter shall be on the column.

7.2.Transfer case: Pro-Fab 2.5:1 gear ratio with minimum 2.5-ton u-joints. Case vented to oil reservoir under deck (Figure 4), approximately 12 oz. capacity.

7.3.Front and rear axles shall be Rockwell 2.5 ton top loader. Rebuilt military surplus, front housing to be cut and welded to accommodate two short side axle shafts. Housing centered in frame to avoid sharp drive shaft angles. Front and rear housings to have D-rings welded to center housing for tie downs.

Front and rear axles shall be “open”, no welded spiders or lockers installed. Torque arms mounted to frame cross members with top hats on the differential (Figure 2). Axles shall be “run in” for minimum of 8 hours with no gear oil leakage visible.

7.4.U-joints: Hardened performance type. All U-joints installed on buggy shall have grease zerks and there must be sufficient access to each zerk to grease with a handheld grease gun.

7.5.Shafts: Shall be minimum 2.5 ton and shall be aligned without sharp angles in the u-joints.

7.6.Transfer case and axles must be able to use multi gear oil with no additives.

8. SUSPENSION

8.1.Front: 1 ton leaf springs from ’73-‘79 Ford truck (manufacturer part #43-571) with Ford spring hangers. Spring shackles must be installed in a manner such that they do not break.

8.2.Rear: 1 ton leaf springs from ’73-’79 Ford truck (manufacturer part #43-571) with Ford hangers and helper springs or rubber stop (Figure 3).

8.3.Front and rear leaf springs will be attached to axles using 2 steel plates minimum 5/8” thick and ¾” grade 8 bolts, no u-bolts (Figure 3).

8.4.Sway bars: Required front and rear, minimum 1” diameter with polyurethane bushings links with Hyme joints.

8.5.Shocks: Two per axle (1 per side). Monroe Magnum 66707 gasmatic or approved equivalent with 5/8” bolt mounting and polyurethane bushings. Shocks shall be installed in a manner such that steering and maneuverability are not compromised.

9. STEERING AND BRAKES

9.1. Steering type: Full hydraulic steering. Steering motor shall be Char-Lynn #211-1009. A 2” double acting hydraulic cylinder is required. Shall be Cross Manufacturing stock #022921.

9.2. Steering column: Shall be Chevy 2003-07 factory truck steering column and steering wheel, new or remanufactured to new specifications. Tilt required, no steering lock. Directional arm and electrical components to be removed. Gear shifter shall be functional with push-pull cable, requires 1-2-3 detents, no overdrive.

9.3. Brakes: To include new disk brake mounted to Pro-Fab at input of transfer case, hydraulic, foot operated. Wildwood master cylinder required with Wildwood foot pedal. Master cylinder shall be easy to reach and fill and be protected from field conditions. Caliper shall be Wilwood 120-6806 Dynalite II caliper and Wilwood 160-12285 rotor or direct equivalent (Figure 4).

10. WHEELS AND TIRES

10.1. Tires: Four new 18.4 x 26, 10 ply tubeless (57.6” overall diameter) tires with tubes installed.

Firestone Super all traction FWD/R-1 or equivalent. Tubes shall be 23.1 x 26 natural rubber.

10.2. Wheels: Rim width 16 inches. Tractor rims shall be welded to solid steel plates with centers to match axle hubs. Offset on rims shall be determined when axles are mounted in order to ensure frame clearance and turning radius. Valve stems will be protected from physical damage by short pipe and cap or other approved method.

11. DIMENSIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

11.1. Wheel base: 132 inches.

11.2. Overall length: 228 inches

11.3. Overall width outside tire to outside tire: 90 inches

11.4. Overall height of buggy deck to ground: 72-74 inches.

11.5. Overall width of buggy deck: 92 inches.

11.6. Overall length of deck: 192 inches.

11.7. Fuel tank: Custom built welded aluminum tank to fit beneath rear of buggy just forward of rear bumper. Dimensions: 22” wide, 18” long, 24” high, minimum 1/8” thickness. Requires a visual sight gauge attached to side of the tank, vented cap at rear of tank, a roll-over vent, and a drain plug at bottom. Fuel out at bottom of tank with tube protruding at least ¼” into tank. A shut off valve shall be installed on the fuel out. One baffle installed to prevent sloshing of fuel. Fuel tank must be constructed to meet or exceed industry standards for off-road vehicles and be protected from outdoor weather environment. Must be able to operate fill cap without use of tools. Fuel tank must have accessible mounting brackets for easy removal and cleaning as required. Inline fuel filter/water separator must be easily accessible, affixed to a plate welded to frame and protected from extreme elements or physical damage.

11.8. Water tank: Custom built welded aluminum tank mounted over rear axle of buggy, under deck area.

Dimensions: 22” wide, 48” long, 24” tall, minimum 1/8” thickness. With minimum 4” filler opening at deck surface located at rear of tank. A ½” vent shall be installed on the top of the tank. Must be removable and have anti-slosh baffles. Tank shall be fitted with a ¾” drain valve, a 1½” NPT welded bung in the bottom of the tank, a 1” NPT welded bung in the front of the tank and 2 ¼” NPT bungs on the left side for a sight tube. Exact locations of bungs shall be determined by FWC during the required inspections.

11.9. Torch tank: Custom built welded aluminum tank mounted between the fuel and water tanks.

Dimensions 24” wide, 12” long, 18” tall, minimum 1/8” thickness. Must have a vented cap, roll over vent and anti-slosh baffle. Shall have a ¼” NPT bung on the bottom for fuel out and 2 ¼” NPT bungs on the left side for a sight tube.

12. CHASSIS/BODY

12.1. Frame

12.1.1. Main frame: 26” wide 2” x 5” x 3/16” rectangular steel tubing, welded with closed welds. Cross members with axle torque arm attached ¼” wall thickness. Welded construction.

12.1.2. Deck support: 4 vertical and 1 horizontal per side 2” x 2” x 3/16” square steel tubing.

12.1.3. Fabricated engine, transmission, steering and suspension mounting brackets. Note: All brackets will be welded with closed welds.

12.2. Deck

12.2.1. Center console “Palm Beach” style. Console must be mounted to deck frame supports. Front of console shall be 48” from front edge of deck. Console shall have a hinged access door on the front that shall be flat sheet.

12.2.2. Deck frame shall be 1½”x3/16” angle steel. Shall have 4 outrigger supports on each side made of 1” square steel tubing. The rear 2 on each side shall have 1” angle steel affixed running the entire length.

12.2.3. Engine hood shall be hinged at the rear and be flat with the deck. 27” wide by 36” long. Full length hinge and flush mount pull ring. Hood to be reinforced.

12.2.4. Dash/instrument panel shall be constructed so that gauges, fuses, and switches are accessible and sit directly in front of driver’s seat center of buggy (Figure 5).

12.2.5. Deck shall be entirely flat with aluminum plate 1/8” thick. Fastened with marine adhesive and 3/16” pop rivets spaced 6” apart on center. Deck must be sanded or roughed up for proper adhesion of deck coating and a bare metal inspection is required by FWC personnel prior to applying deck coating. A “Rhino Hide” plastic material must be sprayed on to a thickness of ¼”.

Rolled or brushed is not acceptable. Thin spots or lifting plastic will not be accepted. Pop rivets shall not show through the plastic.

12.2.6. Deck railing: One inch diameter, 1/8” wall round stainless steel tubing. Front left corner of railing shall have stainless steel expanded sheet installed. The portion of the railing in front of the seats and console shall be approximately 21” high while the remainder shall be 28” high. Attached to deck with stainless steel bolts (Figures 1,6).

12.2.7. Additional deck frame supports shall be added for mounting of gas water pump and hose reel. Gas water pump will be mounted on front left corner of deck; electric hose reel will be mounted on right front corner of deck. A mounting plate for an electric fuel pump and filter shall be attached to the frame below the deck on the right side. Pumps and hose reels will be provided by FWC prior to construction. Final locations shall be coordinated with FWC personnel during construction.

12.3. Seats

12.3.1. Driver’s seat shall be Bestop 39450-01 TrailMax II high back, color spice. Two passenger seats shall be Bestop 39429-37 TrailMax II low back, color spice. Driver’s seat shall include a sliding rail for adjustment.

12.3.2. Seat anchor mounting supports and storage box frame shall be reinforced to prevent metal fatigue or failure in case of rollover or accident.

12.4. Storage boxes

12.4.1. Aluminum seat storage boxes mounted below each seat, must be 15”x15”x12” in height.

Passenger seat boxes opening to front and drivers seat box opening to the rear. Openings must be 12”x8” Must be mounted to deck frame supports.

12.4.2. Two (2), aluminum top loading storage compartments shall be placed on the rear deck of the buggy behind the passenger seats. Boxes shall be approximately 50”x19”x19”, sturdy and of a heavy gauge. Shall be mounted no less than 14” from rear edge of deck and 6” from the side edge.

12.4.3. Lid of rear storage boxes will be used as seats, and therefore, removable cushions are required.

Cushions tan in color and without wood backing. Cushions shall be 3” thick.

12.5. Bumpers

12.5.1. Front step bumper: 4”x4”x72”x3/16” square steel tubing with permanent, non-slip surface using expanded sheet. Ends angled 45 degrees and welded closed.

12.5.2. Rear step bumper: 2”x5”x3/16” rectangular steel tubing with permanent non-slip surface using expanded sheet. The rear bumper shall have a step platform 16”x60” to assist loading of cargo in rear deck (Figure 6).

12.5.3. A 2” hitch receiver shall be mounted below each bumper (front and rear).

12.6. Winches and winch mounts Front and rear winch mounts made of ½” steel plate spanning the main frame tubes. Front plate shall be located so that winch is mounted under front step. Rear plate shall be located so that winch is mounted on the rear platform behind the fuel tank and below the rear step.

Winches shall be Smittybilt X20 17,500 lb. capacity (Figures 6,7).

12.7. Steps

12.7.1. Front step. One step 14” high. Step width of frame. Front of step open and covered with expanded aluminum to keep vegetation from radiator and shall be hinged to allow use of winch. Removable louvered aluminum side panels. Front step shall be removable for access with permanent non-slip surface using expanded aluminum sheet. Airflow restriction shall be as minimal as possible yet maintain functionality of steps (Figure 6).

12.7.2. Rear steps. Lower step 2”x5” rectangular steel tubing with permanent non-slip surface using expanded sheet. Ends shall be welded closed. Shall be 12” below and 6” behind rear platform and have 2” receiver hitch for mounting swing up step. Swing up step shall be ¼” steel plate 10”x14” and 2” square steel tubing. Shall have permanent non-slip surface using expanded sheet and shall be able to swing backwards but not forward. Top step is the winch cover and shall be removable to allow removal of tanks. Shall be 14” above rear platform and have permanent non- slip surface using expanded sheet (Figure 7).

12.8. Paint/color: All steel shall be cleaned, sand blasted, and powder coated. One buggy red and one buggy black. IMPORTANT: Bare metal inspection is required by FWC personnel prior to prime and paint.

12.9. Drip torch holders: Two drip torch holders are required and shall be attached to rear edge of buggy deck. Holders shall be constructed with 1/8” thick aluminum sheet with two gussets for support (Figures 7,8).

13. ELECTRIC SYSTEM AND INSTRUMENTATION

13.1. Wiring: Wiring shall meet or exceed marine standards. All wire shall be Ancor marine tinned copper wire of the appropriate gauge for the rated load of the accessory, except where the wire gauge is specified. Wiring shall be bundled, protected and secured to the frame/console. Split wire loom or conduit secured to the frame shall be used in areas where wiring is exposed or likely to be snagged by vegetation.

13.2. Batteries: Two (2) 12 volt heavy duty absorbed glass mat (AGM), batteries minimum 750 cold cranking amps (CCA) each. Batteries shall be mounted in a weatherproof box under the buggy deck and wired through a readily accessible marine grade 4 position battery switch with a minimum cranking rating of 1000 amps that allows the use of either battery independently or both batteries at the same time (Blue Sea Systems #9001E or equivalent). (Figures 9,10)

13.3. Buses: Marine grade electrical buses shall be used for ground and power connections for the front and rear winches, starter, hose reel and power to the console master switch. An additional bus shall be used for all ground connections to switches, gauges and accessories located in the console. This additional ground bus shall be incorporated in the fuse box provided there are sufficient terminals available for all required connections.

13.4. Alternator: A minimum of 80 amperes and compatible with the required battery isolator. This may preclude the use of “one-wire” alternators. Alternator excitation and/or voltage sensor circuits shall be wired to the ignition switch and in accordance with the instructions for the battery isolator.

13.5. Battery Isolator: A Cole Hearse 48162 battery isolator with a minimum rating of 160 amps must be installed between the alternator and the batteries. Wire from the alternator output to the battery isolator and from the battery isolator to the batteries shall be 8 AWG Ancor marine tinned copper wire. The connection from the battery isolator to each battery may be made at the battery switch input instead of directly to the batteries.

13.6. Switches:

13.6.1. Power to all systems shall be controlled by a master switch located on the console. Master switch shall be weatherproof and have a minimum rating of 150 amps and a minimum of 5/16” stud terminals. A mini single circuit battery switch flush mounted in the dash or console is preferred.

13.6.2. A weatherproof push button or toggle starter switch with a minimum rating of 20 amps shall be located in the console and protected by a 20-amp fuse located in the fuse box.

13.6.3. All other switched circuits shall be controlled by six (6) weatherproof marine rocker style switches located in a single switch panel with integrated circuit breakers (Blue Sea Systems #8373 or equivalent). All rocker switches shall be lighted and rated for a minimum of 20 amps each. Wire from the power buss to the master switch shall be 8 AWG Ancor marine tinned copper wire and from the master switch to the switch panel and fuse box shall be a minimum 10 AWG Ancor marine tinned copper wire.

13.6.4. Switched circuits shall be as follows:

13.6.4.1. Ignition: power to ignition coil, choke, hour meter, gauges and alternator

13.6.4.2. Headlights: power to headlights, taillight and gauge illumination

13.6.4.3. Work lights: power to two under deck work lights

13.6.4.4. Strobes: vendor shall provide powered switch only accessory will be installed and wired by the FWC.

13.6.4.5. Water pump: power to 12v diaphragm pump

13.6.4.6. Flamethrower: power to 12v fuel pump for motorized drip torch

13.7. Fuses: A fuse box with a minimum of six (6) circuits shall be mounted inside the console where it can be easily accessed.