FWC 25.26-75 Final.pdf

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

AVIATION SERVICES FOR WILDLIFE AND

VEGETATION SURVEYS ON THE EVERGLADES

COMPLEX OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

FWC 25/26-75

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for procurement of helicopter rental services with qualified pilots for FWC Staff to conduct aerial surveys of wildlife and vegetation within the Everglades Complex of Wildlife Management Areas, 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: ____________________ Contractor’s License 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: __________________________________________________________________________

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 25/26-75

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised March 24, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

(VIP)

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

March 31, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions April 3, 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:

April 10, 2026

@ 3:30 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 April 10, 2026

@ 3:30 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 April 15, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

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GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 25/26-75

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.

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PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Adrian Wiggins Adrian.Wiggins@myfwc.com

TERM

The contract will be effective four years 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.

RENEWAL

The Commission has the option to renew this Contract on a yearly basis for a period up to three (3) years 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. The Subcontractor Minority Status Report (Attachment C) shall be submitted with each invoice for payment.

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.

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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).

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.

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MANDATORY RESPONSIVE REQUIREMENTS

The Commission will not review Bids from Bidders who do not meet the mandatory responsive requirements listed in Attachment B, Mandatory Responsive Requirements. Note: The Commission will perform an initial responsiveness check. Bids found to be non-responsive will not be considered for award.

The Commission reserves the right to act upon information discovered during and after the initial responsiveness check impacting the responsibility or responsiveness of the Bid or Bidders.

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 reference requirements.

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.

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

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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 .

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, and so on, until the Contract Manager accepts a responsive, responsible bidder with sufficient experience, equipment, etc.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 9 of 65 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.

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.

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 harmless, indemnify, defend, and may be responsible for costs of any reasonably necessary actions taken by the Commission.

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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.

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SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 25/26-75

AVIATION SERVICES FOR WILDLIFE AND VEGETATION SURVEYS ON THE EVERGLADES

COMPLEX OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS

PURPOSE

The purpose of this ITB is to obtain competitive pricing for the procurement of helicopter rental services with qualified pilots for FWC Staff to conduct aerial surveys of wildlife and vegetation within the Everglades Complex of Wildlife Management Areas (ECWMA), which includes Everglades and Francis S.

Taylor (EWMA), Rotenberger (RWMA), and Holey Land (HWMA) WMAs (See Figure 1) in accordance with the terms, conditions, and specifications set forth herein.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is soliciting bids for the provision of aviation services to support aerial surveys conducted by FWC staff within the ECWMA, as further detailed below. The data collected from the helicopter flights will further optimize WMA management, thereby enhancing habitat value for wildlife. The anticipated annual need for aviation services is approximately 30 flight hours, or about 8 flights during May of each year. However, actual number of flights/hours and dates may increase or decrease depending on annual need and/or budget.

1. EQUIPMENT AND PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS

1.1. Equipment

1.1.1. Helicopter flights shall consist of slow and low-altitude flights to allow FWC employees and/or their authorized agents to conduct aerial surveys of wildlife and vegetation. These surveys include, but are not limited to, accurately locating, identifying, and recording locations of wildlife and vegetation, as well as collecting habitat information while airborne.

1.1.2. To this end, the Vendor shall use turbine engine helicopters with a minimum manufacturer-specified useful load capability (ULC) of more than seven hundred fifty (750) pounds. FWC requires the specified equipment and aircraft due to the inherent risks associated with low-altitude, low-speed flight and hovering out of ground effect, combined with high mid-day temperatures over water bodies during summer and vegetation in close proximity during flights.

These requirements ensure that the aircraft can safely perform all aspects of the surveys within manufacturer-specified operational limits.

1.1.3. Therefore, Vendors must provide bids based on utilization of helicopters that exceed the minimum manufacturer-specified ULC of 750 pounds.

1.1.4. All aircraft shall have sufficient flight endurance for two hours of continuous survey flight before refueling. Doors of aircraft shall be removable and may be removed to improve visibility during surveys. Also, each aircraft used shall be equipped with a GPS unit capable of being programmed prior to survey flights with a minimum of 200 “waypoints,” and used to navigate up to within 100 feet of those points.

1.1.5. All aircraft shall be maintained and operated under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) 14 C.F.R. Part 135 Air Carrier and Operator Certification. It shall be the Vendor’s duty to operate and maintain aircraft certification under 14 C.F.R. Part 135 as necessary to perform under this

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Contract in compliance with laws and regulations; and Vendor shall provide evidence of such compliance to FWC upon request. All safety equipment required pursuant to FAA regulations and manufacturer specifications shall be installed and operable on aircraft.

1.1.6. The Vendor shall provide FWC with maintenance records of specific aircraft(s) upon request.

FWC reserves the right to inspect aircraft(s) for compliance with the ITB specifications set forth herein.

1.1.7. The Vendor shall submit with their bid clear and legible photocopies of the current Standard Airworthiness Certificate and proof of registration for each helicopter to be used or a notarized statement indicating the Vendor’s access to leased aircraft that meets these standards.

Additionally, the Vendor shall provide a detailed list of all accidents experienced over the past five years for each aircraft that will be involved in the performance contemplated by the Contract.

1.2. Flight Performance

1.2.1. The safety of the flight shall be the first consideration and final criterion for all flight operations.

1.2.2. The Vendor shall be capable of providing aircraft flights which accurately navigate along designated transects using the on-board GPS system and fly at a sustained altitude of approximately 200 feet at low speeds along these transects.

1.2.3. The Vendor shall be capable of providing flights for a minimum of three passengers during survey flights; however, FWC will make every effort to limit passengers to essential crew only. The Vendor shall provide working headphone sets for each passenger in the aircraft that allow passengers to communicate with each other as well as the pilot. The Vendor shall furnish a first aid kit that is mounted in all aircraft cabin(s) which shall be accessible to both pilots and passengers alike on all flights.

1.2.4. Only one pilot shall be on board for each flight. Pilot flight time shall not exceed eight hours in any 24-hour period. It shall be the responsibility of the pilot-in-command to determine if s/he and his/her crew have reached an unsafe fatigue level.

1.2.5. Pilot substitutions require prior approval from FWC. Any substitute pilot must meet all criteria outlined herein. The Contractor shall provide all necessary documentation for substitute pilots at least one week prior to scheduled flights.

1.3. Pilot Experience

1.3.1. Pilots supplied by the Vendor shall possess an FAA Commercial Pilot certificate in rotorcraft category, helicopter class with an instrument rating.

1.3.2. Pilots shall possess a current Class II Medical Certificate, or higher, and meet instrument currency requirements.

1.3.3. Moreover, pilots shall have: (1) a minimum of 1,200 hours as Pilot-In-Command (PIC); (2) a minimum of 500 hours in the category and class of aircraft to be used; (3) a minimum of 100 hours in the make and model of aircraft to be used (within the last 12 months); and (4) a minimum of 250 hours PIC (including 10 hours within the last 9 months) experience in flight performance that enables FWC Staff and/or their agents to perform all aerial survey activities

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 13 of 65 as outlined herein. Said survey activities include but are not limited to accurately locating, identifying, and logging wildlife locations, mapping habitat, and collecting other resource related information from the air (e.g., low level flight operations over typical terrain of the WMAs including operations from “unprepared” landing sites).

1.3.4. The Vendor shall supply with its bid with a notarized detailed statement of each pilot’s experience as required in the paragraph above including but not limited to current hours logged, and clear and legible photocopies of the pilot’s current Medical Certificate and FAA certificates.

Additionally, the Vendor shall provide a detailed list of all accidents experienced over the past five years for each pilot that will be involved in the performance contemplated by this Contract.

1.3.5. The Vendor shall supply its bid with a minimum of two references for each pilot from persons or firms for whom the pilot has performed aerial surveys of wildlife and vegetation similar to those described herein (Attachment D).

1.3.6. Vendor may re-use pilot references when appropriate (i.e., the pilot was working for the Vendor during the time the work was performed). To avoid confusion, said reference should be listed in both the Vendor’s references and the Pilot’s references.

2. SCHEDULING AND PAYMENT

2.1. Scheduling and Availability

2.1.1. While FWC will attempt, in good faith, to schedule flights well in advance, it may be necessary to schedule and take flights with very little advance notice to the Vendor. Helicopters and pilots shall be available to FWC at any time of the day, any day of the week including holidays, and otherwise within one week after being requested through one of the established Points of Contact.

2.1.2. Flights shall be conducted according to FWC’s time schedules. Additionally, the Vendor shall possess adequate resources to meet the needs specified herein and as set forth in Figure 1, whereby such needs may occur during periods when some of the Vendor’s resources are unavailable due to maintenance, scheduling conflicts, or other reasons.

2.1.3. The Vendor shall have available a minimum of two helicopters and two pilots, meeting the specifications of this ITB, available each day for the survey flights.

2.1.4. The Vendor shall identify and use an FAA-certified mechanic near the location where its aircraft are based to ensure any aircraft maintenance is handled as quickly and safely as possible.

2.1.5. Aircraft, pilots, and any refueling equipment shall be scheduled/positioned in a manner which minimizes the amount of “deadhead” time on a given day’s survey, thus providing up to six hours of early morning survey time, if needed. This may necessitate pilots lodging near survey areas from time to time. Passengers will be available for pick up by the Vendor at a location designated by FWC Staff.

2.2. Payment, Flight Hours, and Locations

2.2.1. Hourly rate bids should be submitted based solely on the flight times. FWC will only pay for flight time directly attributed to performing surveys, as documented by HOBBS or HOUR meter

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 14 of 65 readings by FWC Staff. FWC will not pay for any ferry time to the airport, travel to and from home bases, or any other flight time expended by the Vendor that is not directly attributed to performing surveys.

2.2.2. The surveys shall be conducted in the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Rotenberger, and Holey Land WMAs (collectively, “ECWMA”); See Figure 1 (showing general locations and map of the areas).

2.2.3. The foregoing notwithstanding, FWC reserves the right to increase or decrease the projected flight hours due to budgetary changes, changes in project/programmatic priorities, or other reasons of this nature.

3. BID AND AWARD

3.1. Bid Submission and Award

3.1.1. The Vendor shall submit with its bid a minimum of three references for whom the bidder has provided aviation services similar to those described per 1.3.5 in the scope of work.. References provided for the pilots per 1.3.5. may be used as Vendor references if the work was completed while employed and conducted by the Vendor.

3.1.2. The Vendor’s bid submission shall be clear, legible, and provide all supporting information necessary to indicate the Vendor’s equipment, pilots, and experience meet the specifications of this ITB. If at any time prior to award the FWC Project Manager determines that a Vendor lacks sufficient equipment, adequate capabilities, or otherwise fails to meet the specifications of this ITB, FWC reserves the right to reject said Vendor’s bid and to evaluate the next lowest bidder for award.

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Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 15 of 65

4. FIGURE

4.1. Vicinity Map, Everglades Complex of WMAs- Everglades and Francis S. Taylor, Holey Land, and Rotenberger WMAs

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 16 of 65

PRICE SHEET

FWC 25/26-75

CONTRACTOR SHALL NOT ALTER THE PRICE SHEET IN ANY WAY.

Price quoted shall not contain any Federal or State sales or use taxes. The bidder recognizes that the State of Florida, by virtue of its sovereignty, is not required to pay taxes on services, goods and/or equipment purchased incident to such service. Quoted price shall include all necessary items to complete the project.

ALL ITEMS SHALL BE BID OR THE BID WILL BE REJECTED. THE BID WILL BE AWARDED TO

THE RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER THAT SUBMITS THE LOWEST TOTAL PRICE.

PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 287.057(1)(a)1. AND 287.057(1)(a)2., F.S., EACH CONTRACTOR SHALL

SUPPLY A PRICE FOR EACH YEAR THAT A CONTRACT MAY BE RENEWED (SEE RENEWAL

CLAUSE).

INITIAL TERM PRICE (4 YR TERM): ___________________ $/ HOUR

RENEWAL YEAR 1 PRICE: $ _________________________ / HOUR

RENEWAL YEAR 2 PRICE: $ _________________________ / HOUR

RENEWAL YEAR 3 PRICE: $ _________________________ / HOUR

TOTAL BID PRICE (Initial Term x 4) +RY1+RY2+RY3): $_________________________

BY SIGNING BELOW, I ATTEST THAT I HAVE READ THE ENTIRE BID AND AGREE TO FURNISH

THE SERVICE AT THE PRICE QUOTED ABOVE. I HEREBY AFFIRM I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY

AGREEMENT OR COLLUSION AMONG BIDDERS IN RESTRAINT OF FREEDOM OF COMPETITION.

Contractor: ___________________________

Address: _____________________________

Signed: _______________________________

Print Name: __________________________

Title: ________________________________

Fax: _________________________________

City/State/Zip: ________________________

Telephone: ___________________________

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REFERENCES

A minimum of three (3) separate and verifiable references, from persons or firms for whom the bidder has performed similar jobs as per the bid specifications shall be supplied with the bid. No more than one (1) of the submitted references shall be related to a past project where staff necessary for the current project were unaffiliated with the bidder and/or employed by a different company. If providing an unaffiliated reference, enter the information in Reference 4 - Collective Experience. The firms and/or contact persons should be available between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. FWC staff will attempt to contact each selected reference by phone up to three (3) times. If any reference is not available as stated above, this may be cause for rejection of the Bidder’s bid. Provide a description (scope of work) of each job.

REFERENCE #1

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

Project Dates for Work Performed (MM/YYYY): _________________________ to _________________________

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 18 of 65

REFERENCE #2

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

Project Dates for Work Performed (MM/YYYY): _________________________ to _________________________

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 19 of 65

REFERENCE #3

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

Project Dates for Work Performed (MM/YYYY): _________________________ to _________________________

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 20 of 65

REFERENCE #4 – COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

Collective Experience Employee

First Name: __________________________________ Last Name: ___________________________________

Previous Employer’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________

Previous Position Title: ___________________________________________________________________________

Project Dates for Work Performed (MM/YYYY): _________________________ to _________________________

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

SAMPLE REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE

REFERENCE:

Reference Organization Name: ___________________________________________ Reference Contact: ______________________________________________________ Reference Phone Number: _______________________________________________

For Agency use ONLY, to be completed following the bid opening:

The following questions will be asked of the client reference, as chosen at the discretion of the Agency.

1. Did the vendor stay within the approved timeline/budget?

Excellent Above Satisfactory Satisfactory Fair Poor

Comments:

2. Did the vendor maintain clear communication?

3. How satisfied was your organization with the vendor's skill, knowledge, cooperativeness, and professional manner?

4. How satisfied was your organization with the timeliness of the vendor’s delivery of products or performance of services under the contract?

FWC Staff Signature: __________________________________

Date: ___________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 22 of 65

ATTACHMENT A

FWC 25/26-75

FLORIDA FISH & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

PURCHASE ORDER TERMS & CONDITIONS

Last Updated: April 29, 2025

Section 1. PURCHASE ORDER A. Composition and Priority The Contractor agrees to provide commodities or contractual services to the Commission within the manner and at the location specified in the Purchase Order, and any attachments to the Purchase Order. These Purchase Order Terms and Conditions, whether generic or specific, shall take precedence over any inconsistent or conflicting provision in the State of Florida, General Contract Conditions, PUR 1000. Additionally, the terms of the Purchase Order supersede the terms of any and all prior agreements with respect to this purchase.

B. Initial Term Unless otherwise specified, the Purchase Order begins on the date of issuance. Contractual services or commodities to be provided by the Contractor shall be completed by the date specified on the Purchase Order end date.

Section 2. PERFORMANCE A. Performance Standards The Contractor agrees to perform all tasks and provide deliverables as set forth in the Statement of Work and attachments to the Purchase Order. The Commission shall be entitled at all times, upon request, to be advised as to the status of work being done by the Contractor and of the details thereof.

Coordination shall be maintained by the Contractor with representatives of the Commission, or of other agencies involved in the project on behalf of the Commission.

B. Performance Deficiency If the Commission determines that the performance of the Contractor is unsatisfactory, the Commission may notify the Contractor of the deficiency to be corrected, which correction shall be made within a timeframe specified by the Commission. The Contractor shall provide the Commission with a corrective action plan describing how the Contractor will address all issues of Purchase Order non‐performance, unacceptable performance, and failure to meet the minimum performance levels, deliverable deficiencies, or Purchase Order non‐compliance. If the corrective action plan is unacceptable to the Commission, the Contractor will be assessed a non‐performance retainage equivalent to ten (10) percent of the total invoice amount or as specified in the contractual documents. The retainage will be applied to the invoice for the then‐current billing period. The retainage will be withheld until the Contractor resolves the deficiency. If the deficiency is subsequently resolved, the Contractor may invoice the Commission for the retained amount during the next billing period. If the Contractor is unable to resolve the deficiency, the funds retained will be forfeited.

C. Contractor Responsibilities The Contractor agrees that all Contractor employees, subcontractors, or agents performing work under the Purchase Order shall be properly trained technicians who meet or exceed any specified training

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-75, Page 23 of 65 qualifications. Upon request, the Contractor shall furnish a copy of technical certification or other proof of qualification. All employees, subcontractors, or agents performing work under the Purchase Order must comply with all security and administrative requirements of the Commission. The Commission may conduct, and the Contractor shall cooperate in, a security background check or otherwise assess any employee, subcontractor, or agent furnished by the Contractor. The Commission may refuse access to, or require replacement of, any personnel for cause, including, but not limited to, technical or training qualifications, quality of work, change in security status, or non-compliance with the Commission’s security or other requirements. Such refusal shall not relieve the Contractor of its obligation to perform all work in compliance with the Purchase Order. The Commission may reject and bar from any facility for cause any of the Contractor’s employees, subcontractors, or agents.

D. Assignment The Contractor shall not sell, assign or transfer any of its rights, duties or obligations under the Purchase Order without the prior written consent of the Commission. In the event of any assignment, the Contractor remains secondarily liable for performance of the Purchase Order, unless the Commission expressly waives such secondary liability. The Commission may assign the Purchase Order with prior written notice to the Contractor.

E. Damages to State Property Any damages to state property (e.g., structures, roads, culverts, fences, trees, or other natural resources) caused by the Contractor while working on this project shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to remedy, as determined by the Commission. The Contractor shall be responsible for the conduct of all Contractor personnel at all times while on the job site.

Should any historical or cultural artifacts be uncovered, the Contractor shall immediately halt work and notify the Commission’s Contract Manager. Please note: The State Archaeologist has the power to halt work if they have reason to believe artifacts are being disturbed.

F. Subcontractor Minority Status Report.

Contractor shall provide a Subcontractor Minority Status Report (Attachment C) to the Commission’s Contract Manager, summarizing the participation of certified and…