FWC 25.26-78 Final.pdf

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

Farm Lease on Apalachee Wildlife Management Area

(WMA)

FWC 25/26-78

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for the lease of thirty-six (36) farming fields, totaling three hundred ninety-five and 9/10th (395.9) acres, on the Apalachee WMA in Jackson County, Florida, per the specifications contained herein. Only responsive and responsible Contractors will be considered for award of this Invitation to Bid (ITB).

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

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

Responsible 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 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 3 of 64

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 25/26-78

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised March 30, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

(VIP)

MANDATORY Pre-Bid Conference

April 6, 2026

@ 11:00 AM ET

See Pre-Bid Conference Clause

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

April 13, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions April 17, 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 24, 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 24, 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 29, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 4 of 64

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 25/26-78

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 the Sample Contract, 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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 5 of 64

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Adrian Wiggins Adrian.Wiggins@myfwc.com

TERM

The contract will be effective three years upon execution of the contract.

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 two (2) 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 Contract. 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.

MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE/SITE VISIT MEETING

A mandatory pre-bid conference/Site Visit Meeting will be held at 2781 River Road, Sneads, FL 32460 Apalachee WMA Check Station on the date and time specified in the Calendar of Events (Page 3). The

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 6 of 64 purpose of the pre-bid conference/Site Visit Meeting is to discuss the contents of this ITB and to accept verbal questions from Bidders concerning the project. Vendors must attend this pre-bid conference site meeting as a requirement of bid responsiveness. Failure to attend the entire conference meeting, from the time it is called to order to the time it is adjourned, shall disqualify a potential respondent. The Commission will make a reasonable effort to answer verbal questions asked at the pre-bid conference/Site Visit, however, Bidders should clearly understand that verbal discussions held at the pre-bid conference/Site Visit shall not be binding on the Commission, and the Commission will only issue an official written response to verbal questions subsequently submitted in writing in accordance with the Deadline for Questions clause below.

2781 River Road, Sneads, FL 32460.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 7 of 64 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.

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 8 of 64

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 .

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 highest bid price.

If deemed necessary, an interview with the bidder by the Contract Manager may be required before the bid is awarded.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 9 of 64

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 highest 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 highest 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 formal contract amendment.

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 10 of 64

NOTICE TO PROCEED

The awarded Bidder shall not initiate work under this contract until the required Insurance documentation has been received by the Commission. The Contractor may begin work once it has received an official written Notice to Proceed (Attachment C) from the Contract Manager.

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.

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 Contract 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 25/26-78

FARM LEASE ON APALACHEE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA (WMA)

PURPOSE

The purpose of this project is to obtain competitive pricing for the lease of thirty-six (36) farming fields, totaling three hundred ninety five and 9/10th (395.9) acres, , on the Apalachee Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This is a Revenue project whereby the vendor will pay FWC for the opportunity to farm these fields.

1. INITIAL TERM COMPLETION DATE

Project shall be completed by the Contractor three years from the issuance of the formal contract.

2. INTRODUCTION

2.1. The contractor understands and agrees that farming on the Property is being used as a management tool and as such is secondary to the purposes and uses of the Property by the Commission. The Commission shall conduct public outdoor recreational activities on the Property, including but not limited to controlled public hunting and fishing as well as any and all activities not specified, without interference from the contractor activities authorized under this contract. The property consists of a total of three hundred ninety five and 9/10th (395.9) acres, , which include Thirty-six (36) fields, as identified in Figures 1 and 2. The field numbers are as follows: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 23, 26, 27, 28a, 29, , 31a, 31b, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37A, 37b, 38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47 and 51.

3. TYPE OF CROPS

3.1. The work to be performed under this project shall consist of the opportunity to plant and harvest crops of soybeans, peanuts, corn, small grains and/or other crops approved in advance by the Commission on +/- 395.9 acres of land for a period of three (3) years from the date of award with an additional two (2) year renewal option.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CONTRACTOR

4.1. The Contractor will supply all seed, lime, fertilizer, labor, and equipment necessary for this farming operation. The Contractor shall leave ten (10) percent of the crop on the ground or standing if directed by Commission personnel to do so. If a field is not planted, the Contractor may be asked to till the acreage in each unplanted field at least once each year if directed to do so by the Commission’s Project Manager.

5. PLANTING PLAN

5.1. The Contractor shall provide a written planting plan for approval by the Commission’s Project Manager prior to conducting any agricultural activities. The plan shall contain at a minimum; the crop per field number, field preparation type, and the projected crop rotation for the subsequent year. The plan and report shall be prepared according to the sample provided by the Commission representative and shall be submitted to Commission’s Project Manager.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 12 of 64

6. PEANUT LIMITATIONS

6.1. The Contractor shall only plant peanuts once every three years in the same field and shall only plant a non-legume crop at least one of the two years in between peanut plantings in accordance with standard peanut rotation practices recommended by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Services (UF/IFAS). Peanuts shall only be planted on approximately 1/2 of the contract acres in any given year.

7. PEST CONTROL

7.1. The Contractor shall supply and use only EPA-approved herbicides/pesticides, and these shall be used in accordance with product labels for the appropriate agricultural process. The designated Contractor representative may use all such EPA-approved herbicides/pesticides only after approval. The Contractor shall provide, to the Commission by December 31 each year, an annual pest control plan listing actual usage of pesticides during that year and anticipated use for the following year. The plan and report shall be prepared according to the sample provided by the Commission representative and shall be submitted to Commission’s Project Manager.

8. TRASH REMOVAL

8.1. The Contractor shall remove all litter, including but not limited to bags and other containers that the Contractor, its agents or assignees, bring on the WMA and shall properly dispose of the same.

9. HUNTING RIGHTS

9.1. The Commission shall have full control of the hunting rights on the land to be farmed, and in no instance shall the farming operation interfere with wildlife management of the area. Wildlife damage permits will not be issued for wildlife damage on lands covered in this contract.

10. RULES AND REGULATIONS

10.1. The Contractor and employees shall be subject to all area rules and regulations while on the Apalachee

WMA.

11. ACCESS

11.1. Access is restricted on the Apalachee WMA to the Contractor and their designees exclusively for farming operations. Access will be arranged with the Commission’s Project Manager. The Contractor is responsible for gates being locked at all times.

12. LOSS OR DAMAGE

12.1. The Contractor shall be responsible for securing any materials to prevent theft or damage. The Commission is not responsible for loss or damage.

13. SUBCONTRACTING

13.1. Subleasing or subcontracting of any type by the Contractor is prohibited.

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14. EXPERIENCE

14.1. Each prospective Bidder shall provide a chronological list (starting with most recent experience first) of the Bidder’s prior and relevant experience to farming. The Bidder must provide a minimum of three years of farming experience.

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 14 of 64

Figure 1

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Figure 2

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ANNUAL PEST CONTROL PLAN

Anticipated Usage Report: ☐

Actual Usage Report: ☐

Field Office: Apalachee Wildlife Management Area

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Lessee Name: Lease Number:

Calendar Year:

Pesticide Trade Name: EPA Class: EPA Registration No.:

Target Pest:

Location Description:

Total Estimated Quantity: _______________________________________

Total Estimated Acreage: ________________________________________

Pesticide Trade Name: EPA Class: EPA Registration No.:

Target Pest:

Location Description:

Total Estimated Quantity: _______________________________________

Total Estimated Acreage: ________________________________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 17 of 64

ANNUAL PLANTING PLAN

Field Office: Apalachee Wildlife Management Area

Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Lessee Name: Lease Number:

Calendar Year:

Crop Being Planted:

Field Number(s):

Field Preparation Type:

Projected Next Year Crop:

Crop Being Planted:

Field Number(s):

Field Preparation Type:

Projected Next Year Crop:

Crop Being Planted:

Field Number(s):

Field Preparation Type:

Projected Next Year Crop:

Crop Being Planted:

Field Number(s):

Field Preparation Type:

Projected Next Year Crop

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 18 of 64

PRICE SHEET

FWC 25/26-78

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 HIGHEST 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).

ITEM TOTAL

A.

Price Per Year For Initial Contract Term

(Execution – 3 years from Execution)

B. Price Per Year For Possible Contract Renewal Term

(Years 4 and 5 of Contract)

TOTAL BID PRICE (A Total + B Total)

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: ___________________________

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

EXPERIENCE

The Bidder shall provide a chronological list (starting with most recent experience first) of the Bidder’s prior and relevant experience to farming. The Bidder must provide a minimum of three years of farming experience.

EXPERIENCE #1:

DATES OF EXPERIENCE: ______________________________ to __________________________

EXPERIENCE #2:

DATES OF EXPERIENCE: ______________________________ to __________________________

EXPERIENCE #3:

DATES OF EXPERIENCE: ______________________________ to __________________________

CONTRACTOR NAME AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 20 of 64

REFERENCES

FWC 25/26-78

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 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 21 of 64

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 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 22 of 64

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 01.12.2026 FWC 25/26-78, Page 23 of 64

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:

ATTACHMENT A

VENDOR CONTRACT

STATE OF FLORIDA

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

FWC Contract No. FWC - Chapter 287 ITB

This contract is entered into by and between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, whose address is 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600, hereafter “Commission” or “FWC,” and Contractor Name, Contractor FEID, whose address is Contractor Address, hereinafter “Contractor,” collectively, “Parties”.

INTRODUCTORY CLAUSES

The Commission and Contractor intend to partner together to Enter a brief project/service description;

The Commission has awarded this Contract pursuant to the requirements of Sections 287.057, Florida Statutes (F.S.); and Such benefits are for the ultimate good of the State of Florida, its resources, wildlife, and public welfare.

TERMS OF THE CONTRACT

The Commission and the Contractor, for the considerations stated in this Contract, agree as follows:

Section 1. PROJECT DESCRIPTION.

The Contractor shall provide the services and products, and perform the specific responsibilities and obligations, as set forth in the Scope of Work, attached hereto as Attachment A, which specifically identifies project tasks and accompanying deliverables. These deliverables must be submitted and approved by the Commission prior to any payment. The Commission will not accept any deliverable that does not comply with the specified required minimum level of service to be performed and the criteria for evaluating the successful completion of each deliverable. If this Contract was competitively procured, the Contractor’s response to the Commission’s solicitation is hereby incorporated by reference.

Section 2. PERFORMANCE.

A. Contractor Performance.

The Contractor shall perform the activities described in Attachment A in a proper and satisfactory manner. Unless otherwise provided for in Attachment A, any and all equipment, products, or materials necessary or appropriate to perform under this Contract shall be supplied by the Contractor. Contractor shall obtain all necessary local, state, and federal authorizations necessary to complete this project, and the Contractor shall be licensed as necessary to perform under this Contract as may be required by law, rule, or regulation; the Contractor shall provide evidence of such compliance to the Commission upon request. The Contractor shall procure all supplies and pay all charges, fees, taxes, and incidentals that may

FWC Contract No. FWC - Chapter 287 ITB

FWC Vendor Contract Last Revised: 3.18.2023 Page 25 of 64 be required for the completion of this Contract. By acceptance of this Contract, the Contractor warrants that it has the capability, integrity, and reliability to assure good-faith performance.

Contractor shall immediately notify the Commission’s Contract Manager in writing if its ability to perform under the Contract is compromised in any manner during the term of the Contract. The Commission shall take appropriate action, including potential termination of this Contract, in the event Contractor’s ability to perform under this Contract becomes compromised.

B. Subcontractor Minority Status Report.

Contractor shall provide a Subcontractor Minority Status Report (Attachment D) to the Commission’s Contract Manager, summarizing the participation of certified and non-certified woman-, veteran- and/or minority-owned business enterprise subcontractors/material suppliers for this Contract. The report shall be completed in its entirety and submitted with each invoice. The Contractor shall indicate “N/A” if the project does not utilize subcontractors.

The Office of Supplier Development can assist in furnishing names of qualified woman-, veteran- and/or minority-owned business enterprises. Contact the Commission’s Minority Coordinator at (850) 488-6551 with any questions.

C. Contractor Responsibilities.

Contractor agrees that all Contractor employees, subcontractors, or agents performing work under the Contract shall be properly trained technicians who meet or exceed any specified training qualifications. Upon request, Contractor shall furnish a copy of technical certification or other proof of qualification. All employees, subcontractors, or agents performing work under the Contract must comply with all security and administrative requirements of the Commission. The Commission may conduct, and Contractor shall cooperate in, a security background check or otherwise assess any employee, subcontractor, or agent furnished by 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 Contractor of its obligation to perform all work in compliance with the Contract. The Commission may reject and bar from any facility for cause any of Contractor’s employees, subcontractors, or agents.

Section 3. CONTRACT PERIOD.

A. Contract Period and Limited Obligation Period.

This Contract shall begin upon execution by both Parties, or select start date, (whichever is later), and ends select end date, inclusive. The Commission shall not be obligated to pay for costs related to this Contract prior to its beginning date or after its ending date.

B. Renewal – Competitive Procurement.

If this Contract was competitively procured pursuant to Section 287.057, Florida Statues, the renewal price(s) must be set forth in the Contractor’s response to the Commission’s bid document. The renewal price(s) for this Contract are included in Attachment A. If applicable, renewal of this Contract shall be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance evaluations by the Commission, and at the discretion of the Commission; it must also be in writing and subject to the same terms and conditions of this Contract. Renewal amendments

FWC Vendor Contract Last Revised: 3.18.2023 Page 26 of 64 must be executed prior to the end date of the Contract. Any costs associated with a renewal may not be passed onto the Commission.

C. Renewal – Exceptional Purchase.

If this Contract was procured by an exceptional purchase pursuant to Subsections 287.057(3)(a) or (3)(c), Florida Statutes (F.S.), it may not be renewed. Subsection 287.057(14), F.S., provides that contracts for commodities or contractual services may be renewed for up to three (3) years, or for a total term not to exceed the original Contract period, whichever is longer. If applicable, renewal of this Contract shall be subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance evaluations by the Commission, and at the discretion of the Commission; it must also be in writing and subject to the same terms and conditions of this Contract. Renewal amendments must be executed prior to the end date of the Contract. Any costs associated with a renewal may not be passed onto the Commission.

D. Renewal Period.

This Contract Choose one of the following to complete this sentence .

E. Extension.

If this is a contract for contractual services, any extension of this contract as provided for in Attachment A, shall be in writing for a period not to exceed six (6) months and shall be subject to the same terms and conditions set forth in the initial contract. There shall be only one extension of this contract unless the failure to meet the criteria set forth in the contract for completion of the contract is due to events beyond the control of the contractor.

Section 4. COMPENSATION AND PAYMENTS.

A. Compensation.

As consideration for the services rendered by the Contractor under the terms of this Contract, the Commission shall pay the Contractor select an optionEnter compensation amount .

B. Payments.

The Commission shall pay the Contractor for satisfactory performance of the tasks identified in Attachment A, as evidenced by the completed deliverables, upon submission of invoices, accompanied by supporting documentation sufficient to justify invoiced expenses or fees, and after acceptance of services and deliverables in writing by the Commission’s Contract Manager.

Unless otherwise specified in Attachment A, invoices shall be due monthly, commencing from the start date of this Contract. Invoices must be legible and must clearly reflect the goods or services that were provided in accordance with the terms of the Contract for the invoice period.

Unless otherwise specified in Attachment A, a final invoice shall be submitted to the Commission no later than forty-five (45) days following the expiration date of this Contract to assure the availability of funds for payment. Costs under this Contract must be obligated, and all work completed by the Contractor by the end of the Contract period.

C. Invoices.

Each invoice shall include the Commission Contract Number and the Contractor’s Federal Employer Identification (FEID) Number. Invoices may be submitted electronically to the attention of the Commission’s Contract Manager.