FWC 25.26-99 Final Draft.pdf

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

Cattle Lease on Dinner Island Ranch WMA, Caracara

Unit

FWC 25/26-99

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for utilizing cattle grazing to manage plant community composition and structure, 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. We have examined the site in reference to the specifications contained within this ITB and have familiarized ourselves with the entire site and have examined carefully the extent of the work that is needed.”

Authorized Signature (Manual): ________________________________________________________________________________________

Authorized Signature Name (Typed) and Title: __________________________________________________________________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 3 of 69

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 25/26-99

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised April 9, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

(VIP)

MANDATORY Pre-Bid

Conference Call

April 16, 2026

@ 10:00 AM ET

See Pre-Bid Conference Clause

Deadline for Questions

Must be received

PRIOR to:

April 23, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions April 28, 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:

May 5, 2026

@ 2:30 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 May 5, 2026

@ 2:30 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 May 8, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 4 of 69

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 25/26-99

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.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 5 of 69

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Xavier Wilson xavier.wilson@myfwc.com

TERM

The contract will be effective for five years upon contract execution or August 6, 2026, whichever is later.

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 contact for an additional renewal term for a period up to five

(5) 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.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 6 of 69

MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE CALL

A mandatory pre-bid conference call will be held on the date and time specified in the Calendar of Events (Page

3). The purpose of the pre-bid conference call 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 call; however, Bidders should clearly understand that verbal discussions held at the pre-bid conference call 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.

CONFERENCE CALL PHONE NUMBER: 1.888.585.9008

CONFERENCE ROOM NUMBER: 218-721-199

MANDATORY BIDDER SITE VISIT

It is mandatory that prospective bidders inspect the project sites prior to submitting a bid. This will enable bidders to familiarize themselves with the scope of work. Bidders shall visit the sites on their own. The Site

Visit Mandatory Attestation-Individual Bidder Attendance form (Attachment C) must be completed by the

Contractor and submitted with the bid package. FWC will only issue an official written response to verbal questions subsequently submitted in writing in accordance with the Deadline for Questions clause below.

27600 Dooley Grade Rd, Clewiston, FL 33440

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 7 of 69

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.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 8 of 69 this ITB have been met. However, provided a bid meets the requirements for a definite, firm, unqualified, and unconditional offer, the Commission reserves the right to request supplemental information from the bidder after the bids have been opened to ensure that the products/services offered completely meet this

ITB’s requirements. The requirement for such supplemental information will be at the reasonable discretion of the Commission and may include the requirement that a bidder will provide a sample product(s) so that the Commission can make a first-hand examination and determination.

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

Contractor’s bid.

CONFIDENTIALITY/PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

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

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

The Commission will endeavor to provide notice to the Bidder of all public records requests received related to documents provided by the Bidder that were marked pursuant to this paragraph. In no event shall the

Bidder hold the Commission or any of its employees or agents liable for disclosing, or otherwise failing to protect the confidentiality of, information submitted in response to this solicitation.

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

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

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Attn: Purchasing

1875 Orange Ave E

Tallahassee, Florida 32311-6160.

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

OPENING.

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

MARKED.

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

RELATED TO SELECTED DELIVERY SERVICES. DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS SHALL BE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE

AND SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 9 of 69

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.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 10 of 69

• 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.

NOTICE TO PROCEED

The awarded Bidder shall not initiate work under this contract until the required Performance Bond and

Insurance documentation has been received by the Commission. The Contractor may begin work once it has received an official written Notice to Proceed (Attachment D) 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.

PERFORMANCE BOND

A Performance Bond shall be required from the Contractor by the Commission for this project. Prior to commencing any work, and within ten (10) days after issuance of a Contract, the Contractor shall furnish a Performance Bond to the attention of the Contract Manager. The performance bond total value will be based on the total income derived based upon 12-month period which is calculated by using the animal units allowed on the WMA times the cost of an animal unit (rate bid), plus the estimated value of fence maintenance each year ($10,000.00), plus the estimated cost of disking fire lines each year (total length of

75 miles X 2 @$60.00 per mile). The performance bond number calculated will be rounded up to nearest

$5000 increment. Example: If the total number comes to $17,595.00 then the annual bond requirement will be set at $20,000. The bond must state on its front page: the name, principal business address, and phone number of the Contractor, the Surety, the Commission’s full name, the Contract number assigned to the project by the Commission, and a description of the property being improved with a general description of the project. Please note: A Notice to Proceed will not be issued until after the required bond has been received.

The Bond shall be issued from a reliable Surety Company acceptable to the Commission, licensed to do business in the State of Florida and signed by a Florida Licensed Resident Agent. Such a bond shall be accompanied by a duly authenticated power of attorney evidencing that the person executing the bonds on behalf of the Surety had the authority to do so on the date of the bond. The cost of the Performance Bond shall be borne by the Contractor.

In lieu of a Performance Bond, The Commission may prior approve an alternate form of security in the form of a Cashier’s check, Official bank check or Money order in the amount of the bond. The alternative form of

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 02.11.2026 FWC 25/26-99, Page 11 of 69 security shall be for the same purpose and be subject to the same conditions as those applicable to the

Performance Bond.

Work shall not begin before the Commission receives the Performance Bond. Failure to provide a

Performance Bond may be grounds to find the Contractor in default, which could include cancellation of the contract, and/or the Contractor’s removal from the State’s approved Contractor list for future solicitations.

ADDITIONAL LEGAL REQUIREMENT

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

USE OF CONTRACT BY OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND ELIGIBLE USERS

As provided in Chapter 60A-1.045, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), and Section 287.042(16), F.S., other State of Florida agencies may purchase from the resulting contract of this ITB, provided that the

Department of Management Services has determined the contract’s use is cost effective and in the best interest of the State, and with the Contractor’s consent.

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

CONDITIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS

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

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

SCOPE OF WORK

CATTLE LEASE ON DINNER ISLAND RANCH WMA, CARACARA UNIT

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION & BACKGROUND

1.1. Dinner Island Ranch Wildlife Management Area, Caracara Unit, is comprised of 17,251 acres of seasonally wet freshwater marshes, pastures, hammocks, and flatwoods. It is in west-central

Hendry County approximately 11 miles northwest of Immokalee and 16 miles southwest of

Clewiston.

1.2. The grazing lease consists of 16,868 total acres (Figure 1). The Natural Resources Conservation

Service (NRCS) determined the cattle lease area can produce enough forage to support 1,053 Animal

Units (AU). A stocking rate of 1,053 AUs is currently being offered for lease.

2. OBJECTIVES & DEFINITIONS

2.1. The objectives of this grazing plan are to improve or maintain an optimum level of native forage and assist in the reduction of biomass. Grazing and prescribed burning will help maintain the natural plant communities in an earlier stage of succession and more open state. This will benefit wildlife and future ground cover restoration efforts.

2.2. Brood cows will presumably make up most of the herd. Bulls and heifers may be included in the herd as needed as long as the overall suggested stocking rate is not exceeded. The following AU values will be used to estimate heifer and bull numbers. The suggested bull: cow ratio is 1:20.

2.2.1. Cow with Calf = 1.0 AU

Bull (Over 2 year) = 1.35 AU

Heifer or Bull (Over 1 year and under 2 year) = 0.80 AU

3. LIVESTOCK FORAGE INVENTORY & MAP

3.1. Forage will vary due to climatic conditions and management of the grazing system. The forage inventory should be evaluated weekly to ensure proper stocking rate according to the goals listed for the site and to meet the forage requirements of the livestock. Grazing will be deferred if forage supplies and quality are inadequate to meet livestock demand. Current stocking rate is 14.5 acres of native south Florida plant communities per AU.

3.2. The grazing lease includes multiple management units. Cattle must be distributed across the property in such a manner as to manage forage appropriately and avoid any effects of overgrazing.

4. RECOMMENDED GRAZING HEIGHTS AND STOCKING RATES

4.1. Grazing animals can rapidly and substantially alter the productivity and amount of forage in each pasture. Overgrazing adversely affects forage growth, water and soil conservation, and may induce more use of wetland areas in some seasons. Since improving existing forage is not a goal for this project, a unique balance may be obtained to ensure a desirable stand of forage and limit grazing on the wetland areas included in the same grazing unit.

4.2. Grazing heights for native forage plants are dependent upon the species and the time of year the plant is grazed. For native grasses, remove no more than 50% (by weight) of the plant in any grazing event. This will provide proper use of the forage while maintaining sufficient plant material to provide wildlife habitat, protect soil, and maintain the health of the plant community.

4.3. If herbicides are used to control common weeds and invasive species, grazing will be adjusted to meet the requirements, if any, listed on the herbicide label. Cattle will not be allowed to re-enter the area for the duration shown on the herbicide label. Temporary fences may be used to protect areas during deferment periods.

5. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE GRAZING SYSTEM

5.1. Adjustments to grazing may be necessary during and after restoration and other management activities, such as planting, prescribed burning or pest management. The adjustments will provide a suitable period for the vegetation to recover from the management activity or as dictated by pesticide label restrictions. A deferment from grazing means the complete removal of all domestic animals for the duration of the deferment.

5.2. If herbicides are used to control common weeds and invasive species, grazing will be adjusted to meet the requirements, if any, listed on the herbicide label. Cattle will not be allowed to re-enter the area for the duration shown on the herbicide label. Temporary fences may be used to protect areas during deferment periods.

6. OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE

6.1. The location of mineral and supplement feeders will be moved to evenly distribute grazing animals throughout the pasture. Supplemental feeding of hay is not allowed.

6.2. The lessee will be required to maintain all identified fire breaks (Figure 2). All fire breaks will be mowed to a width of 30 feet unless otherwise determined by the Lead Area Biologist.

6.2.1. The lessee will be required to mow all identified fire breaks at least twice annually.

6.2.2. Fire breaks adjacent to a WMA road or the property boundary have a 10–16-foot disc line to bare mineral soil, within the mowed footprint. The lessee must disc these fire breaks once annually.

Other fire breaks must be disced as needed and as determined by the Lead Area Biologist (e.g., in preparation for prescribed burning, mitigate wildfire risk).

6.2.3. The lessee will be required to install additional disc lines as identified by the Lead Area Biologist.

6.2.4. Fire break maintenance applies to:

a. Grazing lease: approximately 145 miles

6.3. The lessee will be required to routinely mow all road shoulders of WMA roads. Vegetation should be maintained no higher than 8 inches. Mowing applies to:

6.3.1. Grazing lease: approximately 22 miles.

6.4. Reporting: Lessee must submit a monthly report of all mowing, fire break maintenance, fence repair, and other mechanical treatment work to the Lead Area Biologist by the 10th of each month. The report must include the date each activity was conducted, the footprint of where the work took place, and the equipment used.

6.5. Lessee must follow all wildlife mitigation guidelines (e.g., timeframes, equipment use) for imperiled species (e.g., bald eagles, crested caracaras, Florida bonneted bats) provided by the Lead Area

Biologist.

7. CONTINGENCY MANAGEMENT PLAN

7.1. When the forage is not adequate, the grazing system will be adjusted. When prolonged periods of adverse climatic condition affect the supply of forage, the grazing system and/or stocking rates will be adjusted.

7.2. The lessee may be required to provide a Forage Assessment and Maximum Stocking Rate estimate performed by either a local NRCS extension office or a professional rangeland consultant prior to contract renewal at five (5) years, any rebidding process, or may be required by the Area Biologist if there is an appearance of conditions indicating overgrazing.

7.3. Lessees must submit, and FWC must approve, an annual plan for the movement and scheduled rotation of mineral vats and other supplemental feeds.

7.4. Stocking rates are subject to change based on the results of the annual forage and stocking rate assessment.

7.5. Lessee is required to comply with all Florida Cow Calf Best Management Practices.

8. FENCE MAINTENANCE AND HOLDING PENS

8.1. The Contractor shall maintain all grazing lands, exterior and interior fences, cattle guards and holding pens in good and operable condition. The Contractor shall perform necessary fence replacement and repair in accordance with specifications for fence construction detailed in Exhibit

I, attached hereto. All fences, gates, and cattle guards must be maintained in a manner to prevent egress of cattle to areas outside the contracted property to the standards of the attached fence specifications (Exhibit 1). Contractor shall maintain all holding pens in good condition and vegetation free. Replacement and\or repair of all posts, cattle guards, gates, holding pens, material and labor shall be the sole and exclusive expense of the Contractor, except stated under “Commission

Responsibilities”.

8.2. The fencing shall be inspected regularly including one complete annual inspection with repairs during the dry season (January – April). The Contractor will provide FWC (Contract Manager and

Lead Area Biologist) documentation of the regular and annual inspections including the location of the repairs and what repairs were performed no later than one week after the regular and annual inspection is performed. Each annual inspection must include the tightening of any loose wire, replacement of any missing staples, replacement of any missing or rotten wire, replacement of any rotten posts and rehang any malfunctioning gates. The Contractor shall promptly remove storm debris from fencing and make the appropriate repairs. The Contractor shall relinquish all fences, including posts, gates, cattle guards, and holding pens in good working condition, to the Commission upon termination of this contract. Furthermore, the Contractor shall be required to use only the

Commission’s furnished key or combination locks for said gates.

8.3. Lessee must lift and inspect all cattle guards at least once annually. All vegetation and sediment located beneath the cattle guards shall be removed to ensure there is at least a 4-inch clearance from the ground to the base of the cattle guard. Additional maintenance shall be performed whenever vegetation or sediment accumulation interferes with the function of the cattle guard.

8.4. Failure of the Contractor to properly maintain the holding pens and fences shall allow the

Commission to make a claim on the Performance Bond. In the event of such a claim, the Contractor shall provide the monies from the Performance Bond to the Commission immediately upon notification by the Commission.

9. PAYMENTS

9.1. The annual contract payment shall be the bid price multiplied by the total animal units allowed on an annual basis. Payments shall be made to FWC on a semiannual (six (6) month increment) basis.

9.2. Performance Bond shall be required from the Contractor by the Commission for this project. Prior to commencing any work, and within ten (10) days after issuance of a Contract, the Contractor shall furnish a Performance Bond to the attention of the FWC Contract Manager. The performance bond total value will be based on the total income derived based upon 12-month period which is calculated by using the animal units allowed on the WMA times the cost of an animal unit (rate bid), plus the estimated value of fence maintenance each year ($10,000.00), plus the estimated cost of disking fire lines each year (total length of 75 miles X 2 @$60.00 per mile). The performance bond number calculated will be rounded up to nearest $5000 increment. Example: If the total number comes to

$17,595.00 then the annual bond requirement will be set at $20,000. The bond must state on its front page: the name, principal business address, and phone number of the Contractor, the Surety, the Commission’s full name, the Contract number assigned to the project by the Commission, and a description of the property being improved with a general description of the project.

9.2.1. Please note: A Notice to Proceed will not be issued until after the required bond has been received.

9.3. The Bond shall be issued from a reliable Surety Company acceptable to the Commission, licensed to do business in the State of Florida and signed by a Florida Licensed Resident Agent. The Contractor is to ensure the Surety Company includes in the performance bond language pertaining to payment in case the Contractor does not perform the fence maintenance, holding pens maintenance or in case of a default violation according to contract. Such a bond shall be accompanied by a duly authenticated power of attorney evidencing that the person executing the bonds on behalf of the

Surety had the authority to do so on the date of the bond. The cost of the Performance Bond shall be borne by the Contractor.

9.4. In lieu of a Performance Bond, The Commission may prior approve an alternate form of security in the form of a Cashier’s check, Official bank check or Money order in the amount of the bond. The alternative form of security shall be for the same purpose and be subject to the same conditions as those applicable to the Performance Bond.

9.5. Work shall not begin before the Commission receives the Performance Bond and Power of Attorney.

Failure to provide a Performance Bond and Power of Attorney may be grounds to find the Contractor in default, which could include: cancellation of the contract, and/or the Contractor’s removal from the State’s approved Contractor list for future solicitations.

MAPS & SPECIFICATIONS

1. FIGURE 1: DINNER ISLAND RANCH WMA, CARACARA UNIT, GRAZING MAP

2. FIGURE 2: DINNER ISLAND RANCH WMA, CARCARA UNIT, GRAZING MAP

3. SPECIFICATIONS FOR FENCE CONSTRUCTION 5-STRAND BARBED WIRE FENCE DRAWINGS (NOT TO SCALE)

4. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TROPICAL SODA APPLE INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN

PRICE SHEET

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).

Price Per Animal

Grazing Unit Per

Year

Total AUs Allowed Years within Term Total Term Price

A. Grazing Lease - Initial Term

X

B. Grazing Lease - Renewal

Term

Total Bid Price for Pasture One (A+B) $______________

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: _____________________________________

City/State/Zip: ____________________________

Phone: ____________________________________

Fax: ______________________________________

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:

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:

REFERENCE #3

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

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

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

REFERENCE #4 – COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE

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 provide the requested services with minimum disruptions to the environment?

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 payments delivery of products or and performance of services under the contract?

FWC Staff Signature: __________________________________

Date: ___________________

FWC Contract No.

Cattle Grazing Revenue Gen.

Contract

Last Revised:

2.13.2023

Page 33 of

ATTACHMENT A

FLORIDA FISH & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

SAMPLE CONTRACT TERMS & CONDITIONS

Last Updated: April 29, 2025

FWC Contract No. # - FWC 25/26-99 – Chapter 287 ITB

CATTLE GRAZING REVENUE GENERATING CONTRACT

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”.