FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

Babcock Ranch Preserve Road Work

FWC 26/27-30

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for supplying, delivering, spreading, and grading DOT certified shell road base material on the Babcock Ranch Preserve, 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 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 3 of 68

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 26/27-30

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised September 16, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal (VIP)

MANDATORY Pre-Bid Conference September 23, 2026

@ 10:00 AM ET

See Pre-Bid Conference Clause

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

September 30, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions

October 5, 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:

October 12, 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 October 12, 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:

Conference room number:

Anticipated Date of Intended Award October 15, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 4 of 68

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 26/27-30

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_purchasing_pur _forms

The following terms and conditions take precedence over the PUR1001 and PUR1000 forms where applicable. The Commission objects to and shall not consider any additional terms or conditions submitted by a Bidder or Contractor, including any appearing in documents attached as part of a Bidder’s response. In signing and submitting its bid, a Bidder agrees that any additional terms or conditions, whether submitted intentionally or inadvertently, shall have no force or effect. Failure to comply with terms and conditions, including those specifying information that must be submitted with a bid, shall be grounds for rejecting a bid.

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

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Xavier WIlson xavier.wilson@myfwc.com 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 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 5 of 68

ESTIMATED BUDGET

The Commission has an estimated budget for this project of $163,700.00.

TERM

The contract will be effective one year upon issuance of Purchase Order.

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

SUBCONTRACTS

Subcontracting IS permitted pursuant to the Terms and Conditions of the Purchase Order. The Subcontractor Minority Status Report (Attachment C) shall be submitted with each invoice for payment. The List of Subcontractors (Attachment G) shall be included with bid submission.

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 26.9451846, -81.6618487, on the date and time specified in the Calendar of Events (Page 3). The 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.

Coordinates: 26.9451846, -81.6618487.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 6 of 68

VERBAL INSTRUCTION PROCEDURE

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

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

Any questions from Bidders that require an official FWC answer concerning this project shall be submitted in writing to the Procurement Manager. This includes specification inquiries, such as questions or requests for additional or altered terms and conditions. Questions to the Procurement Manager shall not constitute formal protest of the specifications or of the solicitation. Questions must be received no later than the date and time specified in the Calendar of Events (Page 3). Questions may be sent via email with the solicitation number in the subject line. It is the responsibility of the bidder to confirm receipt of questions if needed.

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

LIMITATION ON BIDDER CONTACT DURING SOLICITATION PERIOD

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

BIDDER SPECIFICATION CHALLENGE

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

ADDENDUMS

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

BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

In order for this bid to be valid, the bid must be completed in its entirety, signed by the Bidder and returned, as part of the bid or the bid will be rejected. By affixing your signature to the ITB Bidder Acknowledgement Form (page 2), the Bidder hereby states that the Bidder has read all bid specifications and conditions and agrees to all terms, conditions, provisions, specifications, and is currently licensed to do business within the State of Florida, if required by State or Federal Law, for the services or commodities the Bidder will provide the Commission under these bid specifications.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 7 of 68

MANDATORY RESPONSIVE REQUIREMENTS

The Commission will not review Bids from Bidders who do not meet the mandatory responsive requirements listed in Attachment B, Mandatory Responsive Requirements. Note: The Commission will perform an initial responsiveness check.

Bids found to be non-responsive will not be considered for award. The Commission reserves the right to act upon information discovered during and after the initial responsiveness check impacting the responsibility or responsiveness of the Bid or Bidders.

REFERENCES

Each prospective Bidder shall provide a minimum of three (3) references for similar projects completed. Current contact names and phone numbers shall be included with the bid package. See the attached references form for reference requirements.

EQUAL BIDS

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

SUPPORTING/SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

The Commission requires that bidders submit all required technical, specification, and other supporting information with their bid, so that a detailed analysis and determination can be made, by the Contract Manager that the product/service offered meets this ITB’s specifications and that other requirements of this ITB have been met. However, provided a bid meets the requirements for a definite, firm, unqualified, and unconditional offer, the Commission reserves the right to request supplemental information from the bidder after the bids have been opened to ensure that the products/services offered completely meet this ITB’s requirements. The requirement for such supplemental information will be at the reasonable discretion of the Commission and may include the requirement that a bidder will provide a sample product(s) so that the Commission can make a first-hand examination and determination.

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

CONFIDENTIALITY/PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

Bidders are cautioned that Florida law generously defines what constitutes a public record and grants broad rights of public access to those records; see, for example, section 119.07, F.S. If a Bidder believes that its response contains information that is confidential or exempt from disclosure under Florida Law, the Bidder shall clearly segregate and mark that information (for example, stamp each page "Confidential" and place it in an envelope marked "Confidential") and briefly describe in writing the grounds and specific legal citations for claiming exemption from the public records law. If after the notice of intended decision or thirty (30) days after bid opening, whichever is earlier, the Commission receives a public record request related to the solicitation, the Commission will provide copies of public records that are not exempt to the requester. The Commission will endeavor to provide notice to the Bidder of all public records requests received related to documents provided by the Bidder that were marked pursuant to this paragraph. In no event shall the 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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 8 of 68

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

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

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

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

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

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

RESPONSIBLE FOR LATE SUBMISSIONS DUE TO COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO SELECTED DELIVERY SERVICES . DIGITAL SUBMISSIONS SHALL

BE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE AND SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

SOLICITATION PUBLIC OPENING

The public opening of this bid will be conducted at the date, time and method specified on the Calendar of Events (Page 3).

BIDS RECEIVED AFTER THE SPECIFIED DATE AND TIME WILL BE REJECTED.

Any person with a qualified disability shall not be denied equal access and effective communication regarding any bid/proposal documents or the attendance at any related meeting or bid/proposal opening. If accommodations are needed because of a disability, please contact the Purchasing Section at (850) 488-6551 at least three (3) workdays prior to the opening.

AWARDED BID/INSPECTION

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

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

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 9 of 68

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

SCOPE CHANGES AFTER CONTRACT EXECUTION

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

FWC CONTRACT MANAGER

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

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

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

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

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

DELIVERABLES

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

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

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

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.

CERTIFICATE OF CONTRACT COMPLETION

The Contract Manager shall conduct a final inspection of the work to determine if completion has occurred. Upon satisfactory completion of the work, the Contractor shall send the Contract Manager a notarized Certificate of Contract Completion (Attachment E) and the contract shall be deemed completed upon the issuance date of such Certificate.

LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

If the Contractor fails to complete the work or the conditions of the Purchase Order and/or Change Orders by the completion date, the Commission shall have the right to deduct liquidated damages from any amount due and payable to the Contractor. Liquidated damages shall be assessed in the amount of $100.00 per calendar day of delay. Exceptions to this provision may be made if a delay is attributable to circumstances that are clearly beyond the control of the Contractor.

The burden of proof of unavoidable delay shall rest with the Contractor and shall be supplied in a written form and submitted to the Contract Manager.

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 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 10 of 68

WARRANTIES/DAMAGED ITEMS/DELIVERY

The Contractor shall assume full responsibility for providing or ensuring warranty coverage and/or warranty service on any and all items including goods, materials, or equipment provided to the Commission. If Contractor is not the Manufacturer, all Manufacturer warranties must be passed through to the Commission.

Delivery shall be made no later than the specified Delivery Date. The Contractor shall pay all costs associated with delivery and shall assume full responsibility for all item(s) damaged prior to the F.O.B. destination delivery and agree to hold harmless the Commission of all responsibility for prosecuting damage claims.

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

GUARANTEE

If products do not comply with the specifications contained herein, the Contractor shall replace the product(s), or the purchase price shall be refunded. The refund or the delivery of the replacement product(s) shall be made within thirty

(30) days following the Contract Manager’s notification to the Contractor that the original product(s) was non-compliant.

Costs of returning the original product(s) will be the sole responsibility of the Contractor.

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT ON COMMISSION PROPERTY

If the Commission allows the Contractor to have project materials or equipment delivered to and/or stored upon the Commission-managed or owned property before, during, or after the term of the project, the Contractor will be fully and solely responsible for all expenses and liability incurred as a result of the delivery or storage. Should the Commission, in its sole discretion, determine that any project materials or equipment stored on its property must be moved in response to an emergency, the Contractor shall hold 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 Purchase Order, the Contractor shall furnish a Performance Bond in the amount of one hundred percent (100%) of the total contract price to ensure full and complete performance of the contract to the attention of the Contract Manager. 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 Purchase Order 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 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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 11 of 68

AUTHORIZED COMPENSATION

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

ADDITIONAL LEGAL REQUIREMENT

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

USE OF CONTRACT BY OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND ELIGIBLE USERS

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

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

CONDITIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 12 of 68

SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 26/27-30

BABCOCK RANCH PRESERVE ROAD WORK

PURPOSE

The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for supplying, delivering, spreading, and grading Certified DOT shell road base material (Code B02 – Bank Run Shell Base) on the Babcock Ranch Preserve (BRP) as per specifications contained herein.

The Commission estimates 5,280 tons of shell road base material will be purchased. The exact amount will be based on funding.

1. INITIAL TERM COMPLETION DATE

1.1. The Contractor shall perform the work from February 1, 2027, through May 31, 2027. The quantity of work completed during this period may vary based on project needs; however, all work shall be completed no later than May 31, 2027.

2. FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES

2.1. Should Contractor fail to produce each deliverable within the time frame specified by the Scope of Work, the budget amount allocated for that deliverable will be reduced by ten percent (10%) from Contractor’s payment, per Agency Terms and Conditions.

3. WORK SPECIFICATIONS

3.1. DOT certified shell road base material (Code B02 – Bank Run Shell Base) will be supplied, delivered, spread, and graded on Tram Grade and Cutoff (Figure 2). Access to this site will be from CR 74 (Bermont

Rd) and past the Brown’s Farm Grade gate (approximately 3 miles due south from the intersection of CR 74 and Brown’s Farm Grade). The start of the project is at the west side of the intersection of Tram Grade and Brown’s Farm Grade (approximately 1.5 miles south of the Brown’s Farm Grade gate) and ends at the intersection of Oil Well Grade and Cutoff (Figure 2). Material will then be spread and graded for an approximate maintenance distance of 1.29 miles (6,811.2 feet); estimate of 240 loads, or 5,280 tons. The shell is to be spread and graded from a minimum depth of 6 inches to a maximum depth of 10 inches and a width of 14-18 feet. The finished roadway should have at least a 4-inch center crown to allow water to flow off the surface. This site is 1.29 miles in length. Excess road base material will be stockpiled at a location on Oil Well Grade nearby 26.829330°, -81.602308° (Figure 2). Actual tonnages of material may be increased or decreased to stay within budget constraints, or to take advantage of additional funding. Minimum of 25 loads per day, maximum of 100 loads per day.

3.2. Babcock Ranch Preserve is located near Punta Gorda, Florida (Figure 1). The project entrance is located on the northern edge of the property at Brown’s Farm Grade off of CR 74 (Bermont Rd). The repair area is located inside the boundary of Babcock Ranch Preserve (Figures 1 and 2).

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 13 of 68

3.3. The Contractor will coordinate and schedule all work with the FWC Project Managers. Contact information for each FWC Project Manager will be provided to the Contractor after contract award.

3.4. Once the project is initiated, it must continue to completion in a systematic and contiguous manner, unless unavoidable delays (as determined by FWC) are encountered.

3.5. For the purpose of controlled burning and other FWC operations, the Contractor may be required with short notice (48 hours) to stop work at a particular project area within the WMA and relocate to another project area.

3.6. Operations shall not remain idle for more than forty-eight (48) consecutive hours without the approval of the FWC Project Manager. Personnel problems must be resolved immediately to ensure delays are minimized.

3.7. The Project Manager or designee will meet periodically throughout the duration of the project to discuss any necessary adjustments the Contractor may need to make on an as needed basis.

4. EQUIPMENT / RESOURCE SPECIFICATIONS

4.1. The equipment used in the performance of the scope of work will be of the proper size and type and in such operating condition to safely and successfully accomplish the required application as specified above. Equipment shall be cleaned of all vegetative debris before entering any WMA/WEA to reduce the spread of exotic vegetation.

4.2. Adequate safety measures will be observed to comply with all applicable federal safety requirements.

The FWC Project Manager may order the removal or replacement of any unsatisfactory equipment.

Should the Contractor's equipment malfunction or cease to work properly, it will be repaired, replaced and/or removed from the site within three (3) working days.

5. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

5.1. The Contractor shall provide all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, vehicles, and such miscellaneous items as necessary to complete service in accordance with the specifications contained herein. The

Contractor is responsible for all upfront costs.

5.2. Unless waived by FWC, all unsatisfactory work in each area must meet minimum specifications prior to the continuation of work in another area. FWC Contract Manager or designee, has the authority to stop work if the project is not being completed as specified. Work will not continue until deficiency(s) is/are corrected.

5.3. A pre-work on-site planning meeting between the FWC and the Contractor is required.

5.4. Allowed work hours are Monday thru Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Unless otherwise agreed to by the Project Manager.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 14 of 68

5.5. Partial Payments will be allowed. After a significant amount of work has been completed, the Contractor may invoice the FWC at regular intervals. The Project Manager or his/her designee will be provided a signed and dated invoice showing the quantity delivered at each site and total quantities delivered.

During the delivery phase of the project, FWC personnel will be located at site entrances or exits for the purpose of signing and collecting load tickets. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to ensure that truck drivers get load tickets signed and give copies to FWC ground personnel. Payment will be made after all work has been verified and performed to the satisfaction of the FWC.

5.6. The Contractor will be responsible for knowing and complying with federal, state, and local guidelines pertaining to the project activities and that in any manner affect the work.

5.7. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to obtain any/all permits or licenses that may apply to the job(s), including permission from property owners within the unit for any encroachments required to perform work.

5.8. The FWC reserves the right to inspect Contractor’s certifications, documentation, procedures, equipment, and techniques. Inspection does not relieve the Contractor of any obligations or responsibilities under this contract.

5.9. Security of equipment and materials is the responsibility of the Contractor. The FWC shall not be held responsible for damage or injury to Contractor's equipment or personnel resulting from any activity associated with this project.

5.10. Ingress and egress for the Contractor shall be for the sole purpose of furnishing services expressly described in the specifications. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to keep gates closed and locked while conducting work and after leaving the project site(s). All WMA/WEA rules and regulations must be followed.

5.11. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to exercise caution in the vicinity of any utility. FWC shall not be responsible for any damages done to any utility by the Contractor.

5.12. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to keep all roads, trails, and firelines open and free of debris resulting from the work described herein.

5.13. The Contractor is responsible for removing all trash and litter associated with the project including but not limited to food waste, tobacco products, and water bottles.

5.14. Every effort shall be made by the Contractor to avoid damage to roads or infrastructure and any damage will be repaired at Contractor’s expense. All damage to existing roads or infrastructure shall be reported immediately to the FWC Project Manager.

5.15. Every effort shall be made by the Contractor to avoid damage to threatened and endangered plants and wildlife. Contractor shall be liable for unacceptable non-target damage to native plant species. Ground disturbance shall be minimized to the greatest extent possible.

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5.16. The Contractor shall not conduct any work with heavy equipment within 25 feet of gopher tortoise burrows. Known burrows will be flagged by FWC staff prior to initiation of the project. Additionally, the contractor shall not harm any other wildlife on the area with a vehicle or otherwise.

5.17. Damage to state property not remedied within 30 days of contractor notification of damage, shall afford the FWC the right to deduct from any amount still due and payable to the Contractor, an amount equivalent to the cost associated with the repair of damaged property. This does not preclude the FWC from seeking other remedies available by law.

5.18. The FWC reserves the right to stop or delay work if site conditions (rainfall, wildfires, etc.) necessitate.

The FWC shall have sole discretion in this determination.

5.19. No minimum amount of work is guaranteed under this Contract. The amount may be increased or decreased by FWC to take advantage of additional funding or to stay within budget constraints. If only a portion of the project can be completed due to cost or other constraints, FWC shall have sole discretion in designating the specific portion of the project area to be completed.

5.20. Vendor is required to have a representative at work area point of unloading to communicate with drivers and make sure drivers are spreading material. Any driver which is repeatedly unable to spread material will be asked to leave the job site by the vendor or representative and not return for the remainder of the project.

PROJECT PERIOD

Work may begin once the Notice to Proceed and Performance Bond have been received and after an on-site visit with the FWC Project Manager(s) has been completed by a representative of the selected contractor. The Contractor shall notify the FWC Project Manager(s) 48-72 hours prior to beginning work to acquire access to the area. Work cannot begin until after February 1, 2027, and All work MUST be completed by May 31, 2027, and a final invoice delivered to the FWC’s Project Manager no later than June 4, 2027.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

1.Roads: Contractor damage to roads or infrastructure will be repaired at Contractor’s expense. All damage to existing roads or infrastructure shall be reported immediately to the FWC Project Manager(s).

2.Rain: Delivery will not be allowed during excessive rain events. Contractor shall check with FWC to determine if delivery can be made with minimal road impacts.

DOT MATERIAL CERTIFICATION

Bidders shall provide Florida Department of Transportation Material Certification confirming that the road base to be used is DOT certified by most recent testing results from the pit(s) where the material will be purchased.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 16 of 68

Figure 1. Babcock Ranch Preserve Location.

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Figure 2. Babcock Ranch Preserve 2026-27 Road Repairs.

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 18 of 68

PRICE SHEET

FWC 26/27-30

CONTRACTOR SHALL NOT ALTER THE PRICE SHEET IN ANY WAY.

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

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

BIDDER THAT SUBMITS THE LOWEST TOTAL PRICE.

Project Item Unit Price

Project 1: Road

Repair

Supplying, delivering, spreading, and grading

Certified DOT shell road base material (Code B02

– Bank Run Shell Base)

1 Ton $ __________Price Per Ton

Total Price

(Price per ton x 5280)

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

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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 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 21 of 68

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 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-30, Page 22 of 68

REFERENCE #4 – COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ______________________________________ Telephone Number: ____________________________

Collective Experience Employee

First Name: __________________________________ Last Name: ___________________________________

Previous Employer’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________

Previous Position Title: ___________________________________________________________________________

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

Project Location: ___________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

SAMPLE REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE

REFERENCE:

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

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

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

1. What type of work did the vendor perform for your organization?

2. When did the vendor perform this work?

3. How well did the vendor stay within the approved timeline and budget?

Excellent Above Satisfactory Satisfactory Fair Poor

Comments:

4. How well did the vendor maintain clear communication?

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

6. How satisfied was your…