FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

Miami-Dade Tegu Removal- 13 Traplines

FWC 26/27-09

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for running trap lines to remove tegus from selected public lands in Miami-Dade County. The contractor will collect morphometric data, submit photographs of all captured tegus, humanely kill the tegus and properly dispose of the carcasses, 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 26/27-09, Page 3 of 98

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 26/27-09

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised August 25, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

(VIP)

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

September 1, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions September 4, 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:

September 11, 2026

@4:00 PM ET

Mailing Address:

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

Submissions are due BEFORE the date and time of the public opening.

Public Bid Opening September 11, 2026

@ 4:00 PM ET

Public Opening Options for Attendance:

-In Person- 1875 Orange Ave E Tallahassee, FL 32311-6160

-Teleconference- Conference call phone number: 1.850.270.2928

Conference room number: 737.742.519.#

Anticipated Date of Intended Award September 16, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 4 of 98

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 26/27-09

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

Elbert Orellana Elbert.Orellana@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 26/27-09, Page 5 of 98

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.

RENEWAL

The Commission has the option to renew this Contract on a yearly basis for a period up to one (1) year 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 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 D) 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.

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.

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 26/27-09, Page 6 of 98

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.

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 7 of 98

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.

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 8 of 98

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.

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.

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 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 9 of 98

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.

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 $0.00 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.

PERMITTING

Permitting for this project, if needed, is the responsibility of the Contractor. A copy of all permits shall be posted at the work site location at all times during the project. The Contractor is responsible for complying with all permit conditions and the Contractor shall pay any penalties arising from the Contractor’s permit violations.

MATERIAL AND EQUIPMENT ON COMMISSION PROPERTY

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

AUTHORIZED COMPENSATION

It is understood and agreed that all compensation under this ITB is specifically limited to the Contractor’s bid price accepted by the Commission, and to the specific procedure for payment established in this ITB and the 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, Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 10 of 98 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 26/27-09, Page 11 of 98

SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 26/27-09

MIAMI-DADE TEGU REMOVAL- 13 TRAPLINES

PURPOSE

The Argentine black and white tegu (Salvator merinae) is a large (< 1.2 meter; 4 feet; 8 kilograms), omnivorous lizard that can occur in a variety of habitats and withstand temperatures as low as 1.7 °C (35 °F) (Langerwerf and Paris 1998, Enge 2007). Introduced via releases or escapes from the live animal/pet trade in the early to mid-2000s, tegu populations have increased in recent years. This species was likely established in Miami-Dade County by 2011 (Pernas et al. 2012). In Florida, tegus are mostly active from February through October before going into winter brumation, approximately from November through January. Tegus have been documented eating frogs, toads, snakes (some over 4 feet in length), lizards, gopher tortoises, birds, small mammals, insects, spiders, vertebrate eggs (alligator and freshwater turtle), and fruit (including strawberries, blueberries, and tomatoes). Tegus are highly fecund and can lay anywhere between 21-52 eggs per clutch (Andrade et al. 2004, Pernas et al. 2012).

The Wildlife Impact Management Section (WIM) of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (“Commission” or “FWC”) is charged with managing nonnative fish and wildlife issues in Florida. This purview includes control efforts for priority invasive species and collecting data on nonnative species distribution and natural history that can be used to develop invasive species management strategies. A joint research and management effort from partnering government agencies and academic institutions has been formed to mitigate the spread and impact of tegus in south Florida. Removal efforts continue with the goal of containment of the south Florida population and have consisted of removal primarily by trapping utilizing interagency coordination and landowner assistance. This approach is crucial to mitigating the negative impact this nonnative lizard poses on native Florida wildlife.

The FWC is currently focusing removal efforts on the boundaries of the known tegu population in Miami-Dade County and effort has increased to remove this species in the areas immediately south, southeast, and southwest of Florida City. This region is particularly important for tegu management due to its proximity to nesting sites of imperiled species, such as American crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus), least terns (Sternula antillarum), white-crowned pigeons (Patagioenas leucocephala), gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus), and burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia) and its proximity to Everglades National Park and other sensitive public lands. The selected Respondent (Contractor) will provide support services to assist the Commission in achieving the goals for these activities on select public lands in Miami-Dade County.

1. INITIAL TERM COMPLETION DATE

Project shall be completed by the Contractor by October 31, 2027.

2. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

2.1. Contractor will run trap lines to remove tegus in Miami-Dade County. The Contractor will humanely kill all captured tegus and other captured nonnative wildlife, collect morphometric data on all captured tegus, submit photographs to the Commission of all captured tegus, and dispose of tegu carcasses collected over the contract period.

3. SERVICE STANDARDS

3.1. The contractor will remove tegus in Miami-Dade County using live traps:

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3.1.1. The Contractor will be required to run trap lines to remove tegus from public lands in Miami-Dade County.

Running trap lines includes:

a. This contract is for a one-year period, with fieldwork occurring from February 1, 2027, through October 31, 2027. This contract will have the potential to renew for one year, with fieldwork occurring from February 1, 2028, through October 31, 2028. The contractor will place 429 live traps along - Card Sound Road; Tallahassee Road; SW 408th Street; L-31N Canal (W and NW of Homestead); SW 424th Street, from the US 1 underpass to the west end of the road; C-110 Canal, from SW 424th Street to the C-111 Canal; C- 111 Canal, between the C-110 Canal intersection and US 1; C-111E Canal, from Hwy 9336 to the S-18C Water Control Structure; C-111 canal, from the Ingraham Hwy (9336) north to SW 328th St; C-111 canal, south from the Ingraham Hwy turning southeast; the length of Aerojet Rd (SW 232nd Ave); L31 Canal, north of Glen Garrett Memorial Park; and the L31 canal (SW 237th Ave), south of Glen Garrett Memorial Park.

All traplines are located near Florida City, Miami-Dade County, Florida (Figure 1).

b. The trap types used in this work can be a combination of Havahart Model 1079, Tomahawk S90s or Tomahawk S70s. Havahart traps must be tightly wrapped (using zip ties for attachment) in ¼ or ½ inch hardware cloth (Figure 2a) to avoid escape of hatchlings and subadults or trespass of other non-target species. Tomahawk S70s and S90s constructed with a mesh size of ½ inch x 1 inch do not need to be wrapped in hardware cloth (Figure 2b). It is mandatory that all traps be permanently marked with the Contractor’s name and telephone number and a unique identifier (Trap ID/number) inscribed in a visible location and imprinted on a tag attached to the trap.

c. Live trapping of tegus shall be in compliance with existing FWC rules and regulations. Note: Effective December 31, 2026, all live trapping of iguanas shall be in compliance with changes to Florida Administrative Code 68A-32 and other applicable rules. (See Appendix A: New Wildlife Trapping Rule Chapter/Rules and Existing Rule).

d. All 429 traps will be deployed and operational no later than February 9, 2027. The Card Sound Road, Tallahassee Rd, SW 408th St, L31 N Canal, C-110 Canal, C-111 Canal, C-111 E Canal, SW 424th St., C-111 N Canal, C-111 SW Canal, AERO, L-31WN Canal, and L-31WS Canal traplines will collectively consist of 429 traps placed individually (Figures 1, and 3 to 15) at locations indicated in Tables 1 to 13).

e. The Card Sound Road trap line will consist of 35 traps placed along the east side of the highway (Figure 3, Table 1). The Tallahassee Road trap line will consist of 15 traps placed on the east side of the road (Figure 4, Table 2). The SW 408th trap line (Figure 5) will consist of 16 traps placed in locations provided in Table

3. The L-31N Canal (Figure 6) trap line will consist of 16 traps placed along the west side of the levee road at the locations provided in Table 4. The SW 424th Street trap line will consist of 55 traps and will be placed from the US 1 underpass to the west end of the road (Figure 7, Table 8). The C-110 trap line will consist of 67 traps and will run from north of SW 424th Street south to the C-111 levee road intersection (Figure 9, Table 6). The C-111 Canal trap line will consist of 18 traps running from US 1 northwest along the north levee road to the intersection with the C-110 Canal (Figure 8, Table 5). The C-111E Canal trap line will consist of 40 traps and will run from the south side of Hwy 9336 south to the S-18C Water Control Structure (Figure 10, Table 7). The C-111 N trapline will consist of 40 traps running from the Ingraham Hwy north to SW 328th St (Figure11, Table 9). The C-111 SW trapline will consist of 20 traps running south from the Ingraham Hwy turning southeast (Figure 12, Table 10). The AERO trapline will consist of 59 traps running the length of Aerojet Rd, south of the Ingraham Hwy, with additional traps on associated side roads and hammocks (Figure 13, Table 11). The L31 WN trapline will consist of 23 traps running north of the Ingraham Hwy, north of Glen Garrett Memorial Park (Figure 14, Table12). The L31 WS trapline will consist of 25 traps beginning south of the Ingraham Hwy, east and south of Glen Garrett Memorial Park, Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 13 of 98 and will run south (Figure 15, Table 13). Any deviation from the trap locations in Tables 1-13 must receive prior approval by the Commission Project Manager. If the Contractor wants to switch trap types at a particular location(s), they must receive prior approval from the Commission Project Manager. If a trap is damaged or stolen, it is the responsibility of the Contractor to replace the trap within three business days from when the incident took place.

f. Traps on Tallahassee, Card Sound, and SW 408th street will be placed approximately 10 feet into the vegetation line (i.e., providing cover and reducing theft, Figure 16). Traps along the L-31N Canal will be placed approximately 5 feet into the vegetation line. Traps along the main road on SW 424th Street, C- 110, C-111, and C-111E canals will be placed approximately 3 feet into the vegetation line (Figure 16).

Traps along the C-111N, C-111SW, L31 WN, L31 WS canal roads and Aerojet Rd will be placed approximately 3 feet into the vegetation line (Figure 16). For all traps, leaf litter from the surrounding habitat will be scattered on the bottom of the trap to provide a more natural substrate in the bottom of the trap that interfaces with the ground (Figure 17). Traps should be placed in the shade, or the top of the trap covered with vegetation or wrapped in burlap to provide shade to reduce heat stress on trapped animals. Traps may be tied to something sturdy to reduce loss.

g. One raw unbroken chicken egg will be placed at the back of each trap to be used as bait (Figure 18). Traps will be rebaited with a raw unbroken chicken egg whenever an animal has been captured or for any other reason bait is missing or broken (i.e., due to “trespass” of other species).

h. Traps will be open and operational 5 days per week (Monday-Friday). Traps will be opened on Monday of each week during the project timeline by 12:00 pm, checked physically once daily no longer than every 24 hours for tegu captures and bycatch, then closed every Friday by 5:00 pm. Trapping will not occur on weekends, State holidays, and in cases of force majeure (e.g., tropical storms, hurricanes, wildfires, pandemics). Due to any other unforeseen circumstances, any trap closures must be coordinated with the Commission in advance of the closures. If a wildfire, tropical storm, or hurricane is approaching, the Commission must be notified immediately, and all traps shall be closed and removed from the area immediately.

i. All native wildlife bycatch will be released unharmed immediately upon Contractor arrival at respective traps during daily trap-checks (Monday-Friday). Contractor will record all native wildlife bycatch in the notes section of the datasheet provided (Figure 19). If a native or nonnative animal is found dead in the trap, the Commission Project Manager will be notified immediately by email with the trap location, identification, and picture of deceased animal.

j. While conducting daily trap checks, Contractor will record all tegu observations and individuals found dead on road (DOR). Data recorded will include species of tegu observed or trapped, date of observation or capture, trap number, and GPS coordinates. See minimum requirements regarding data submission.

k. Contractors must wear uniforms or vests that clearly identify them. Vehicles should also be identifiable as contractor vehicles.

3.1.2. The Contractor will humanely kill captured tegus:

a. All trapped tegus or other nonnative animals captured will be removed from the live trap and placed in a closely woven, double-seam sewn, cloth sack secured with electrical tape. This cloth sack shall be placed in a second cloth sack of similar construction, then placed inside a secure container (e.g., lockable action packer) labeled “Prohibited Reptiles.”. All bags will contain no more than 1 tegu at a time and shall be

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 14 of 98 labeled with unique identifiers for each individual tegu using flagging tape to ensure that captured individuals are kept separate from each other during transport.

b. The method of transportation of Prohibited Reptiles will not be in violation of Rule 68-5.007, Florida Administrative Code.

c. Captured tegus and other nonnative animals captured in live traps during this project shall be humanely killed at an appropriate location away from the public’s view. Any recommended locations by the Contractor will be consulted with the Commission prior to the project’s start date. Humane killing of trapped nonnative wildlife will be completed by the end of each workday.

d. Humane killing of tegus and other nonnative animals using a captive bolt gun followed by pithing or other legal methods for the area will be agreed upon in consultation with the Commission.

e. Methods of humanely killing tegus and other nonnative animals will not be in violation of ss. 828.12, F.S.

or Rule 68A-4.001, Florida Administrative Code.

f. Eggs laid by trapped tegu and other nonnative reptiles inside of a trap shall be destroyed.

3.1.3. The Contractor will collect morphometric data on all captured tegus and submit to the Commission (data sheets provided by Commission; Figure 20):

a. Morphometric metric measurements including, snout to vent length (SVL), total length (TL), sex (male, female, juvenile), and mass (kg) will be recorded on the Commission-issued data sheet after each tegu has been humanely killed. See minimum requirements below regarding data submission.

b. Contractor will take clear, high-resolution photographs of all trapped tegus and label all photograph files using the following format: Last Name_First Name_Date of Capture (DayMonthYear)_Standardized acronym of species with ID number (SAME; for Argentine Black and White tegus) _GPS Coordinates (using Latitude_Longitude in decimal degrees) _Trap identification number (e.g., CS13).

i. Example: Smith_John_25April2018_SAME22_25.1234_-80.1234_CS13

c. All photograph files (JPEG) for tegus captured within each calendar month, shall be submitted via email to the Project Manager no later than five (5) business days after the beginning of each following month.

3.1.4. The Contractor will dispose of tegu carcasses:

a. All tegu carcasses will be disposed of at the South Dade Landfill (23707 SW 97th Ave, Homestead, FL 33032, Gate A) or alternative disposal site pending notification and approval by the Commission. All disposal costs will be covered by the Contractor.

b. Contractor will dispose of carcasses at their convenience.

4. REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

4.1. The Contractor must have or purchase the following equipment upon execution of this contract and any other necessary equipment required to perform these services:

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 15 of 98

4.1.1. A minimum of 429 live traps that can be all or a combination of Havahart Model 1079, Tomahawk S90, or Tomahawk S70 live traps

4.1.2. Cordage to tie traps to tree/bush to prevent theft by animals

4.1.3. Identification tag for each trap

4.1.4. Fresh eggs (Bait)

4.1.5. Lockable action packer(s) or other securable heavy-duty tote(s) and lock.

4.1.6. Captive bolt gun

4.1.7. Captive bolt gun cartridges

4.1.8. Snake bags/pillowcases (closely woven, double-seam sewn)

4.1.9. Hardware cloth/zip ties to wrap Havahart traps

4.1.10. Heavy duty gloves

4.1.11. Flagging tape

4.1.12. Electrical tape

4.1.13. GPS unit

4.1.14. An electronic device capable of taking and storing clear, high-resolution photographs

5. SERVICE AREA

5.1. The Service area consists of three paved roads; Card Sound Road, SW 424th Street, and Aerojet Road. The remaining ten roads are unpaved gravel roads; Tallahassee Road, L-31N, SW 408th Street, C-111E, C-111, C-110, C- 111 N, C-111 SW, L31 WN and L31 WS. Card Sound Road is heavily traveled. All other roads in the service area have low vehicle traffic since a South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) key obtained by Contractor is needed to access these roads. Live traps along these roads are placed along the Department of Transportation (DOT), SFWMD, or Miami-Dade County right of way that runs parallel to different sets of canal/marsh that have a mixture of trees and shrubs growing along the right of way. The Contractor should be aware of poisonwood (Metopium toxiferum). If an individual is allergic, this plant can cause welts, pain, blisters, and inflammation.

6. MINIMUM LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE

6.1. Contractor must trap a minimum of 192 days from 1 February through 31 October 2027, unless minimum days have been adjusted (due to force majeure) in consultation with the Commission.

6.2. Contractor must have a minimum of 429 traps set during all active trapping days between 1 February and 31 October 2027.

6.3. Contractor must mark each trap with a unique, inconspicuous identifier approved by the Commission.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 16 of 98

6.4. Contractor must enter all data recorded on datasheets (Figures 19 and 20) and into Excel spreadsheets (Figures 21 and 22 with numbers of trap days, trap/bait status, numbers of tegus captured (with captured trap ID information), associated morphometric data for each captured tegu, and photograph file names associated with each tegu. Completed Excel spreadsheet files, daily field data sheets (if used instead of electronic field data sheets), and photographs of individual tegus with identifying file names, shall be submitted via email to Project Manager no later than five (5) business days after the beginning of each month. Each report will include all data requirements from the previous month’s work. Blank template Excel spreadsheet files, field data sheets, and morphometric data sheets will be provided by the Commission at the start of the project.

7. CONTRACT REPORTING

The Contractor shall submit reports in accordance with the following schedule:

Report Name Period Covered Description Due Date Proof of Insurance Annual Proof of appropriate

General Liability and Worker’s Compensation Insurance

Upon policy renewal.

Monthly Report Calendar Month Report shall be in an Excel spreadsheet.

Report shall contain all data recorded on datasheets, numbers of trap days, trap/bait status, numbers of tegus captured (with captured trap ID information), and associated morphometric data for each captured tegu.

Five (5) business days after close of the period.

Tegu photographs Calendar Month A photograph of individual tegus with file names specific to each tegu.

Five (5) business days after close of the period.

8. OTHER FEES AND CHARGES

8.1. Additional fees including but not limited to, property taxes, delivery charges, pick-up charges, fuel surcharges, interest fees, late payment fees (if paid within thirty days of the invoice date), or removal charges are not permitted under this Contract.

9. ROUTINE COMMUNICATIONS

9.1. Upon execution of the contract, all routine communications and reports related to this solicitation shall be sent to the Commission’s Contract Manager and Project Manager. Communications may be by e-mail, regular mail, video conference, or telephone.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 17 of 98

10. INVOICES

10.1. Invoices must clearly identify the contract number, invoice date, invoice number, purchase order number if applicable, description of services, dates of service, remittance address and total cost. Invoices for services shall be submitted monthly in accordance with the Fee Schedule. The same monthly dates of service will apply to any subsequent annual renewal periods.

11. FEE SCHEDULE

Dates of Service Invoice Date

February 1–28, 2027 Five (5) business days after close of the period.

March 1–31, 2027 Five (5) business days after close

April 1–30, 2027 Five (5) business days after close

May 1–31, 2027 Five (5) business days after close

June 1–30, 2027 Five (5) business days after close

July 1–31, 2027 Five (5) business days after close

August 1–31, 2027 Five (5) business days after close

September 1–30, 2027 Five (5) business days after close

October 1–31, 2027

Five (5) business days after close

12. FINANCIAL CONSEQUENCES

12.1. The Commission shall reduce payment by an amount equal to each day that Contractor fails to perform according to the minimum specifications as set forth in this bid solicitation. Financial consequences shall not exceed the total amount of the bid award.

13. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

13.1. Bidder must, at a minimum, possess 3 years’ experience trapping and humanely killing nuisance and/or nonnative invasive wildlife.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-09, Page 18 of 98

13.2. Bidder must not have any wildlife violations and/or animal cruelty violations.

13.3. Bidder must, at a minimum, possess 3 years’ experience in appropriately using a handheld GPS unit and downloading data from and to Google Earth or ArcGIS.

13.4. Bidder must, at a minimum, possess 3 years’ experience in data recording, managing databases, and writing professional technical reports.

14. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

14.1. Bidder shall provide references for a minimum of three professional wildlife removal contracts awarded to the bidder within the past three years.

14.2. Bidder shall provide at least one example of a completed…