FWC 26.27-15 ITB Final.pdf

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

Telogia Creek Sand Pine Removal

FWC 26/27-15

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for sand pine regeneration removal services (~797 acres total) at various locations throughout Telogia Creek WMA in Liberty County, FL., per the specifications contained herein. Only responsive and responsible Contractors will be considered for award of this Invitation to Bid (ITB).

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

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

Responsible Vendors: The Commission shall only consider responsible vendors. Responsible vendors are those that have, in the sole judgment of the Commission, the financial ability, experience, resources, skills, capability, reliability and business integrity necessary to perform the requirements of the contract. The Commission may also consider references and quality to determine the responsibility of the bid. The Commission reserves the right to use any information, whether supplied through the Bidder’s submission or otherwise obtained, in determining responsibility.

Sealed Bid: In response to an Invitation to Bid (ITB), a sealed bid is the final submission of a bid from a vendor prior to the bid deadline, after which no further submissions will be considered.

Rejection of Bids: The Commission reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to waive any minor irregularity in the submissions received in response to this ITB. The Commission reserves the right to consider all information, whether submitted or otherwise, to determine responsiveness and responsibility and to reject bids accordingly.

Name of Business: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Business Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

City: ______________________________ State: _______________________________ Zip code: _______________________________________

Phone: _____________________________ Fax: __________________________________ Email: _______________________________________

Federal Employer Identification Number: _________________________

The undersigned attest to the following:

“We understand all of the terms, conditions and the specifications contained herein and agree to abide by all of the terms, conditions and the specifications in their entirety. We have examined the site in reference to the specifications contained within this ITB and have familiarized ourselves with the entire site and have examined carefully the extent of the work that is needed.”

Authorized Signature (Manual): ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Authorized Signature Name (Typed) and Title: __________________________________________________________________________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 3 of 66

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 26/27-15

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised September 21, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal (VIP)

Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference September 28, 2026 @ 10:00 AM ET See Pre-Bid Conference Clause

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

October 2, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions October 7, 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 16, 2026

@ 1:00 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 October 16, 2026

@ 1:00 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: 281.736.540#

Anticipated Date of Intended Award October 20, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 4 of 66

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 26/27-15

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 26/27-15, Page 5 of 66

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 two (2) years after the initial Contract period upon the same terms and conditions contained herein. Pursuant to Sections 287.057(1)(a)2., and 287.057(1)(a)3., Florida Statutes (F.S.), each Bidder shall supply a price for each year that a contract may be renewed.

Evaluation of bids shall include consideration of the total cost of the contract, including the total cost for each renewal year, as submitted by the Bidder.

Exercise of the renewal option is at the Commission’s sole discretion and shall be conditioned, at a minimum, on the Contractor’s satisfactory performance of this Contract and is subject to the availability of funds. The Contractor if it desires to exercise this renewal option will provide written notice to the Commission no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Contract expiration date. The renewal term shall require written approval from the Commission’s Procurement Manager.

SUBCONTRACTS

Subcontracting IS 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.

MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE/SITE VISIT MEETING

A pre-bid conference/Site Visit Meeting will be held at 84.9152123 W , 30.4162534 N. 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 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 26/27-15, Page 6 of 66 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.

84.9152123 W , 30.4162534 N.

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 7 of 66

BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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

MANDATORY RESPONSIVE REQUIREMENTS

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

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

REFERENCES

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

EQUAL BIDS

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

SUPPORTING/SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

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

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 8 of 66 public record request related to the solicitation, the Commission will provide copies of public records that are not exempt to the requester. The Commission will endeavor to provide notice to the Bidder of all public records requests received related to documents provided by the Bidder that were marked pursuant to this paragraph. In no event shall the Bidder hold the Commission or any of its employees or agents liable for disclosing, or otherwise failing to protect the confidentiality of, information submitted in response to this solicitation.

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

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

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

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

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

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

BE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE AND SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

SOLICITATION PUBLIC OPENING

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

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

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

AWARDED BID/INSPECTION

The Commission will award the bid to the responsive, responsible bidder who submits the 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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 9 of 66

Awarded Bidders are instructed not to proceed until a Purchase Order, Formal Written Contract, Lease, Notice to Proceed, or some other form of written notice is given to the Contractor by the Commission. A company or person who proceeds prior to receiving a Purchase Order, Formal Written Contract, Lease, Notice to Proceed, or some other form of written notice from the Commission does so without a contract and at their own risk.

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

SCOPE CHANGES AFTER CONTRACT EXECUTION

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

FWC CONTRACT MANAGER

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

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

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

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

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

DELIVERABLES

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

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

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

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 F) 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 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 26/27-15, Page 10 of 66

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, 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/

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REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 12 of 66

SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 26/27-15

TELOGIA CREEK SAND PINE REMOVAL

PURPOSE

The purpose of this ITB is to obtain competitive pricing for sand pine regeneration removal services (~797 acres total) in accordance with the specifications listed below at various locations throughout Telogia Creek WMA in Liberty County, FL. A location map is attached as Figure 1.

Quotes are requested on a cost per acre basis for three levels of sand pine regeneration, outlined in Figure 2. The vendor with the lowest, summed cost per acre total across the three estimated sand pine regeneration levels (found in Figure 2) will be awarded the contract. A vendor submitting a bid should be registered in MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system prior to receiving the award. A vendor will not be considered for an award if not registered in MFMP system. Vendors may go to the following link to register:

https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/vms-web/spring/login?execution=e2s1

1. SITE LOCATION

1.1. Access to Telogia Creek WMA is located ~4 miles east of Bristol, FL on NW SR-20 and ~0.5 miles south on NW Odell Owens Rd (Figure 1). You'll turn south onto O'Dell Owens Road which is off State Road 20 (O'Dell Owens Rd. is 3.6 miles east of Bristol Christian Church or 7.2 miles west of Hosford). The entrance to the WMA is exactly ½ mile to the south along O'Dell Owens Road (O'Dell Owens Rd continues into the WMA) Coordinates are as provided

84.9152123 W , 30.4162534 N.

2. PROJECT PERIOD

2.1. The work associated with this project may begin as soon as the Purchase Order is executed provided site conditions are appropriate (i.e., not too wet) and shall be completed and invoiced by June 15th , 2027.

2.2. All work shall be scheduled with the Project Manager prior to completion to ensure timely completion, site access, safety, and communication concerning other activities that may be occurring on the area (hunting, logging, work projects, etc.).

3. PROJECT MANAGER

3.1. The Vendor will coordinate and schedule all work with the Project Manager:

Clif Maehr Biological Scientist III 859-420-0981 https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/vms-web/spring/login?execution=e2s1

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 13 of 66 sutton.maehr@myfwc.

com

4. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

4.1. Vendors are responsible for knowing and complying with federal, state, and local guidelines and Best Management Practices for conducting operations in pine flatwoods and ecotones around cypress domes and wetlands to avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive vegetative communities.

4.2. Protection of Work – The Vendor shall perform the work in a safe and careful manner and will furnish and use such safety devices, methods, and measures as are required to protect the Vendor and their employees thereof, FWC personnel, and the public against bodily injury or damage to property.

4.3. Vendor shall work with the Project Manager to determine the order in which areas are to be treated and shall provide a work schedule specifying an estimated completion date. The Project Manager must be notified at least two days before work commences on the site, and the Vendor will obtain advance approval from the Project Manager prior to making a change to the agreed upon work schedule. Changes to the agreed upon work schedule may be granted by the Project Manager if weather conditions prevent completion of work according to these specifications. Exceptions will not be made for unfavorable weather conditions that do not prohibit the completion of work according to these specifications.

4.4. The Vendor shall furnish all labor, equipment, supplies, materials and fuel necessary to successfully provide the service in accordance with the specifications contained herein. In the event of an equipment malfunction or breakdown, the Vendor shall be capable of replacing essential equipment within 48 hours to avoid unnecessary delays.

4.5. The Vendor will not subcontract, assign, or transfer any services without the prior written consent of the FWC Contract and Project Managers. If permission is granted, the Vendor is responsible for ensuring that work is performed in accordance with the specifications contained herein. The Vendor is solely responsible for all financial arrangements and payments to any subcontractor or assignees.

4.6. All equipment must be thoroughly cleaned of all dirt and vegetative debris before entering or re-entering the WMA to prevent the introduction or spread of invasive or exotic vegetation. FWC staff reserve the right to inspect equipment prior to its use on the area to ensure it is free of vegetative contamination and require equipment to be removed from property and properly cleaned prior to commencing work as needed.

4.7. It shall be the responsibility of the Vendor to keep all roads and firelines open and unblocked during operations and to keep gates closed and locked while conducting work and after leaving the project site. Any equipment left in the area during the project will be at the Vendor’s risk.

FWC will not accept any responsibility for equipment left on site.

mailto:David.Adle@MyFWC.com mailto:David.Adle@MyFWC.com

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 14 of 66

4.8. Any damage to existing state or county property (i.e. roads, culverts, low water crossings, fences, gates, signs, or natural resources) caused by the Vendor and not within the scope of the project work will be the responsibility of the Vendor. Road ditches will be cleaned out where equipment crosses in or out of work areas. Care will be taken to avoid excessive rutting as specified by the Project Manager. The Vendor shall be responsible for the conduct of hired personnel at all times while within the project area.

4.9. The Vendor shall remove all extraneous materials, equipment, and litter associated with the project from the area before final payment will be awarded. It is the responsibility of the Vendor to see that the area is cleaned upon completion of the project.

4.10. In the event historical or cultural artifacts are uncovered during work, the Vendor shall immediately halt activities within that area and notify the Project Manager.

4.11. The Vendor is expected to avoid harassment of wildlife on state managed lands. The willful take of any animal species while working on state lands, will void the contract and the vendor may be subject to legal penalty under applicable wildlife laws. Gopher Tortoises and their burrows occur at low densities on some of the work sites. All known burrows will be flagged by the manager, and a map will be presented to the vendor of the known burrows prior to work initiating. No heavy equipment shall be operated within 25 feet of any known tortoise burrow.

If a new tortoise burrow is discovered or suspected, the vendor shall contact the land manager immediately and work shall cease within 25 feet of the location until confirmation has been made.

4.12. Stop Work Clause – The Project Manager or designated representative reserves the right to halt work and/or dismiss the Vendor if the work is not being completed in accordance with the specifications contained herein. Work will not resume until the deficiency or deficiencies are corrected. The Project Manager or designated representative also reserves the right to halt work for the following conditions: excessively wet conditions, unacceptable levels of ground disturbance, unsafe operation of equipment, unacceptable damage to non-target plant species, working in unapproved areas, and failure to make suitable progress.

4.13. Work should be quoted and performed at a cost per acre rate. The quote price shall include mobilization and transportation of all necessary equipment to and from the work sites.

4.14. Payment will be based upon the actual number of acres treated in accordance with the specifications contained herein, to be determined by the Project Manager or designee, using GPS equipment and GIS software. Any questions regarding the specific acreage given for each site shall be resolved with the Project Manager before the Vendor commences operations. FWC will deduct from payment the cost per acre for any areas mowed that do not satisfactorily meet the specifications provided herein.

5. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

5.1. Only Sand Pine found in confirmed Long-leaf pine stands will be removed.

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5.2. The total acreage has been divided into three groups (“Light”, “Moderate”, and “Heavy”), with each group representing a level of sand pine encroachment.

5.3. The Project Manager will provide detailed maps outlining the areas where sand pines are to be removed and all work must only occur within these boundaries (Figure 2). This acreage is given only as a guideline for preparing your quote and should not be construed as representing actual quantities under this contract. FWC reserves the right to increase or decrease acreage based on the quoted cost per acre and available funding. Exact locations may also be modified based on site conditions or other factors.

5.4. The project entails 100% removal of all sand pine tree species including but not limited to regenerated and seedling sand pines within the target areas (Figure 2).

5.5. Only sand pines should be removed; all other pine species (i.e. longleaf, loblolly, or slash pine) will be left intact.

5.6. Hand pulling should be the primary method of removal and sand pines less than ½-inch in stem diameter must be pulled by hand. However, brush saws and chainsaws will be acceptable for removing sand pines with greater than ½-inch stem diameter.

5.7. When using saws, sand pines must be cut below the lowest live branches. Preferably, they should be cut at or slightly above ground level to allow for ATV and UTV clearance of undercarriage, A-arms, axles, and differentials.

5.8. Treated sand pines should be left where they are cut or pulled and should not be piled.

5.9. If a treated sand pine falls or leans onto any surrounding non-target tree (other pine species including but not limited to Long Leaf Pine), then the vendor must push it off or cut it further to ensure that it is lying on the ground and that the surrounding/impacted longleaf(s) remains upright.

5.10. Herbicidal treatment of cut stumps is not requested or necessary.

5.11. To ensure complete and efficient treatment, work should be conducted along transects.

Individuals should walk along transects spaced ≤5 feet apart. Any saplings with a stem diameter greater than ½ inch should be marked and subsequently treated by brush saw or chainsaw. Transect specifications may be amended to increase efficiency with the approval of the Project Manager.

5.12. Upon completion of services, the Vendor shall remove and dispose of all trash and debris from the WMA. FWC will not pay for hauling, dumping, tipping, trash, hazardous waste, or other related waste fees.

6. EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

6.1. The equipment used in the performance of the work will be of the proper size and type and in such operating condition to safely and successfully complete the required service as specified

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-15, Page 16 of 66 above. Adequate safety measures will be observed to comply with all applicable federal safety requirements.

7. GENERAL CONDITIONS

7.1. Vendor’s Insurance Requirements: Below is a description of the Vendor’s insurance required for this project. The following guidelines must be followed for contractual services to be performed on state lands.

a. Proof of Worker’s Compensation (if >4 employees)

b. Proof of Automobile Insurance

c. Proof of Vendor’s/Subcontractor’s Public Liability and Property Damage Insurance

7.2. Invoicing and Payment: After the work is completed, the Vendor shall furnish the Project Manager with a signed and dated invoice showing the number of acres treated. The payment will be made after the work has been verified and has been performed to the satisfaction of the FWC. No partial payments will be made on this project.

7.3. Vendor License: The Vendor must obtain any required licenses or permits prior to beginning work on this project

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FIGURE 1: GENEAL MAP OF TELOGIA CREEK

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FIGURE 2: SAND PINE ENCROACHMENT LEVELS

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PRICE SHEET

FWC 26/27-15

CONTRACTOR SHALL NOT ALTER THE PRICE SHEET IN ANY WAY.

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

ALL ITEMS SHALL BE BID OR THE BID WILL BE REJECTED. THE BID WILL BE AWARDED TO THE RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER THAT SUBMITS THE LOWEST TOTAL PRICE. PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 287.057(1)(a)1. AND 287.057(1)(a)2., F.S., EACH CONTRACTOR SHALL SUPPLY A PRICE FOR EACH YEAR THAT A CONTRACT MAY BE RENEWED (SEE RENEWAL

CLAUSE).

Initial Term Pricing:

Item/Service Cost Per Acre

1. “Light” Sand Pine Presence 1. $_____________________

2. “Moderate” Sand Pine Presence 2. $_____________________

3. “Heavy” Sand Pine Presence 3. $_____________________

4. Initial Term Total Price (Line 1 + Line 2 + Line 3) 4. $_____________________

Renewal Year 1 Pricing:

Item/Service Cost Per Acre

5. “Light” Sand Pine Presence 5. $_____________________

6. “Moderate” Sand Pine Presence 6. $_____________________

7. “Heavy” Sand Pine Presence 7. $_____________________

8. Renewal Year 1 Total Price (Line 5 + Line 6 + Line 7)

8. $_____________________

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Renewal Year 2 Pricing:

Item/Service Cost Per Acre

9. “Light” Sand Pine Presence 9. $_____________________

10. “Moderate” Sand Pine Presence 10. $_____________________

11. “Heavy” Sand Pine Presence 11. $_____________________

12. Renewal Year 2 Total Price (Line 9 + Line 10 + Line 11)

12. $_____________________

Total Quote Price (Line 4 + Line 8 + Line 12): $_____________________

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:

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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:

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REFERENCE #4 – COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE

Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ______________________________________ Telephone Number: ____________________________

Collective Experience Employee

First Name: __________________________________ Last Name: ___________________________________

Previous Employer’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________

Previous Position Title: ___________________________________________________________________________

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

Project Location: ___________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

SAMPLE REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE

REFERENCE:

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

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

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

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

Excellent Above Satisfactory Satisfactory Fair Poor

Comments:

2. Did the vendor maintain clear communication?

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