FWC 26.27.28 ITB.pdf

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

Telogia Creek Site Prep for Restoration

FWC 26/27-28

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for stumping, raking, piling, and burning in pine plantation clearcuts and planted sand pine stands at various locations throughout Telogia Creek WMA in Liberty Co., 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 26/27-28, Page 3 of 68

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 26/27-28

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised September 24, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

(VIP)

MANDATORY Pre-Bid Conference October 2, 2026

@ 10:00 AM ET

See Pre-Bid Conference Clause

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

October 7, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions

October 12, 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 19, 2026

@ 3:00 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 19, 2026

@ 3:00 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

Phone Conference ID: 169 725 102#

Anticipated Date of Intended Award October 21, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 4 of 68

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 26/27-28

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

Randy Golightly Randolph.Golightly@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 26/27-28, Page 5 of 68

TERM

The contract will be effective for 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 F) shall be included with bid submission.

DIVERSITY

The Commission is committed to supporting Florida’s diverse business industry and population through ensuring participation by minority, women, and veteran-owned business enterprises in the economic life of the state. The State of Florida Mentor Protégé Program connects minority, women, and veteran-owned business enterprises with private corporations for business development mentoring. We strongly encourage contractors doing business with the State of Florida to consider this initiative. For more information on the Mentor Protégé Program, please contact the Office of Supplier Development at (850) 487-0915 or osdinfo@dms.myflorida.com.

FWC encourages diversity in its procurement program and requests that all subcontracting opportunities afforded by this solicitation enthusiastically embrace diversity. The award of subcontracts should reflect the vast array of citizens in the State of Florida. Bidders can visit the Office of Supplier Development website for information on certified business enterprises that may be considered for subcontracting opportunities. However, pursuant to Section 287.05701 F.S., the Commission may not request documentation of or consider a vendor’s social, political, or ideological interests when determining if the vendor is a responsible vendor, nor give preference to a vendor based on the vendor’s social, political, or ideological interests.

MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE/SITE VISIT MEETING

A mandatory pre-bid conference/Site Visit Meeting will be held at Telogia Creek WMA 30.4086163/-84.9148645 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 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 26/27-28, Page 6 of 68

Commission will make a reasonable effort to answer verbal questions asked at the pre-bid conference/Site Visit, however, Bidders should clearly understand that verbal discussions held at the pre-bid conference/Site Visit shall not be binding on the Commission, and the Commission will only issue an official written response to verbal questions subsequently submitted in writing in accordance with the Deadline for Questions clause below.

84.9152123 W , 30.4162534 N.

Directions: Turn south onto O'Dell Owens Road off State Road 20 (O'Dell Owens Rd., 3.6 miles east of

Bristol Christian Church or 7.2 miles west of Hosford). The entrance to the Wild Management Area is exactly ½ mile to the south along O'Dell Owens Road (O'Dell Owens Rd continues into the WMA). Once you enter the open yellow gate for the WMA, keep heading south and FWC staff will meet you prior to the conference at the first improved road intersection which is about a ½ mile into the WMA.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 7 of 68

(https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com) for new or changing information relative to this procurement. The Commission bears no responsibility for any delays, or resulting impacts, associated with a Bidder’s failure to obtain the information made available through the Vendor Information Portal.

BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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

MANDATORY RESPONSIVE REQUIREMENTS

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

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

REFERENCES

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

EQUAL BIDS

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

SUPPORTING/SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 8 of 68

CONFIDENTIALITY/PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

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

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

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

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

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

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

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

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

BE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE AND SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

SOLICITATION PUBLIC OPENING

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

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

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

AWARDED BID/INSPECTION

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 9 of 68

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.

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 D) and the contract shall be deemed completed upon the issuance date of such Certificate.

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 26/27-28, Page 10 of 68

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.

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.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 11 of 68

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

CONDITIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS

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

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SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 26/27-28

TELOGIA CREEK SITE PREP FOR RESTORATION

PURPOSE

The purpose of this SOW is to obtain competitive pricing for stumping, raking, piling, and burning in pine plantation clearcuts and planted sand pine stands 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 two distinct project types. Project 1: Clearcuts and Project 2: Sand Pine Stands shown on the provided map below (Figure 2). The Vendor with the lowest combined bid price for the two projects 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://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/myfloridamarketplace/mfmp_vendo rs

1. SITE LOCATION

1.1. Telogia Creek WMA. Access is located ~4 miles east of Bristol, FL on NW SR-20 and ~0.5 miles south on NW O’Dell

Owens Rd (Figure 1).

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-related activities 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. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

3.1. Vendors are responsible for knowing and complying with federal, state, and local guidelines and Best Management

Practices for conducting operations in sandhill, pine flatwoods, and ecotones around wetland plant communities to avoid or minimize impacts to sensitive vegetative communities.

3.2. 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.

https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/myfloridamarketplace/mfmp_vendors https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/myfloridamarketplace/mfmp_vendors

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 13 of 68

3.3. Vendor shall work with the Project Manager to determine starting point 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.

3.4. 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.

3.5. 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.

3.6. 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. In the event contamination is found, FWC will require the equipment to be removed from property and properly cleaned prior to commencing work.

3.7. 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.

3.8. 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.

3.9. The Vendor shall remove from state land all extraneous materials, equipment, and litter associated with the project 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.

3.10. 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.

3.11. 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.

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3.12. 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 pine trees, working in unapproved areas, and failure to make suitable progress.

3.13. 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.

3.14. 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.

4. PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

4.1. The Project Manager will provide detailed, georeferenced maps outlining the areas to be stumped, raked, piled, and burned for both project types. All work must only occur within these boundaries. In areas where the project boundary may not be obvious, FWC will erect flagging to delineate these boundaries.

4.2. The Project Manager will show representative areas of each project type to prospective bidders prior to receiving their bids.

4.3. The land clearing work performed will consist of two project types. Project 1) Clearcuts: to prepare clearcut areas for future restoration and Project 2) Sand Pine Stands: to remove all vegetation including but not limited to planted sand pine for future restoration (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.

4.4. Project 1) Clearcuts: consists primarily of logging slash, stumps cut at or near ground level averaging (+/- 8-10” DBH), and sand pine and hardwood regeneration, interspersed with mature sand live oaks. Project 2) Sand pine stands: exist separate from clearcut locations and consist of sand pine tree species with averages of ~5-inch DBH and 664 trees per acre. Site Prep work is to extend as close as possible to the inside edge of the boundary indicated on the georeferenced site map. This map will be provided to the Contractor and 100% of the area within those boundaries must be treated (stumped, raked, piled, burned, and graded) when complete.

4.5. The Contractor shall lightly root rake the entire area, shake out and pile all debris to include all previously standing vegetative material, remnant logging slash, and unearthed/exposed stumps.

4.6. Each site shall be raked using a loader/dozer/skidder style tractor with appropriately sized rake attachment (or equivalent) for this project.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 15 of 68

4.7. Unless required for stumping, every attempt will be made by the Contractor to not root rake beyond a depth of 10 inches from the surface to minimize soil disturbance.

4.8. All debris will be shaken as it is piled to ensure that it is as free from dirt as possible, so that the pile will burn as cleanly as possible.

4.9. If excessive soil is found in the piles, the project manager may require the piles to be separated and re-piled to remove excess soil.

4.10. Currently existing piles of logging slash shall be burned if they are within specified project area. Contractor may also add to currently existing piles.

4.11. Currently existing, remnant logging deck debris will be consolidated into piles for burning.

4.12. All standing trees within the project areas will be felled and stumped, unless flagged by the project manager signifying that they can remain untreated.

4.13. If debris and/or soil should pile/windrow along project boundary edges during the land clearing operation, the Contractor should make all efforts to remove this debris and smooth out the transition between the project area edge and the surrounding, untreated habitat.

4.14. All mature hardwood and/or pine trees within the project areas previously flagged by the contract manager with flagging tape will be excluded from the treatment.

4.15. A final disk and grade of each project area is required that follows the existing land contours of each project area.

The condition of the final grade must be approved by the project manager before the project is determined to be complete. The final grade is crucial to ensure consistent depth when seeding for groundcover restoration prior to planting longleaf pines.

4.16. Contractor shall not pile debris within 25 yards of a gopher tortoise burrow.

4.17. Contractor shall not pile debris within 25 yards of a boundary road or fire line.

4.18. The contractor will make every effort to keep ground level after removing stumps and standing vegetation.

4.19. The Contractor should contact the Project Manager for access to the project area prior to bidding.

4.20. Work will not be allowed during all quota hunts on the WMA. These dates are as follows: January 15 – 18, February 12 – 15, March 20 – 23, and April 2 – 5. For non-quota hunt days, work could be paused or constrained at the discretion of the project manager. Constrained workdays would shorten equipment operating hours to avoid equipment operation during peak stand hours (after dawn and before dusk).

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

5. EQUIPMENT AND PERSONNEL REQUIREMENTS

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 16 of 68

5.1. All certified pile burning shall be conducted under the supervision of a certified pile burner who has successfully completed the pile burning certification program of the Florida Forest Service and possesses a valid pile burner certification number (“Certified Pile Burner”). All burning shall be compliant with Florida certified burning rules as found in Florida Administrative Code Chapter 51-2 and 62-256 and Florida Statue Chapter 590. It is also required that a UTV with at least 50 gallons of water be on site during pile burning. During burn operations, the selected Contractor shall have one Florida Forest Certified Pile burner on site at all times.

5.2. Prior to initiation of work, Contractor shall provide FWC with evidence of its Pile Burn certification, including its certification number from the Florida Forest Service.

5.3. Prior to burning, the awarded Contactor will coordinate with the Project Manager to provide a pile burn prescription and smoke screening map that are approved by the Project Manager prior to burning (typically the morning of).

5.4. No burning will occur by the Contractor without receiving prior verbal approval from the Project Manager.

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

5.6. Grading can be performed with a motor grader or tractor 3-point grader/land planes style equipment. For the grading component of the project, agricultural tractors would be allowed if utilizing a 3-point hitch style implement. Grading equipment other than the above may be used if approved by the project manager.

5.7. Equipment used should be low ground pressure crawler-type tractor or skidder tractor. Agricultural tractors are not acceptable. Should significant rutting occur in the area, work will cease, or the Contractor will relocate to areas where little or no rutting occurs. Project manager reserves the right to approve the use of machinery types that may differ from the above

5.8. The Contractor will deliver GPS tracks of work to the Project Manager for verification prior to final payment. GPS data should be in .shp or .gpx format.

5.9. All equipment will be cleaned with pressurized air and water before entry into the WMA to remove all dirt and vegetative debris to prevent the introduction of non-native plant species.

6. GENERAL CONDITIONS

6.1. Vendor’s Insurance Requirements: Below is a description of the Contractor’s insurance required for this project.

The following guidelines must be followed for contractual services to be performed on state lands.

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

6.1.2. • Proof of Automobile Insurance

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

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6.2. Invoicing and Payment: After the work is completed, the Contractor 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. Partial payment will be allowed for this project.

Acreage can only be submitted for partial payment if all piles have been burned and the final grade has been completed.

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

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Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 18 of 68

7. FIGURE 1: TELOGIA CREEK WMA LOCATION MAP

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8. FIGURE 1: STUMP, RAKE, PILE, AND BURN AREAS

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PRICE SHEET

FWC 26/27-28

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).

TELOGIA CREEK WMA Stumping, Raking, Piling, and Burning

DESCRIPTION INITIAL YEAR COST PER ACRE

1. Project 1 (Clearcuts)

1. $_________________

2. Project 2 (Sand Pine Stands) 2. $ ________________

A. TOTAL INITIAL YEAR COST

(1+2) A. $ ________________

DESCRIPTION FIRST YEARLY RENEWAL COST PER ACRE

3. Project 1 (Clearcuts)

3. $_________________

4. Project 2 (Sand Pine Stands) 4. $ ________________

B. TOTAL FIRST YEAR RENEWAL COST

(3+4) B. $ ________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-28, Page 21 of 68

DESCRIPTION SECOND YEARLY RENEWAL COST PER ACRE

5. Project 1 (Clearcuts)

5. $_________________

6. Project 2 (Sand Pine Stands)

6. $ ________________

C. TOTAL SECOND YEAR RENEWAL COST

(5+6) C. $ ________________

TOTAL BID PRICE (A+B+C) $ ________________

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: _________________________________

Fax: __________________________________

City/State/Zip: __________________________

Telephone: ____________________________

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…