FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

Aerial Ignition Services for Prescribed Burning

FWC 26/27-23

INVITATION TO BID

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for helicopter and pilot services for conducting aerial ignition prescribed burns on Wildlife Management Areas in the Northwest Region, 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 26/27-23, Page 3 of 71

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 26/27-23

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

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

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

September 28, 2026

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions

October 1, 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 8, 2026

@ 2:30 PM ET

Mailing Address:

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

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

Public Bid Opening October 8, 2026

@ 2:30 PM ET

Public Opening Options for Attendance:

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

-Teleconference- Conference call phone number:

Conference room number:

Anticipated Date of Intended Award October 12, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 4 of 71

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 26/27-23

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC or Commission) mission is to manage fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people. The Commission administers six (6) major programs including habitat and species conservation, freshwater fisheries management, law enforcement, marine fisheries management, hunting and game management and fish and wildlife research.

A Bidder submitting a bid shall be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and where required, the Sunbiz system prior to the bid opening. Business entities which must be on file with Sunbiz include the following foreign and domestic entities: Corporations for and not for profit, Limited Liability Companies (LLC), Limited Partnerships (LP) including Limited Liability Limited Partnerships (LLLP), and organizations doing business under a fictitious name (DBA). A Bidder may not be considered for an award, if not registered in the MFMP and Sunbiz system. The Bidder’s registration address and federal employer identification (FEID) number should match the Bidder’s address and FEID number listed on the Bidder Acknowledgment form (Page 2).

Certified Minority-owned, Woman-owned and Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises, as certified by the State of Florida Office of Supplier Development, are encouraged by the Commission to participate in the bidding process.

Bids from Bidders shall include all necessary equipment to complete the job. The bidder is required to supply all specified documentation when submitting a bid for this project.

Please note:

• The terms “Contract,” “Agreement” and “Purchase Order” are used interchangeably in the document.

• The terms “Commodities” and “Goods” are used interchangeably in the document.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

PUR 1000 and PUR1001 are hereby incorporated by reference. PUR1000 and PUR1001 can be found at the Department of Management Services website at the following link:

https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/state_agency_resources/state_purchasing_pur _forms

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

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

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Xavier Wilson Xavier.Wilson@myfwc.com https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/state_agency_resources/state_purchasing_pur_forms https://www.dms.myflorida.com/business_operations/state_purchasing/state_agency_resources/state_purchasing_pur_forms

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 5 of 71

TERM

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

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

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

SUBCONTRACTS

Subcontracting IS NOT permitted pursuant to the Terms and Conditions of the Purchase Order. The Subcontractor Minority Status Report (Attachment C) shall be submitted with each invoice for payment.

DIVERSITY

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

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

VERBAL INSTRUCTION PROCEDURE

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 6 of 71

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

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

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

LIMITATION ON BIDDER CONTACT DURING SOLICITATION PERIOD

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

BIDDER SPECIFICATION CHALLENGE

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

ADDENDUMS

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

BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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

MANDATORY RESPONSIVE REQUIREMENTS

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 7 of 71

REFERENCES

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

EQUAL BIDS

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

SUPPORTING/SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

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

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

CONFIDENTIALITY/PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

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

MAILING INSTRUCTIONS

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 8 of 71

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

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

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

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

BE DEEMED NON-RESPONSIVE AND SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

SOLICITATION PUBLIC OPENING

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

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

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

AWARDED BID/INSPECTION

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

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

POSTING OF BID TABS

Bid Tabulations with Contractors identified as awarded bidders will be posted electronically as Agency Decisions on the Department of Management Services Vendor Information Portal as a Public Notice. The Agency Decision may be viewed at https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com, and will remain posted for a period of 72 hours. Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3)(b), F.S., shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, F.S.

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

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

SCOPE CHANGES AFTER CONTRACT EXECUTION

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 9 of 71

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.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 10 of 71 shall, at the time of submitting such bid, have complied with the applicable provisions of Chapter 620, F.S. For further information on required filing and forms, please go to the following sites: http://sunbiz.org or http://dos.myflorida.com.

USE OF CONTRACT BY OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND ELIGIBLE USERS

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

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

CONDITIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 11 of 71

SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 26/27-23

AERIAL IGNITION SERVICES FOR PRESCRIBED BURNING

PURPOSE

The intent of this Invitation to Bid (ITB) is to obtain competitive pricing for aviation services for prescribed burning using aerial ignition devices on Public Conservation Lands in northwest Florida (Exhibit 1). Services will be provided for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) and will be completed in accordance with the specifications contained herein.

The Commission intends to apply prescribed fire via aerial ignition of vegetation on state managed conservation lands using a Delayed Aerial Ignition Device (DAID). Prescribed fire sites include pine timber lands (plantations and flatwoods), uplands, prairies, wetlands, and marshes on areas managed by the Commission.

Flights will involve slow, low-level flying to permit Commission employees, or their agents, to ignite prescribed fires using a DAID while airborne. The Commission requires the use of turbine engine helicopters with a minimum manufacturer-specified useful load capability (ULC) in excess of 750 pounds due to the inherent dangers of low-level, low-speed flight, tight turns and hovering, out of ground effect and high mid- day temperatures over possible water bodies during summer, and vegetation in close proximity during flights. This requirement ensures that the aircraft will be capable of conducting all aspects of the prescribed burning activities within manufacturer-specified limits.

INITIAL TERM COMPLETION DATE

Project shall be completed by the Contractor by June 12, 2029.

A. SERVICES

The services covered by these specifications consists of furnishing all labor and equipment and performing all operations for aerial prescribed fire ignition, and crew and supply transport. Subcontracting of services is not permitted.

No minimum quantity of work is guaranteed.

1) Aerial Ignitions Operations

a) The Commission intends to augment its vegetation management programs with aerial ignition of vegetation within the boundaries of the State of Florida using aerial ignition technology. The vegetation targets are native, exotic, and invasive plant species. Prescribed burn sites include pine timber lands (plantations and flatwoods), uplands, prairies, wetlands, and marshes on Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area (WEA) in Franklin and Gulf Counties, Aucilla Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Jefferson County; Box-R WMA in Franklin and Gulf Counties; Escribano Point WMA in Santa Rosa County; and Telogia Creek WMA in Liberty County (Exhibit 1). The Commission intends to use the SEI Industries Red Dragon helicopter mounted dispenser.

b) When performing aerial ignition services, the Contractor shall use an on-board computer Global Positioning Service (GPS) guidance system with the same or equivalent capabilities as the AG-NAV System (or equivalent technology) as described in “Aircraft Standards” and “Differentially Corrected Global Positioning System Specifications for Application Aircraft” (Exhibits 2 and 3, respectively).

c) The Contractor shall be capable of flying predetermined altitudes and air speeds in a set grid pattern to achieve desired ignition, while ensuring all ignition sources are deposited within the boundaries of the burn unit.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 12 of 71

d) Upon completion of the prescribed fire, the GPS track log (AG-NAV or equivalent technology) of the firing operations will be forwarded to the Project Manager as an ArcGIS shapefile (.shp) or other format determined by the individual Project Managers (e.g., KML, GPX).

e) All expenses for labor, supplies and equipment required to conduct an aerial ignition burn shall be included in the hourly rate price. These items may include, but are not limited to helicopter, pilot, aviation fuel, fuel truck, aircraft repairs, aircraft maintenance, all labor (including all maintenance and/or repair parts) and travel at the work site(s) directly related to ignition operations will be included. The Commission will only pay for flight time directly attributed to performing services, as documented by HOBBS or HOUR meter readings by the Commission. The Commission will not pay for any ferry time to the airport, travel to and from home bases, or any other flight time expended by the Contractor that is not directly attributed to performing services (“deadhead” time), unless carrying FWC personnel and/or equipment with the exception of cancellations after 7:00 A.M. the day of the burn due to weather conditions and upon mutual agreement of the Contractor and the Commission Project Manager. The Commission will guarantee a minimum of three hours of flight time for aerial ignition operations.

f) Passengers will be available for pick up by the Contractor at a location close to work or inspection sites. Pick-up and drop off points will be designated by the Commission after input from the Contractor regarding suitability of proposed pick-up and take-off sites.

2) Inspection Flights (Pre-Post)

a) The Contractor shall be capable of providing helicopter chartering services for up to three passengers during aerial reconnaissance flights. The Contractor shall have a minimum of two helicopters (meeting specifications in Aircraft Standards section (Exhibit 2) available with seating capacity of three or more passengers. The Contractor must be able to fly the aircraft at a sustained altitude of 500 feet, or below, at moderate to low speeds along designated transects. The Contractor shall have the ability to accurately navigate along designated transects or within designated quadrants using an on-board GPS system. The Contractor’s aircraft shall have side cockpit and cabin windows suitable for observing, photographing, and mapping vegetation and other land features. The Contractor’s aircraft shall also have the capacity to provide electrical power to two laptop computers during reconnaissance flights.

b) Inspection flights will require the Contractor to transport the Commission’s Site Manager and/or other personnel to specific burn units for the purpose of inspecting and monitoring sites prior to and following burns.

Therefore, the pilot on inspection flights is not required to have the Aerial Ignition Flight training or FSFC 703 requirement in pilot standards section II.B.8. (Exhibit 4); however all other standards must be met. These flights will be used to collect data to provide to the ground crews performing ground operations, as well as complete pre-burn assessments and post burn evaluations, including data collection, photography, and program/contract oversight of other projects. These inspections and monitoring events will be conducted on an hourly basis.

c) All expenses for labor and equipment required to conduct an Inspection Flight shall be included in the hourly rate price. These items may include, but are not limited to helicopter, pilot, fuel, fuel truck, aircraft repairs, aircraft maintenance, all labor (including all maintenance and/or repair parts) and travel (or “deadhead”) charges from point of origin directly to work site will be included. The Commission will only pay for flight time directly attributed to performing services, as documented by HOBBS or HOUR meter readings by the Commission. The Commission will only pay for flight time while carrying FWC personnel and/or equipment. The Commission will guarantee a minimum of two hours of flight time for inspection flight operations.

d) Passengers will be available for pick up by the Contractor at a location close to work or inspection sites. Pick-up and drop off points will be designated by the Commission after input from the Contractor regarding suitability of proposed pick-up and take-off sites.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 13 of 71

3) Fuel Delivery Truck (if supplied)

a) The fuel delivery and support truck and/or trailer shall meet the following minimum criteria:

i) Minimum capacity – 10 hours fuel for assigned helicopter

ii) Fire extinguisher appropriate for fuel capacity

iii) Metered fuel dispensing

iv) Placards in accordance with 49 CFR 172

v) Marked fuel type

vi) Sump with drain

vii) Nozzle screen (splash refueling), nozzle dust protective device, nozzle bonding device

viii) Bonding device, aircraft to fuel service vehicle

ix) Fuel filtering system marked with filter change date

x) Spare filter

xi) No smoking signs

xii) Record for recording daily sump draining results

xiii) Spill containment material

b) Fuel and support truck personnel shall support the activities of the helicopter, including but not limited to:

i) Proper fueling of aircraft

ii) Recording required data, including flight hours, dispensed gallons, etc.

iii) Spill response and containment

iv) General knowledge of helicopter servicing and ability to complete minor repairs that may need to be made on site

B. IGNITION EQUIPMENT

1) For aerial ignition delivery systems:

a) The Commission shall provide a Delayed Aerial Ignition Dispenser (SEI Industries Red Dragon) (DAID), operator, and restraining harness. Aircraft shall have an available 24-volt DC quick-disconnect fitting, with negative ground system and integrated, resettable circuit breaker to power the DAID machine. If aircraft is other than Bell 206L, Contractor shall be responsible for providing all necessary mounts, support brackets, adaptors and straps (the Commission shall provide the list of required equipment).

b) The DAID must have a quick release system and procedure for emergency jettisoning of equipment. The DAID must have a web belt cutting tool mounted within easy reach of the operator, as well as a one-gallon container

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 14 of 71 of water (provided by the Commission). The pilot should inspect and approve installation of the DAID prior to flight operations.

The Contractor shall provide pilots with aerial ignition experience using the ignition system submitted within this ITB (Attachments E and G), including the use of a Delayed Aerial Ignition Dispenser. The Contractor shall furnish documentation of this experience, upon request, through flight logs and references from previous employers, whenever additional pilots are provided. Documents for additional pilots must be provided before any services are rendered.

C. MATERIALS AND APPLICATION

1) The Commission shall furnish DAID and ignition spheres. The Commission and/or Contractor both have the right to examine the ignition materials provided by each party.

2) Operations using the DAID system will be monitored and recorded by Commission burn staff. For projects conducted using the DAID system, the Contractor is only responsible for providing the following information: treatment area name, dates of service, crew member names, aircraft tail number, starting and ending HOBBS for each flight period (if several legs of the flight), and total billable flight time (to be coordinated with and approved by the Commission Project Manager).

3) The Contractor shall be familiar with and adhere to all applicable safety standards, including, but not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

4) The Contractor shall follow all Federal, State and local regulations governing the application, transportation, storage, use and disposal of products used in the performance of this Contract.

D. AIRCRAFT STANDARDS

See Exhibit 2.

E. HELICOPTER EQUIPMENT AND PILOT STANDARDS

See Exhibit 4.

F. OPERATIONS

The Contractor shall provide the following items at the site of operations:

1) Adequate personnel for the operation of the aircraft.

2) Firefighting equipment capable of extinguishing gasoline and oil fires.

3) First-aid supplies and materials for treating a fire-related accident. At least one person shall be on-site and qualified to administer First Aid according to 29 CFR 1910.151, OSHA General Industry Standards.

4) Supplies, tools and equipment for maintaining aircraft and equipment in continuous operation.

5) Support equipment shall be capable of carrying sufficient amount of Jet A fuel for 10 hours of continuous flight operations.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 15 of 71

6) Depending on site locations and size of planned prescribed burn the need for mobile fuel delivery may be required to reduce the amount of time for refueling. In these cases, a mobile fuel delivery truck/tank shall be requested from the Contractor when scheduling the flight.

7) Qualified personnel shall be available for fueling, loading, care, maintenance, and protection of equipment and materials. The supervisor shall be equipped and trained to take proper action in an emergency.

G. SCHEDULING AND AVAILABILITY

The Commission Site Manager will contact the Contractor as far in advance as possible to schedule aerial ignition services.

Aircraft and pilots shall be available to the Commission within 48 hours (2 days) notice. If the Commission does not give 48 hours’ notice, Contractor will make every effort to deliver requested services but will not be penalized if unavailable due to prior obligations or equipment service schedules. When planning operations, the Commission will provide the Contractor with as much notice as possible prior to planned operations; along with pick-up and drop off points close to the work site.

If weather conditions preclude safe aerial prescribed ignition, cancellation notification will be given by 7:00 AM on the day of the scheduled aerial ignition services.

Aircraft, pilots, and any refueling equipment should be scheduled/positioned to minimize the amount of “deadhead” time on a given day’s aerial ignition service, thus providing up to six (6) hours of service time, if needed. This may necessitate pilots lodging near work sites on occasion.

H. INVOICING

Payment will be subject to successful completion of tasks and Commission acceptance of deliverables. Invoices shall reference the Commission PO number, Contractor name and contact information.

The following information shall be provided to the Commission Project Manager within 72 business hours (3 business days) of project completion: aircraft tail number, hours flown as recorded by helicopter meter (HOBBS), date(s) of service, and name of area burned. In addition, copies of all Aerial Ignition Reports along with Ag-Nav data in .shp file format shall be provided. GPS data shall be provided in the requested geographic projection, but not limited to State Plane 83, NAD 27, and Albers (Exhibit 3).

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Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 16 of 71

EXHIBIT 1

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 17 of 71

EXHIBIT 2

AIRCRAFT STANDARDS

A. AIRCRAFT

All aircraft provided shall be turbine powered, 600 hp minimum and shall be equipped in accordance with 14 CFR Parts 133 and 135. A first aid kit shall be furnished by the Contractor and mounted in all aircraft cabin and shall be accessible to both pilot and passengers on all flights. Fire extinguishers as required by 14 CFR Part 135 shall be mounted in all aircraft and readily accessible by the pilot. All aircraft shall have a fully functioning electrical system to include, but not limited to, the following:

i. Approved lighting for night operation in accordance with 14 CFR Part 135 including instrument lights.

ii. Starter and generator/alternator system installed

One (1) flight meter (Hobbs Model N-1-69 or equivalent) shall be installed in each Contractor aircraft. The meter shall be wired in series with a switch on the collective control and a switch activated by engine or transmission oil pressure or equivalent system to record flight time only. Personal floatation devices or a life preserver TSO-C13 as required by 14 CFR Part 135.167(a)

(1) shall be aboard all aircraft operated over water and beyond power off gliding distance to shore. Helicopters shall have a double strap shoulder harness for each front seat occupant. The shoulder harness shall be mounted with an inertia reel and shall permit the crew member(s) when seated and with safety and shoulder harness fastened, to perform all functions required for assigned crew duties. Safety belts and shoulder harnesses shall fasten with metal-to metal, single-point quick release mechanism. All aircraft shall have sufficient flight endurance for at least two hours (preferably three hours) of continuous flight before refueling.

1. Aircraft Information

Contractor shall submit the following information for each and all aircraft to be utilized pursuant to contracts(s) resulting from this ITB. This information shall be submitted with the bidder’s bid and will be used to confirm that the bid conforms to the Aircraft Requirements listed above (See Attachment F). Failure to submit with bid will result in the bidder’s bid being marked non-responsive.

2. Aircraft Maintenance Requirements

All aircraft shall be maintained and operated under at least one certified Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) program (e.g., 14 C.F.R. Part 135 Air Carrier and Operator Certification would apply, see www.faa.gov). It shall be the Vendor’s duty to operate and maintain aircraft under the applicable 14 C.F.R. Parts as necessary to perform under this Contract in compliance with laws and regulations; and Vendor shall provide evidence of such compliance to FWC upon request. All safety equipment required pursuant to FAA regulations and manufacturer specifications shall be installed and operable on aircraft. All restricted category aircraft operating under Part 133 shall be maintained in accordance with Part 135 operations upon execution of this contract and throughout its duration. All maintenance, including inspection, rebuilding, alteration, and installation shall be performed only by persons authorized in accordance with CFR Part 43. All aircraft shall be maintained in a good state of repair and appearance. Aircraft showing deterioration or neglect such as unrepaired cracks, punctures, loose rivets, missing fasteners, deterioration of the interior, paint or windows are unacceptable for use. These concerns are in addition to airworthiness requirements.

The contractor shall assure that all maintenance performed on leased aircraft is recorded in the affected aircraft’s maintenance record in accordance with 14 CFR Part 135 (ref. 14 CFR 43.9, 43.11). all applicable FAA Airworthiness Directives (AD’s) shall be complied with prior to performance of work under this contract. A list of FAA AD’s and required MMSB’s on the make and model of aircraft offered shall be made available with submission of aircraft information. Signature of persons verifying accuracy of the list is required. All AD’s and required MMSB’s published during the contract term shall be complied with for each aircraft operated under this contract.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 18 of 71

No aircraft shall be operated on FWC business after it has been repaired or altered in a manner that may have appreciably changed its flight characteristics or substantially affected its operation in flight until it has been approved for return to service in accordance with FAR 43 and is flown and operationally checked by a pilot who is certificated in accordance with FAR 61. Such flights and their results shall be recorded in the aircraft maintenance record. Aircraft operated with components and accessories on approved Time before Overhaul programs are acceptable provided:

i. The contractor is the holder of the approved extension authorization (not the owner of the aircraft if the aircraft is leased).

ii. The contractor operates in accordance with the extension authorization.

All time change components, including engines, shall be replaced upon reaching the factory recommended time, or FAA approved extension if applicable. The Vendor shall provide FWC with maintenance records of specific aircraft(s) upon request.

FWC reserves the right to inspect aircraft(s) for compliance with the specifications set forth herein prior to award of bid, or otherwise. The FWC reserves the right to have its own pilots and/or aircraft mechanics inspect the Contractors aircraft, maintenance facilities and maintenance records.

3. Geographics Positioning System Requirements

Installed Geographic Positioning System (GPS) capable of sub meter accuracy shall be required in all aircraft used in fulfillment of this contract.

The undersigned attest to the following:

“I understand all requirements, conditions and the specifications contained within the “Aircraft Standards” and agree to abide in their entirety.”

Authorized Signature (Manual): ___________________________________________________

Authorized Signature Name (Typed) and Title: _____________________________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 07.01.2026 FWC 26/27-23, Page 19 of 71

EXHIBIT 3

Differentially Corrected Global Positioning System Specifications for

Application Aircraft

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission shall accept only those Differentially Corrected Global Positioning Systems (DGPS) which meet the following specifications.

1. Aircraft Guidance System, General Description of Requirements

a. The Guidance System must be a Differentially Corrected Global Positioning System (DGPS) with software designed for parallel offset in increments equal to the assigned ignition width of the application aircraft. The aircraft must have a course deviation indicator (CDI) or a course deviation light bar installed in a location that will allow the pilot to view the indicator with direct or peripheral vision without looking down. Two sources of differential correction may be provided by a portable differential station, FM radio fixed towers, satellite, or Coast Guard Station. Differential signal must cover the entire project area.

b. The guidance…