FWC24.25-18 - RFP - Final.pdf

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVENUE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

FWC 24/25-18

FLORIDA PANTHER & BOBCAT CAPTURE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES

RESPONDENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this RFP is to obtain competitive responses for locating and live capturing Florida panthers and bobcats, per the specifications contained herein. Only responsive and responsible Respondents will be considered for award of this RFP.

Responsive: To be responsive, a response must constitute a definite, firm, unqualified and unconditional offer to meet all the material terms of this RFP. 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 RFP and which, for reasons of policy, must be complied with at risk of response rejection for non-responsiveness.

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

Responsible Companies: The Commission shall only consider responsible companies. Responsible companies 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 Respondent. The Commission reserves the right to use any information, whether supplied through the Respondent’s submission or otherwise obtained, in determining responsibility.

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

Name of Business: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person Name: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Business Address: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

City: __________________________ State: ____________________________ Zip code: ____________________________________

Phone: __________________________ Fax: _____________________________ Email: ____________________________________

Federal Employer Identification Number: __________________

I certify that this RFP response is submitted without prior understanding, agreement, or connection with any corporation, firm, or person submitting a response for the same professional services and is in all respects fair and without collusion or fraud. I agree to abide by all conditions of this RFP and certify that I am authorized to si gn thi s acknowl edgement fo r the Respondent.

Authorized Signature (Manual): ___________________________________________________________________________________

Authorized Signature Name (Typed) and Title: ______________________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 2 of 51

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 24/25-18

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

RFP Advertised October 8, 2024 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal (VIP)

Deadline for Questions Must be received

PRIOR to:

October 17, 2024

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions October 22, 2024 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal (VIP)

SEALED RESPONSE DUE

(REMEMBER: RFP number should be clearly marked on envelope)

Must be received PRIOR to:

November 1, 2024

@ 2:00 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 Response Opening November 1, 2024

@ 2:00 PM ET

Public Opening Location:

1875 Orange Ave E Tallahassee, FL 32311-6160

-Teleconference- Conference call phone number: 1.888.585.9008 Conference room number: 218-721-199

Evaluation Period From

November 7, 2024 to

November 25, 2024

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Anticipated Date of Intended Award December 9, 2024 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal (VIP) https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/ https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 3 of 51

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 24/25-18

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 Respondent submitting a response shall be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and, where required, the Sunbiz system prior to the RFP 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 Respondent may not be considered for an award if not registered in the MFMP and Sunbiz system. The Respondent’s registration address and federal employer identification (FEID) number should match the Respondent’s address and FEID number listed on the Respondent Acknowledgment form (page 1).

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

Response from Respondent shall include all necessary equipment to complete the job. The Respondent is required to supply all specified documentation when submitting a response 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_purc hasing_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 Respondent or Contractor, including any appearing in documents attached as part of a Respondent’s response. In signing and submitting its response, a Respondent 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 response, shall be grounds for rejecting a response.

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.

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

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 4 of 51

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Ruth Heggen ruth.heggen@myfwc.com

TERM

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

If circumstances constituting Force Majeure have occurred, or if anything occurs beyond the Contractor’s control, the Contractor may request in writing an extension of Completion Date. 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 of 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, each Contractor shall supply a price for each year that a contract may be renewed. Evaluation of responses shall include consideration of the total cost of the contract, including the total cost for each renewal year, as submitted by the Contractor.

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.

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 Diversity 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. Respondents can visit the Office of Supplier Diversity website for information on certified business enterprises that may be considered for subcontracting opportunities.

VERBAL INSTRUCTION PROCEDURE

Respondents may not consider any verbal instructions as binding upon the Commission. No negotiations, discussions, or actions shall be initiated or executed by the Respondent 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 mailto:osdinfo@dms.myflorida.com 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

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 5 of 51

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

Any questions from Respondents 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 2). Questions may be sent via email with the solicitation number in the subject line. It is the responsibility of the Respondent 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.

LIMITATION ON RESPONDENT CONTACT DURING SOLICITATION PERIOD

Respondents 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 agency posting the notice of intended award, (note 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.

RESPONDENT SPECIFICATION INQUIRIES

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 Respondent questions during the solicitation period, an addendum shall be posted on the Vendor Information Portal website. Each Respondent is responsible for monitoring the Vendor Information Portal for new or changing information relative to this procurement. The Commission bears no responsibility for any delays, or resulting impacts, associated with a Respondent’s failure to obtain the information made available through the Vendor Information Portal.

SPECIFICATIONS FOR RESPONSE PRESENTATION

Each response shall be prepared simply and economically, providing a straightforward, concise delineation of Respondent’s capabilities to satisfy the requirements of this RFP. Elaborate binding, colored displays, and promotional materials are not required. However, examples of services provided may be included as attachments to the response. Emphasis in each response must be on completeness and clarity of content.

To expedite the evaluation of responses, it is essential that Respondents follow the format and instructions contained herein. All costs associated with preparing a response to this RFP is the sole responsibility of the Respondent.

MANDATORY RESPONSIVENESS REQUIREMENTS FOR RESPONSE SUBMISSION

Response submission should be organized as follows:

TAB A. Respondent Acknowledgment Form (Mandatory) For this response to be considered responsive, the Respondent Acknowledgement Form (page 1) must be completed in its entirety, signed by the Respondent and returned as part of the response. Otherwise, https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 6 of 51 the response will be deemed non-responsive. By affixing your signature to the Respondent Acknowledgement Form, the Respondent hereby states that the Respondent has read all response 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 Respondent will provide the Commission under these response specifications.

TAB B. References (Mandatory) — Attachment B The Respondent shall complete and submit the References form enclosed herein, to provide a minimum of three (3) references for similar projects completed. Current contact names, phone numbers and email addresses shall be given. This information shall be provided on the Reference Form, enclosed herein, and submitted with the response. The References form shall be completed in its entirety and returned as part of the RFP response or the response shall be deemed non-responsive.

TAB C. Experience (Mandatory) — Attachment C The Respondent shall complete and submit the Experience form, enclosed herein, which should include a chronological list of the Respondent’s experience. The Experience form shall be completed in its entirety, and returned, as part of the RFP response or the response shall be deemed non-responsive.

The Experience form should provide sufficient information to demonstrate the following:

1. Respondent’s experience in identifying puma sign and safely live-capturing puma and bobcats with dogs;

2. Respondent’s experience responsibly trailering and using 4-wheel drive, all-terrain and swamp buggy vehicles to effectively operate in wildland areas; and,

3. Respondent’s experience maintaining accurate records and filing paperwork in a timely manner, including but not limited to documenting areas searched and where animals were chased and/or treed.

TAB D. Hound Resources (Mandatory) The Respondent shall submit a list of the trained hounds proposed to be used for this project and provide information on how many years each hound has been used to track bobcats/panthers, as well as information on each hound’s vaccination records.

The information about the trained hounds must be returned as part of the RFP response or the response shall be deemed non-responsive. Changes in trained hound resources proposed after contract award must be approved in advance by FWC.

TAB E. Equipment (Mandatory) The Respondent shall submit a list of equipment available for this project including, but not limited to, vehicles (include year, make, model, and current odometer reading where applicable), transport for the hounds, any trailers, GPS tracking collars, and any other equipment necessary to perform this service.

TAB F. Cost Sheet (Mandatory) — Attachment D The Respondent shall provide a price for each item listed on the Cost Sheet. The Cost Sheet shall be completed in its entirety and returned as part of the RFP response or the response shall be deemed non-responsive.

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 7 of 51

TAB G. Addendum (if applicable)

CONFIDENTIALITY/PUBLIC RECORDS LAW

Respondents are cautioned that Florida law generously defines what constitutes a public record and grants broad rights of public access to those records (e.g., section 119.07, F.S.). If a Respondent considers any portion of the documents, data or records submitted in their Response to this solicitation to be confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to disclosure pursuant to Chapter 119, F.S., the Florida Constitution or other authority, the Respondent must mark the document as “Confidential.” The Respondent shall also provide the Commission with a separate PDF redacted copy of its Response and briefly describe in writing the grounds and specific legal citations for claiming exemption from public records law. This redacted copy shall contain the Commission’s solicitation name, number and the Respondent’s name on the cover and shall be clearly titled “Redacted Copy.” The Redacted Copy should only redact those portions of material that the Respondent claims is confidential, proprietary, trade secret or otherwise not subject to public disclosure pursuant to Chapter 119, F.S., the Florida Constitution or other authority. If after the notice of intended decision or thirty (30) days after response opening, whichever is earlier, the Commission receives a public record request related to the solicitation, the Commission will provide the Redacted Copy to the requestor. If the Respondent fails to properly indicate any material enclosed in their Response is confidential, the Commission is authorized to produce documents, data or records in their entirety as submitted to the Commission in answer to a public records request. The Commission will endeavor to provide notice to the Respondent of all public records requests received related to documents provided by the Respondent that were marked pursuant to this paragraph. In no event shall the Respondent 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

The Contractor shall submit one (1) original and one (1) electronic copy (on a flash drive) of their response in a SEALED ENVELOPE addressed to:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Attn: Purchasing 1875 Orange Avenue East Tallahassee, Florida 32301

The envelope shall be plainly marked on the outside with: SOLICITATION NUMBER, DATE AND TIME

OF THE RESPONSE 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.

SOLICIATION PUBLIC OPENING

The public opening of this RFP will be conducted at the date, time and method specified in the Calendar of Events (Page 2). RESPONSES RECEIVED AFTER THE SPECIFIED DATE AND TIME WILL BE

REJECTED.

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 8 of 51

Any person with a qualified disability shall not be denied equal access and effective communication regarding any response documents or the attendance at any related meeting or response 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.

SELECTION AND EVALUATION OF RESPONSES

An evaluation committee consisting of five (5) Commission representatives with collective knowledge and experience related to the solicitation’s program area will independently evaluate and score each Respondent’s response. The Evaluation Criteria Scoring Sheet (Attachment E) will be used by the evaluation committee to assign scores to all evaluated responses designated as responsive.

Scores will be averaged for all evaluation committee members and ranked by the highest to lowest average score.

GENERAL EVALUATION CRITERIA

General evaluation criteria include the following:

1. The Commission reserves the right to accept or reject any or all responses received and reserves the right to make an award without further discussion of the responses submitted. Therefore, responses should be initially submitted as outlined in the Mandatory Responsiveness Requirements for Response Submission and Economy of Presentation sections.

2. Non-responsive responses shall include, but are not limited to, those that:

a. are irregular or are not in conformance with the requirements and instructions contained herein;

b. fail to utilize or complete prescribed forms; or

c. have improper or undated signatures.

3. The Commission may waive minor irregularities in the responses received that are merely a matter of form and not substance, and the corrections of which are not prejudicial to other respondents.

A NON-RESPONSIVE RESPONSE WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.

EVALUATION SCORING FACTORS

Scoring criteria include:

The following is a summary of evaluation factors with point value assigned to each. These, along with the general requirements, will be used in the evaluation of Respondent responses.

EVALUATION FACTOR MAXIMUM POINTS AVAILABLE

Experience 50 Hound Resources 20 Equipment 10 Cost 20

TOTAL: 100

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 9 of 51

Points will be awarded on the basis of the following evaluation factors:

1. Experience (50 points) Experience evaluated based upon experience with projects as they relate to the needs of this solicitation.

2. Hound Resources (20 points) Points for hound resources will be awarded based upon an evaluation of the list of hounds, their experience and vaccinations as they relate to the needs of this solicitation.

3. Equipment (10 points) Points for equipment will be awarded based upon an evaluation of the list of equipment submitted as it relates to the needs of this solicitation.

4. Cost (20 points) The evaluation of each Respondent’s cost proposal will be conducted based on the cost formula below.

The Respondent submitting the lowest total on the Cost Sheet will receive the maximum points for the cost element of the evaluation. The other respondent's scores will be based on a relative percentage of the dollar amount higher than the lowest total on the Cost Sheet submitted by the lowest priced Respondent.

Formula for Cost Factor:

𝐴𝐴 ÷ 𝑁𝑁× (𝐵𝐵) = 𝐶𝐶

A = Lowest total proposed cost (including renewals) N = Proposed cost for Respondent under review B = Number of maximum points awarded for lowest response C = Score awarded to next lowest cost

NOTE: Each evaluator independently chooses the score based on their own judgment. Failure of the Respondent to provide any of the information required in their RFP response should result in a score of zero (0) for that element of the evaluation.

POSTING OF RESPONSE TABULATION

Response Tabulation, with recommended award, 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 on the Vendor Information Portal, 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), Florida Statutes, shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes.

Awarded Respondents 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 responses, proposals, or replies received by an agency pursuant to a competitive solicitation are exempt from Section 119.07(1) and Section 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 responses, proposals, or final replies, whichever is earlier.

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

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 10 of 51

CONTRACT

The successful Respondent’s response and the Purchase Order shall form the contract between the parties.

In the event there is any disagreement between the documents, the parties shall refer first to the Request for Proposal then to Contractor’s response. The Commission reserves the right to revise the Purchase Order as necessary to meet the requirements of this RFP.

SCOPE CHANGES AFTER CONTRACT EXECUTION

The Commission shall provide written notice to the successful Contractor thirty (30) days in advance of any Commission required changes to the technical specifications and/or scope of service that affect the successful Contractor’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 (e.g., renewal letters, vendor name change letter).

DELIVERABLES

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

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

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

NOTICE TO PROCEED

The awarded Respondent shall not initiate work under this contract until the required Insurance documentation has been received by the Commission. The Contractor may begin work once it has received an official written Notice to Proceed (sample provided as Attachment F) from the Contract Manager.

PERMITTING

Permitting for this project, if needed, is the responsibility of the Commission. 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.

AUTHORIZED COMPENSATION

It is understood and agreed that all compensation under this RFP is specifically limited to the Contractor’s response price accepted by the Commission, and to the specific procedure for payment established in this RFP 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

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 11 of 51 response 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 RFP, 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 RFP 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 response, be on file with the Department of State in accordance with provisions of Chapter 607, Florida Statutes; similarly, partnerships seeking to do business with the State shall, at the time of submitting such response, have complied with the applicable provisions of Chapter 620, Florida Statutes. 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, F.A.C., and Section 287.042(16) F.S., other State of Florida agencies may purchase from the resulting contract of this RFP, 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 RFP 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 Respondent is required to examine carefully the conditions and specifications of this RFP and to be thoroughly informed regarding any and all requirements of the conditions and specifications.

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

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

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SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 24/25-18

FLORIDA PANTHER & BOBCAT CAPTURE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES

PURPOSE

The Commission is responsible for the recovery, management and conservation of wildlife in Florida, including the Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi). The Commission locates, captures and handles panthers to assess health status, collect biological and genetic samples, provide medical inoculations and apply telemetry collars and other identifying markers to determine movements, breeding success, population monitoring, and habitat use. Locating, capturing, and handling panthers requires particular expertise and experience in animal safety issues because they are potentially dangerous animals and are federally-listed as Endangered.

The Commission’s panther research and management objectives rely on well-trained hounds to capture target panthers. In addition, bobcats (Lynx rufus) are increasingly used as a surrogate to study the impact of feline leukomyelopathy (FLM; a neurological disorder that affects both species) and their safe capture also relies on well-trained hounds.

1. CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

1.1 The Commission is seeking individuals with prior experience at identifying puma sign and safely live-capturing puma and bobcats for research.

1.2 The awarded vendor (Contractor) shall have a vehicle capable of pulling equipment up to

6,000 pounds and be knowledgeable in safe trailering practices. The vehicle shall be maintained to ensure reliable service to capture sites which are commonly unpaved and within remote natural areas. Additionally, the vehicle will be used to transport the Contractor’s hounds to/from capture/training sites and take assigned Commission equipment to the field and repair shops when necessary.

1.3 The Contractor shall have the ability to drive 4-wheel drive vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and swamp buggies owned by the Commission. The Commission provides and maintains these vehicles for use by capture services personnel. The work conducted under this Contract occurs in remote areas of Florida and experience in the use of these types of vehicles is essential.

1.3.1 The Contractor shall be required to sign a Memo of Authorization to Operate Fish and

Wildlife Conservation Commission Vehicles prior to being permitted to use equipment owned by the Commission.

1.4 The Contractor shall maintain accurate records and file paperwork with FWC. The

Contractors will report dates and areas hounds searched, and where panthers and bobcats were chased or treed and submit those to the FWC Project Manager or their designee before the end of each capture season and within 48 hours of completing an assignment during the off-season.

The Contractor will also complete other reports/forms as needed following assignments from the Commission.

1.5 The Contractor and all personnel shall have access to a working mobile phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, throughout the year.

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 13 of 51

2. SERVICES

2.1 The Contractor shall provide personnel, expertise and trained hounds to assist with the location, capture, handling, management, study and survey of Florida panthers and bobcats.

2.2 Personnel needed to accomplish the services outlined in this Scope of Work may include a single employee with all the appropriate skills or more than one employee with a combination of skills.

2.3 The Contractor shall provide assistance to the Commission, as directed, in handling human-panther interactions, evaluation of panther-related public safety issues, developing and implementing hazing techniques and investigation of livestock depredations.

3. HOUNDS

3.1 Hounds should be trained to trail only wild feline scent, preferably specific to panther (puma, cougar, or mountain lion) and bobcats. Hounds should be trained to avoid any physical contact with panthers or bobcats. The safety of panthers and bobcats is the highest priority during capture events. The Commission is responsible for the conservation and management of wildlife, including dealing with any public safety issues, and the Commission invests significant resources into panther captures. The Contractor needs to provide highly-trained hounds so that the Commission can address these responsibilities. Changes in trained hound resources proposed after contract award must be approved in advance by FWC.

3.2 All hounds will be vaccinated against rabies and up-to-date on other standard recommended vaccinations, such as DHLPP (D = distemper, H = infectious canine hepatitis, L = leptospirosis, P= parainfluenza, P = parvovirus). Veterinary records or records of vaccination purchases and subsequent inoculations shall be provided prior to commencement of work.

4. COVID AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

4.1 Due to the potential for disease transmission between humans and felines, the Contractor will correctly use Personal Protective Equipment, as required by the Capture Team Leader.

4.2 During the capture season, the Contractor will submit a COVID self-test weekly to ensure the safety of any captured wild animals.

4.3 If service is requested during the off-season, the Contractor will submit a negative COVID test prior to responding to any s itu a tio n involving the potential for handling live wild animals.

5. CAPTURE TEAM

5.1 The Commission’s panther capture team is comprised of agency personnel including a Capture Team Leader, a panther veterinarian and other capture support biologists, including one with tree climbing skills.

5.2 The capture services personnel who handles the trained hounds is a critical member of this capture team.

5.3 Panther capture work is a team effort with each member of the team having certain responsibilities. Mutual respect among team members is essential.

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5.4 The Commission’s panther capture team is authorized to pursue and capture panthers through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

5.5 All capture team members provide input as to whether or not a treed panther can be safely immobilized and lowered to the ground but the ultimate decision rests with the Capture Team Leader.

6. TIME FRAME AND SCHEDULE

6.1 Capture service needs will vary throughout a given year with a 2- to 4-month capture season during the cooler, dry winter and on an as-needed basis for the remainder of the year. Work will not be required most weekends and holidays. Additional time off can be negotiated with the Commission.

6.2 Intensive panther capture and survey work is conducted primarily during the winter, commencing on or after November 1 and ending on or about March 1.

6.2.1 Weather conditions during this time include little rain with temperatures ranging from lows in the 40s to highs in the 80s.

6.2.2 Work schedule will generally be 5 days (Monday through Friday) per week but with the possibility of weekend and holiday work as required. Additional workdays will be requested on an as-needed basis. Work duties may occur at any time of day; however, most workdays will seldom require more than 10 hours.

6.2.3 Capture activities typically commence around sunrise and continue into the afternoon.

6.2.4 Some overnight travel may be required; associated travel expenses will be paid for by the Commission in accordance with Florida Statutes. The Project Manager will approve such travel before any Contractor expense is incurred.

6.2.5 The Commission will request a weekly rate for capture services to include all operating expenses of the Contractor, such as vehicle maintenance costs, fuel, and COVID test supplies. Payment will be provided for weeks capture services are provided.

6.2.6 At the discretion of the Capture Team Leader, repeated or continuous cancellations by the Contractor may result in termination of the contract.

6.2.7 Repeated failure of the hounds to exhibit adequate training and fitness, as determined by the Capture Team Leader, during capture season may result in contract termination.

6.3 Off-Season Services – Capture/management/research services may be required from March through October on an emergency basis during the Off-Season.

6.3.1 Services may include dealing with human-panther interactions and conducting research and monitoring tasks.

6.3.2 The Contractor and/or their employees and hounds must be on call and able to respond to a service request within 36 hours.

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6.3.3 The Commission will request a separate daily rate for responding to a request for off-season services to include all operating expenses of the Contractor.

6.3.4 Failure of the Contractor to respond to a requested service during the off-season will result in a 50% penalty for the day. At the discretion of the Capture Team Leader, repeated or continuous cancellations by the Contractor may result in termination of the Contract.

7. INSURANCE

7.1 The Contractor shall secure and maintain, for the life of this Contract, insurance coverage satisfactory to the Commission for the Contractor’s use of Commission equipment.

7.7.1 Insurance coverage must have limits not less than $300,000 per incident for bodily injury and property damage liability.

7.7.2 The coverage must also include personal injury protection meeting the statutory minimum as well as collision coverage, comprehensive coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage of minimums determined by the Commission as adequate for the equipment use by the Contractor.

7.7.3 Prior to entering the Contract the Contractor must provide, to the Commission, evidence of insurance in effect, equal to or exceeding the limits presented in the Scope of Work.

8. LOCATION

8.1 Services are primarily required in Collier, Lee and Hendry Counties, but may extend to other areas where Florida panthers have been documented (Figure 1).

8.2 The Contractor will position their hounds and any applicable employees within an approximate 50-mile radius of the Commission’s Naples Field Office (298 Sabal Palm Road, Naples, Florida 3411) during the capture season.

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Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 16 of 51

Figure 1. Map of counties with verified Florida panther occurrences.

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ATTACHMENT A

FWC 24/25-18

FLORIDA FISH & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

PURCHASE ORDER TERMS & CONDITIONS

Last Updated: March 18, 2023

Section 1. PURCHASE ORDER.

A. Composition and Priority.

The Contractor agrees to provide commodities or contractual services to the Commission within the manner and at the location specified in the Purchase Order, and any attachments to the Purchase Order. These Purchase Order Terms and Conditions, whether generic or specific, shall take precedence over any inconsistent or conflicting provision in the State of Florida, General Contract Conditions, PUR 1000. Additionally, the terms of the Purchase Order supersede the terms of any and all prior agreements with respect to this purchase.

B. Initial Term.

Unless otherwise specified, the Purchase Order begins on the date of issuance. Contractual services or commodities to be provided by the Contractor shall be completed by the date specified on the Purchase Order end date.

Section 2. PERFORMANCE.

A. Performance Standards.

The Contractor agrees to perform all tasks and provide deliverables as set forth in the Statement of Work and attachments to the Purchase Order. The Commission shall be entitled at all times, upon request, to be advised as to the status of work being done by the Contractor and of the details thereof.

Coordination shall be maintained by the Contractor with representatives of the Commission, or of other agencies involved in the project on behalf of the Commission.

B. Performance Deficiency.

If the Commission determines that the performance of the Contractor is unsatisfactory, the Commission may notify the Contractor of the deficiency to be corrected, which correction shall be made within a time frame specified by the Commission. The Contractor shall provide the Commission with a corrective action plan describing how the Contractor will address all issues of Purchase Order non‐performance, unacceptable performance, and failure to meet the minimum performance levels, deliverable deficiencies, or Purchase Order non‐compliance. If the corrective action plan is unacceptable to the Commission, the Contractor will be assessed a non‐performance retainage equivalent to ten (10) percent of the total invoice amount or as specified in the contractual documents.

The retainage will be applied to the invoice for the then‐current billing period. The retainage will be withheld until the Contractor resolves the deficiency. If the deficiency is subsequently resolved, the Contractor may invoice the Commission for the retained amount during the next billing period. If the Contractor is unable to resolve the deficiency, the funds retained will be forfeited.

C. Contractor Responsibilities.

The Contractor agrees that all Contractor employees, subcontractors, or agents performing work under the Purchase Order shall be properly trained technicians who meet or exceed any specified training qualifications. Upon request, the Contractor shall furnish a copy of technical certification or other proof of qualification. All employees, subcontractors, or agents performing work under the

Request for Proposal – Revised 3.23.2023 FWC 24/25-18, Page 18 of 51

Purchase Order must comply with all security and administrative requirements of the Commission.

The Commission may conduct, and the Contractor shall cooperate in, a security background check or otherwise assess any employee, subcontractor, or agent furnished by the Contractor. The Commission may refuse access to, or require replacement of, any personnel for cause, including, but not limited to, technical or training qualifications, quality of work, change in security status, or non-compliance with the Commission’s security or other requirements. Such refusal shall not relieve the Contractor of its obligation to perform all work in compliance with the Purchase Order. The Commission may reject and bar from any facility for cause any of the Contractor’s employees, subcontractors, or agents.

D. Assignment.

The Contractor shall not sell, assign or transfer any of its rights, duties or obligations under the Purchase Order without the prior written consent of the Commission. In the event of any assignment, the Contractor remains secondarily liable for performance of the Purchase Order, unless the Commission expressly waives such secondary liability. The Commission may assign the Purchase Order with prior written notice to the Contractor.

E. Damages to State Property.

Any damages to state property (e.g., structures, roads, culverts, fences, trees, or other natural resources) caused by the Contractor while working on this project shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to remedy, as determined by the Commission. The Contractor shall be responsible for the conduct of all Contractor personnel at all times while on the job site.

Should any historical or cultural artifacts be uncovered, the Contractor shall immediately halt work and notify the Commission’s Contract Manager. Please note: The State Archaeologist has the power to halt work if he or she has reason to believe artifacts are being disturbed.

F. Subcontractor Minority Status Report.

Contractor shall provide a Subcontractor Minority Status Report to the Commission’s Contract Manager, summarizing the participation of certified and non-certified woman-, veteran- and/or minority-owned business enterprise subcontractors/material suppliers for this Contract. The report shall be completed in its entirety and submitted with each invoice. The Contractor shall indicate “N/A” if the project does not utilize subcontractors. The Office of Supplier Diversity can assist in furnishing names of qualified woman-, veteran- and/or minority-owned business enterprises. Contact the Commission’s Minority Coordinator at (850) 488-6551 with any questions.

G. Independent Contractor.

The Contractor shall perform as an independent contractor and not as an agent, representative, or employee of the Commission. The Contractor covenants that it presently has no interest and shall not acquire any interest that would conflict in any manner or degree with the performance of services required. Each party hereto covenants that there is no conflict of interest or any other prohibited relationship between the Contractor and the Commission. The Contractor agrees to include this provision in all its subcontracts under the Purchase Order.

H. Commission Rights to Undertake or Award Supplemental Contracts.

The Contractor agrees that the Commission may undertake or award supplemental contracts for work related to the Purchase Order. The Contractor and its subcontractors shall cooperate with such other contractors and the Commission in all such cases.

https://www.dms.myflorida.com/agency_administration/office_of_supplier_diversity_osd

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Section 3. PAYMENT AND FEES.

A. Payment.

The Contractor will be paid upon submission of properly certified invoice(s) to the Commission after delivery and acceptance of commodities or contractual services is confirmed in writing by the Commission.

B. Invoicing.

Invoices may be submitted electronically to the Commission’s designated Contract Manager, as identified in this Purchase Order. The Contractor acknowledges that the Commission’s Contract Manager shall reject invoices lacking documentation necessary to justify invoiced expenses.

C. Invoices, Continued.

All invoices shall be…