Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 1 of 62

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

1875 ORANGE AVE E

TALLAHASSEE, FL 32311-6160

(850) 488-6551

Fisheating Creek WMA Creek Clearing Services

FWC 25/26-43

INVITATION TO BID

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 2 of 62

ITB BIDDER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

Purpose: The intent of this bid is to obtain competitive pricing for vegetation clearing services for the Fisheating Creek channel within Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area (FEC WMA) in Glades County, Florida, 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 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 3 of 62

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

FWC 25/26-43

SCHEDULE DUE DATE METHOD

Bid Advertised December 5, 2025 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

(VIP)

MANDATORY Pre-Bid Conference

December 16, 2025 @ 10:00 AM ET See Pre-Bid Conference Clause

Deadline for Questions

Must be received PRIOR to:

December 23, 2025

@ 5:00 PM ET

See Solicitation Questions Clause

Anticipated date for Responses to Written Questions December 30, 2025 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal

SEALED BIDS DUE

(REMEMBER: The bid number should be clearly marked on envelope)

Must be received PRIOR to:

January 9, 2026

@ 4:00 PM ET

Mailing Address:

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Attn: Purchasing 1875 Orange Ave E Tallahassee, Florida 32311-6160 Submissions are due BEFORE the date and time of the public opening.

Public Bid Opening January 9, 2026

@ 4:00 PM ET

Public Opening Options for Attendance:

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

-Teleconference- Conference call phone number:

1.888.585.9008 Conference room number: 218-721-199

Anticipated Date of Intended Award January 14, 2026 Posted on the Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 4 of 62

GENERAL CONDITIONS

FWC 25/26-43

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_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 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.

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 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 5 of 62

PROCUREMENT MANAGER

Elbert Orellana elbert.orellana@myfwc.com

TERM

The contract will be effective four 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.

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 Development at (850) 487-0915 or osdinfo@dms.myflorida.com.

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

MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE/SITE VISIT MEETING

A mandatory pre-bid conference/Site Visit Meeting will be held at 1937 Banana Grove Rd., Moore Haven, FL 33471 (26.950257, -81.136343) on the date and time specified in the Calendar of Events (Page 3). The purpose of the pre-bid conference/Site Visit Meeting is to discuss the contents of this ITB and to accept verbal questions from Bidders concerning the project. Vendors must attend this pre-bid conference meeting as a requirement of bid responsiveness. Failure to attend the entire conference meeting, from the time it is called to order to the time it is adjourned, shall disqualify a potential respondent. The Commission will make a reasonable effort to answer verbal questions asked at the pre-bid conference/Site Visit, however, Bidders should clearly understand that verbal discussions held at the pre-bid conference/Site Visit shall not be binding on the Commission, and the Commission will only issue an official written response to verbal questions subsequently submitted in writing in accordance with the Deadline for Questions clause below.

1937 Banana Grove Rd Moore Haven, FL 33471 (26.950257, -81.136343) 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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 6 of 62

VERBAL INSTRUCTION PROCEDURE

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

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

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

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

LIMITATION ON BIDDER CONTACT DURING SOLICITATION PERIOD

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

BIDDER SPECIFICATION CHALLENGE

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

ADDENDUMS

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

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.

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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 more detail.

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 8 of 62

1875 Orange Ave E Tallahassee, Florida 32311-6160.

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

OPENING.

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

MARKED.

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

AND SHALL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

SOLICITATION PUBLIC OPENING

The public opening of this bid will be conducted at the date, time and method specified on the Calendar of Events (Page 3). BIDS RECEIVED AFTER THE SPECIFIED DATE AND TIME WILL BE REJECTED.

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

AWARDED BID/INSPECTION

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

If deemed necessary, an interview with the bidder by the Contract Manager may be required before the bid is awarded.

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

POSTING OF BID TABS

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

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.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 9 of 62

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

SCOPE CHANGES AFTER CONTRACT EXECUTION

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

FWC CONTRACT MANAGER

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

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

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

• review, verify, and approve invoices from the Contractor; and, if applicable, complete the

Certificate of Contract Completion form; and

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

DELIVERABLES

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

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

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

LIQUIDATED DAMAGES

If the Contractor fails to complete the work or the conditions of the Purchase Order and/or Change Orders by the completion date, the Commission shall have the right to deduct liquidated damages from any amount due and payable to the Contractor. Liquidated damages shall be assessed in the amount of $150 per calendar day of delay. Exceptions to this provision may be made if a delay is attributable to circumstances that are clearly beyond the control of the Contractor. The burden of proof of unavoidable delay shall rest with the Contractor and shall be supplied in a written form and submitted to the Contract Manager.

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.

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 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 10 of 62

AUTHORIZED COMPENSATION

It is understood and agreed that all compensation under this ITB is specifically limited to the Contractor’s bid price accepted by the Commission, and to the specific procedure for payment established in this ITB and the Purchase Order executed pursuant to it. The Commission is not liable for any costs, fees, expenses or any other compensation whatsoever incurred or charged by the Contractor, other than the bid price paid for the work specifically described in the Scope of Work, which work is actually accomplished and invoiced by the Contractor subsequent to the Commission’s notice to proceed (or other notice to begin work). Thus, the Commission is not liable for any costs incurred or charged by the Contractor in anticipation of responding to, or performing work described in, this ITB including, but not limited to, equipment or personnel procured by the Contractor in anticipation of such work. The Commission is not responsible to the Contractor for any loss or damages resulting from circumstances unforeseen at the time of publication of this ITB including, but not limited to, those resulting from a “force majeure”.

ADDITIONAL LEGAL REQUIREMENT

All corporations seeking to do business with the State shall, at the time of submitting a bid, be on file with the Department of State in accordance with provisions of Chapter 607, F.S.; similarly, partnerships seeking to do business with the State shall, at the time of submitting such bid, have complied with the applicable provisions of Chapter 620, F.S. For further information on required filing and forms, please go to the following sites: http://sunbiz.org or http://dos.myflorida.com.

USE OF CONTRACT BY OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND ELIGIBLE USERS

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

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

CONDITIONS AND SPECIFICATIONS

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

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

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 11 of 62

SCOPE OF WORK

FWC 25/26-43

FISHEATING CREEK WMA CREEK CLEARING SERVICES

1. PURPOSE

1.1. The purpose of this solicitation is to procure vegetation clearing services for the navigation of the Fisheating Creek channel within Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area (FEC WMA) in Glades County, Florida per the specifications herein. The channel is used for navigation by the public and staff.

1.2. The awarded Bidder (Contractor) shall provide vegetation clearing services by hand crew and/or small equipment in designated areas along the approximately 40-mile-long creek channel on FEC WMA managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). This includes all vegetation impeding navigation to the channel such as aquatic weeds, overhanging live tree limbs and fallen trees, logs, and limbs.

1.3. The initial clearing includes treatment areas identified in Figure 1. These areas have an immediate need for vegetation clearing to restore navigability of the channel.

1.4. Maintenance clearing will occur in areas identified by the FWC Project Manager as needed to clear new blockages due to fallen vegetation, overgrowth, or other vegetation-related issues impeding navigation in the channel within FEC WMA. Maintenance clearing will only occur as needed and there is no guaranteed minimum amount of work for this bid item.

1.5. Fisheating Creek is a natural creek that ebbs and flows. The average channel width is 10 feet;

however, the width varies based on the natural community and current field conditions.

1.6. The two general creek clearing natural communities are (Figure 2):

1.6.1. Cypress Area: From the Glades County Line to the western edge of Cowbone Marsh, mostly comprised of cypress and oaks, and to a width of 10 feet or bank to bank (Blue line in Figure 2);

except where more or less width is specified by the FWC Project Manager.

1.6.2. Floodplain Marsh Area: From the western edge of Cowbone Marsh to the intersection of Fisheating Creek and Highway 78 in Lakeport, mostly comprised of floodplain marsh and scattered oak hammock, and to a width of 25 feet (Pink line in Figure 2); except where less width is specified by the FWC Project Manager.

1.7. Bidders shall provide a price per hour for an entire crew with a minimum of 5 staff, 4 crew members and 1 crew leader, for on-site creek clearing services as described in this Scope of Work.

1.8. Work for the initial treatment areasis anticipated to begin January 2026 with a completion date of May 31st, 2026.

1.9. The FWC reserves the right to increase or decrease the size of the project as needed based on bids received, annual budget, etc. The Contractor shall begin work within 30 days of purchase order issuance unless otherwise determined by the FWC Project Manager.

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2. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

2.1. The FWC Project Manager will coordinate with the Contractor to schedule creek channel maintenance activities in FEC WMA. All work must be performed outside of established quota hunts unless otherwise approved by the FWC Project Manager. It is the responsibility of the Contractor to remain informed on the quota hunt dates. Hunting dates for FEC WMA can be found at https://myfwc.com/hunting/wma-brochures or by requesting the dates from the FWC Project Manager.

2.2. The Contractor shall provide all vehicles, equipment, and/or vessels necessary for travel to and on the WMA. The Contractor shall provide all tools and equipment necessary to complete work. It shall be the responsibility of the Contractor to assess the need for and supply the necessary equipment to transport material in wet conditions.

2.3. Equipment staging areas are identified in Figure 3. The Contractor may use these sites at their own risk. The Contractor is responsible for the safety and security of equipment left on-site.

2.4. All equipment must be clean and free of vegetation/soil to prevent contamination by non-native species.

2.5. ATVs, UTVs, and jon boats must have at least one 2.5lb fire extinguisher. All other equipment used on FEC WMA must carry at least one 10lb or two 5lb fire extinguishers on board.

2.6. Disturbance of vegetation outside of the vegetation removal in the channel shall be avoided. If excessive ground disturbance seems necessary to complete the job, the Contractor shall confer with the Project Manager before proceeding.

2.7. The FWC Project Manager will inspect the Contractor’s completed work to ensure all specifications were followed prior to approving invoices for payment.

2.8. The Contractor shall ensure a crew of at least 5 staff (1 crew lead and 4 crew members) are working on-site throughout the project. The Contractor shall invoice the FWC for the number of hours on-site for the entire crew. Time shall be rounded to the nearest quarter hour and shall exclude travel time to and from the work site. If deemed necessary and beneficial, the Contractor can have multiple crews working on the area at one time, but each crew must meet the minimum size outlined above and have their own crew lead.

2.9. The Contractor shall complete daily logs of creek clearing efforts for each day work is conducted.

These logs must include the date, start and end time of work, initials of staff on-site including crew lead, and a description of the work completed that day. Daily logs shall be emailed to the FWC Project Manager at least every two weeks or as requested by the FWC Project Manager. Example Daily Log attached as Attachment A

2.10. Inaccurate or falsified information recorded in the daily logs may be grounds for termination of the contract/purchase order and ITB award.

2.11. The Contractor is required to demonstrate equipment and operator proficiency in meeting all scope of work specifications.

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2.12. Contractor shall be responsible for reading maps and accurately navigating to GPS coordinates provided by FWC for each location to be treated.

2.13. Once a treatment is initiated, it must continue in a systematic and contiguous manner until it is completed. The Contractor shall communicate any potential issues with the FWC Project Manager promptly. If unavoidable delays are necessary, as determined by the FWC Project Manager, work shall re-commence as soon as possible following the delay.

3. ITEM 1. INITIAL TREATMENT CREEK CHANNEL CLEARING SPECIFICATIONS

3.1. The Contractor shall clear bank to bank within the creek channel (yellow line in Figure 1), or to a width of 10 ft across if the channel exceeds a width of 10 ft, in areas with cypress trees from the Glades County Line to the western edge of Cowbone Marsh, except where more or less width is specified by the FWC Project Manager.

3.2. In areas outside of the cypress, the channel within Cowbone Marsh and flowing east to Highway 78, must be cleared to a width of at least 25 feet, except where less width is specified by the FWC Project Manager.

3.3. Contractor must be capable of completing a minimum of 1 mile of creek channel clearing per week.

The Contractor must provide written documentation to the FWC Project Manager if circumstances outside of the Contractor’s control are encountered that prevent the contractor from meeting this minimum expectation. The FWC Project manager has the right to approve or deny exceptions.

3.4. Contractor will complete work systematically. FWC staff will inspect work to determine navigability or completion of each area. Inspections will be scheduled, as needed, between the FWC Project Manager and the Contractor to determine if the work has been completed as specified herein.

3.5. Hanging live limbs extending into the channel and blocking boater access (5 feet or less above average high-water line) within the treatment area shall be trimmed out of the path.

3.6. All dead trees and dead limbs must be removed from the channel, including those that hang directly above the channel (even above 5 feet) creating a hazard to boater safety.

3.7. All standing live trees and cypress knees should be left in place.

3.8. Prior to the Contractor beginning work, the FWC Project Manager will identify any trees or other vegetation that should not be cleared.

3.9. Cypress knees standing and alive should be left in place. If they hinder navigation and need to be removed strictly for navigating the channel, the Contractor shall consult with the FWC Project Manager before removing them.

3.10. Cut vegetation can be left on site but it must be removed from the channel and scattered at least 15 feet away from the channel (piling of removed vegetation is prohibited).

3.11. Logs and limbs shall be cut into pieces no larger than 16 inches in length or removed from the channel and placed in such a way that they will not be carried back into the channel by the creek current or cause future blockage issues.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 14 of 62

3.12. Pulling trees/logs to the side of the channel and tying them up is prohibited. They must be removed far enough from the channel so that they will not float back into the channel.

3.13. The channel must be left aesthetically pleasing. The Contractor shall ensure all fallen logs result in a clean, straight cut that do not present a hazard to the public. Any incomplete or uneven cuts shall be re-cut to the greatest extent possible to achieve a clean appearance. Limbs cut off trees must be cut back to where they branch from the stem.

3.14. Any trees, logs, or limbs that are submerged under water, within the channel, that present a potential hazard for hitting a boat or boat propeller on must be removed.

4. ITEM 2. MAINTENANCE TREATMENT CREEK CHANNEL CLEARING SPECIFICATIONS

4.1. When FWC determines creek clearing maintenance treatment is needed, they will notify the Contractor in writing. The Contractor will have 30 days to mobilize a crew (minimum four crew members and one crew lead) on site and begin clearing the channel to have it reopened to the public.

This timeline may be extended at the discretion of the FWC Project Manager.

4.2. In the Cypress Areas, the Contractor shall clear bank to bank within the creek channel (yellow line in Figure 2) or to a width of 10 ft across if the channel exceeds a width of 10 ft in areas with cypress trees- from the Glades County Line to the western edge of Cowbone Marsh, except where more or less width is specified by the FWC Project Manager.

4.3. In the Floodplain Marsh Areas, the channel within Cowbone Marsh and flowing east to Highway 78, must be cleared to a width of at least 25 ft, except where less width is specified by the FWC Project Manager.

4.4. Contractor must be capable of completing a minimum of 1 mile of creek channel clearing per week.

The Contractor must provide written documentation to the FWC Project Manager if circumstances outside of the Contractor’s control are encountered that prevent the contractor from meeting this minimum expectation. The FWC Project Manager has the right to approve or deny exceptions.

4.5. Contractor will complete work systematically. FWC staff will inspect work to determine navigability or completion of each area. Inspections will be scheduled, as needed, between the FWC Project Manager and the Contractor to determine if work has been completed as specified herein.

4.6. Hanging live limbs extending into the channel and blocking boater access (5 feet or less above average high-water line) within the treatment area shall be trimmed out of the path. All dead trees and dead limbs must be removed from the channel, including those that hang directly above the channel (even above 5 feet) creating a hazard to boater safety. All standing live trees and cypress knees should be left in place.

4.7. Prior to beginning work, the FWC Project Manager will identify any trees or other vegetation that should not be cleared.

4.8. Cypress knees standing and alive should be left in place. If they hinder navigation and need to be removed strictly for navigating the channel, consult with the FWC Project Manager before removing them.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 15 of 62

4.9. Cut vegetation can be left on site but it must be removed from the channel and scattered at least 15 feet away from the channel (piling of removed vegetation is prohibited).

4.10. Logs and limbs shall be cut into pieces no larger than 16 inches in length or removed from the channel and placed in such a way that they will not be carried back into the channel by the creek current or cause future blockage issues.

4.11. Pulling trees/logs to the side of the channel and tying them up is prohibited. They must be removed far enough from the channel so that they will not float back into the channel.

4.12. The channel must be left aesthetically pleasing. The Contractor shall ensure all fallen logs result in a clean, straight cut that do not present a hazard to the public. Any incomplete or uneven cuts shall be re-cut to the greatest extent possible to achieve a clean appearance. Limbs cut off trees must be cut back to where they branch from the stem.

4.13. Any trees, logs, or limbs that are submerged under water, within the channel, that present a potential hazard for hitting a boat or boat propeller on must be removed.

4.14. With varying water levels on the creek, it is possible the channel will be at peak level and the only way to access the area will be by boat. The Contractor is responsible for having suitable equipment to access the channel clearing area whether during the dry or wet season.

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 16 of 62

5. FIGURES

5.1. Figure 1. Initial Treatment Areas

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 17 of 62

5.2. Figure 2. General Communities along Fisheating Creek WMA Channel

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 18 of 62

5.3. Figure 3. Equipment Staging Areas at entrances to the WMA. Shown left to right are Ingram’s Crossing, Burnt Bridge, the Palmdale Campground, Gaskins Gate, and the Main Office on Banana Grove Rd.

REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 19 of 62

PRICE SHEET

FWC 25/26-43

CONTRACTOR SHALL NOT ALTER THE PRICE SHEET IN ANY WAY.

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

ALL ITEMS SHALL BE BID OR THE BID WILL BE REJECTED. THE BID WILL BE AWARDED TO

THE RESPONSIVE, RESPONSIBLE BIDDER THAT SUBMITS THE LOWEST TOTAL PRICE.

SERVICE UNIT PRICE

ITEM 1 INITIAL TREATMENT

(MINIMUM 5-PERSON CREW)

$ ___________/HOUR

ITEM 2 MAINTENANCE TREATMENT

(MINIMUM 5-PERSON CREW)

$ ___________/HOUR

TOTAL BID PRICE

(ITEM 1 PRICE + ITEM 2 PRICE)

BY SIGNING BELOW, I ATTEST THAT I HAVE READ THE ENTIRE BID AND AGREE TO FURNISH

AT THE PRICE QUOTED ABOVE. I HEREBY AFFIRM I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY AGREEMENT OR

COLLUSION AMONG BIDDERS IN RESTRAINT OF FREEDOM OF COMPETITION.

Contractor: _______________________________

Address: _________________________________

Signed: ___________________________________

Print Name: ______________________________

Title: ____________________________________

City/State/Zip: ____________________________

Phone: ___________________________________

Fax: _____________________________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 20 of 62

REFERENCES

A minimum of three (3) separate and verifiable references, from persons or firms for whom the bidder has performed similar jobs as per the bid specifications shall be supplied with the bid. The same client may not be listed for more than one (1) reference, and no more than one (1) of the submitted references shall be related to a past project where staff necessary for the current project were unaffiliated with the bidder and/or employed by a different company. If providing an unaffiliated reference, enter the information in Reference 4 - Collective Experience. The firms and/or contact persons should be available between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. FWC staff will attempt to contact each selected reference by phone up to three (3) times. If any reference is not available as stated above, this may be cause for rejection of the Bidder’s bid. Provide a description (scope of work) of each job.

REFERENCE #1

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

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

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 21 of 62

REFERENCE #2

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

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

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 22 of 62

REFERENCE #3

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

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

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 23 of 62

REFERENCE #4 – COLLECTIVE EXPERIENCE

Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Contact Person: ____________________________________ Telephone Number: _________________________

Collective Experience Employee

First Name: __________________________________ Last Name: ___________________________________

Previous Employer’s Name: _______________________________________________________________________

Previous Position Title: ___________________________________________________________________________

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

Project Location: _________________________________________________________________________________

Brief description of the services performed for the project:

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 24 of 62

SAMPLE REFERENCE QUESTIONNAIRE

REFERENCE:

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

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

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

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

Excellent Above Satisfactory Satisfactory Fair Poor

Comments:

2. Did the vendor maintain clear communication?

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

4. How satisfied was your organization with the timeliness of the vendor’s delivery of products or performance of services under the contract?

FWC Staff Signature: __________________________________

Date: ___________________

Ch. 287 Invitation to Bid – Revised 3.12.2025 FWC 25/26-43, Page 25 of 62

ATTACHMENT A

FWC 25/26-43

FLORIDA FISH & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

PURCHASE ORDER TERMS & CONDITIONS

Last Updated: April 29, 2025

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…