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Walton County

INVITATION TO BID

26-14

PEST CONTROL, WEED CONTROL, AND FERTILIZING SERVICES

RELEASE DATE: March 23, 2026

RESPONSE DEADLINE: April 27, 2026, 3:00 pm

Please refer to the project timeline in this document for all important deadlines.

Invitation To Bid #26-14 Title: Pest Control, Weed Control, and Fertilizing Services

Table of Contents

1. Invitation to Bid

2. Instruction to Bidders

3. Scope of Services

4. Bid Schedule

5. Vendor Submissions

6. Attachments

Attachments:

A - Contract No. 26-14

1. Invitation to Bid

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,

WALTON COUNTY, FLORIDA

Pest Control, Weed Control, and Fertilizing Services

26-14

Sealed bids for the Pest Control, Weed Control, and Fertilizing Services Project will be received by the Walton

County Board of County Commissioners, hereinafter referred to as "County" until 3:00 pm LOCAL TIME on

Monday, April 27, 2026, for furnishing labor and materials and performing all work set forth in the Bidding

Documents prepared by Walton County. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING the scheduled closing time for the reception of bids, all bids which have been submitted in accordance with the conditions of the Bidding

Documents issued in relation to this Project will be publicly opened and read aloud.

Bidder is responsible for the submission of its bid.

Bids received after the specified day and time will not be opened.

The proposed project, hereinafter referred to as the “Project” consists of the performance of fertilizing services, as well as weed and pest control maintenance services at specified athletic fields, parks and other properties located throughout Walton County, FL.

Contract Term: Three (3) years with the option to renew for an additional period of three (3) years at the sole discretion of the County.

Services shall be performed on a monthly basis in accordance with the approved service schedule as required by Section 3.1 of this ITB.

AWARD OF THE CONTRACT FOR THIS PROJECT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO LOCAL VENDOR PREFERENCE IN

ACCORDANCE WITH WALTON COUNTY PURCHASING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES (PP017).

Application for Local Preference is available in the Vendor Submissions section of this Invitation to Bid.

Advertisement Date: March 23, 2026

Question Submission Deadline: April 13, 2026, 12:00pm https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/236730/document?section=2252601

Bid Closing Deadline: April 27, 2026, 3:00pm

In-Person Bid Opening:

Office of Central Purchasing 176 Montgomery Circle DeFuniak Springs, Florida 32435

OR

Bidders may also attend the pre-bid meeting via teleconference by dialing 850- 635-0655 ext. 261217

All responses must be submitted electronically via the County e-Procurement Portal:

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/236730.

Through the e-Procurement Portal, responses will be securely locked and digitally encrypted until the submission deadline passes.

Should you encounter any technical difficulties or require assistance with the e-Procurement Portal, please reach out to our technical support team via the blue chat bubble on the bottom right or via email at procurement-support@opengov.com

If the Bidder intends to utilize subcontractors for any portion of the services, all subcontractors shall be declared on the prescribed Subcontractors and Suppliers Declaration form.

Each Bidder’s submittal shall include all the items listed in the Vendor Submissions section.

All required insurance policies and certificates of insurance shall be issued by an insurance company authorized to do business in the State of Florida and possessing a current A.M. Best Financial Strength Rating of A-, Class VII or better.

Certificates of Insurance shall be executed by a licensed insurance agent or authorized representative of the insurer and shall demonstrate compliance with the insurance requirements set forth in the Contract

Documents.

The Successful Bidder shall maintain all required insurance coverage for the duration of the Agreement and shall provide updated certificates upon renewal or upon request by Walton County. Failure to maintain the required insurance coverage may result in suspension of services or termination of the Agreement in accordance with the Contract.

The bid may be withdrawn without penalty prior to the date and time of bid opening. Bids shall remain open and subject to acceptance for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days after the date of bid opening. No Bidder may withdraw its bid for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days after the date of bid opening.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/236730 mailto:procurement-support@opengov.com

In order to perform work on public contracts, the successful Bidder shall have all licenses and permits required by federal, state, and local statutes, regulations, and ordinances including applicable licensing under Chapter

482, Florida Statutes, for lawn and ornamental pest control.

The Contractor shall maintain all required pesticide applicator licenses and shall ensure all chemicals are handled, applied, and disposed of in accordance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations.

The County will award the bid to the lowest, most Responsible and Responsive Bidder that is most qualified to perform the job according to the specifications and qualifications listed in the Invitation to Bid. Bidders shall provide documentation demonstrating their ability to perform the required services, including references and examples of past or current contracts of a similar nature., along with references. Failure to provide said documentation will result in a bid being found non-responsive.

Before a contract will be awarded for the Project contemplated herein, the County will conduct such investigations as is necessary to determine the performance record and ability of the apparent low Bidder to perform the size and type of services specified under the Contract. The County reserves the right to reject bids from Bidders whose past work performance with the County and other governmental agencies, including timeliness of completion of projects and history of payment to subcontractors or materialmen are deemed by the County to be unsatisfactory. The Bidder shall submit with its bid detailed written evidence of experience and current commitments necessary to allow the County to evaluate the bidder's qualifications. Failure to do so will result in bid being found non-responsive.

In the event the apparent low bid submitted by a Responsible and Responsive Bidder exceeds the County's budget for the Project, In the event the apparent low bid submitted by a Responsible and Responsive Bidder exceeds the County’s available budget, the County reserves the right to negotiate adjustments to the scope of services or pricing with the lowest responsive and responsible Bidder. In light of the modified scope of work, the County shall review the three lowest bids submitted by Responsible and Responsive Bidders in order to select one Bidder to whom to award the Contract.

The County reserves the right to reject any or all bid(s), and may postpone the award of the Contract for a period of time which shall not extend beyond forty-five (45) calendar days from the bid opening date.

A person or an affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for public entity crime may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in Section 287.017, Florida

Statutes, for CATEGORY TWO for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendors list.

Walton County, as a political subdivision of the State of Florida, shall comply with Executive Order Number 11-

02, dated January 4, 2011, and shall require that contractors utilize the U.S. Department of Homeland

Security’s E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility of: (a) all persons employed during the contract term by the contractor to perform employment duties within Florida; and (b) all persons (including subcontractors) assigned by the contractor to perform work pursuant to the Contract with the County.

Pursuant to §287.05701, Florida Statutes, the County may not request documentation of or consider a contractor's social, political, or ideological interests when determining if the contractor is a responsible contractor. Further, the County may not give preference to a contractor based on the vendor's social, political, or ideological interests.

2. Instruction to Bidders

2.1 DEFINED TERMS

The term "Bidder" shall mean one who submits a bid directly to the County, as distinct from a sub-bidder, who submits a bid to a Bidder. The term "Responsible and Responsive Bidder" means a person or entity who has submitted a bid which conforms in all material respects to the requirements set forth in the Bidding

Documents and has the capability, in all respects, to perform fully the contract requirements, and the tenacity, perseverance, experience, integrity, reliability, capacity, facilities, equipment, and credit which will assure good faith performance. The term “Successful Bidder” means the most Responsible and Responsive Bidder with the lowest bid who has been selected for award of the Contract. The term “Contract” shall mean the agreement between the Successful Bidder and the County resulting from this ITB. The term “Contract

Documents” include the Service Agreement, Scope of Work, Bid Schedule, and all addenda issued for this solicitation, consisting of information provided in Scope of Work and Attachments sections. The term "Bidding

Documents" includes the Invitation to Bid, Instruction to Bidders, Contract Documents and the Bid Form

(including all addenda issued prior to receipt of bids). The term “Notice of Award” shall mean the form issued by the Purchasing Department awarding the Contract to the Successful Bidder. The term “Notice to Proceed” shall mean the letter issued by the Purchasing Department notifying Successful Bidder to commence work on the Project.

2.2 COPIES OF BIDDING DOCUMENTS

A. Complete sets of Bidding Documents must be used in preparing bids; neither the County nor Engineer assumes any responsibility for errors or misinterpretations resulting from the use of incomplete sets of

Bidding Documents.

B. The County and Engineer in making copies of Bidding Documents available on the above terms do so only for the purpose of obtaining bids on the Project and do not confer a license or grant for any other use.

2.3 QUALIFICATIONS OF BIDDERS

To demonstrate qualifications to perform the Project, each Bidder shall submit with their bid detailed written evidence of experience completing projects of the nature and scope similar to the project described in this

Invitation to Bid, documentation of current commitments, a copy of all applicable occupational and state contractor licenses, and such information as is required in the Vendor Submissions section. Each Bidder must also be prepared to submit within FIVE (5) business days of the County's request, written evidence, such as licenses, financial data, previous experience, present commitments, and other such data as may be requested by the County. Each bid must contain evidence of Bidder's qualification to do business in the State of Florida.

Specifically, the Bidder shall have all licenses and permits required by federal, state, and local statutes, regulations, and ordinances.

2.4 EXAMINATION OF CONTRACT DOCUMENTS AND SITE

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/236730/document?section=2252602 https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/236730/document?section=2252603 https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl/projects/236730/document?section=2252601

A. It is the responsibility of each Bidder before submitting a bid, to (a) examine the Contract Documents thoroughly, (b) visit the Project site to become familiar with local conditions that may affect cost, progress, performance, or completion of the Project, including the time and cost in obtaining any necessary fee or permit, (c) consider federal, state, and local laws and regulations that may affect cost, progress, performance, or completion of the Project, (d) study and carefully correlate Bidder's observations with the Contract Documents, (e) notify the County of any conflicts, errors, or discrepancies in the Contract Documents, and (f) attend any mandatory pre-bid meeting. The County does not assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the Contract Documents or for any additional reports, drawings, and specifications that may be made available for viewing by the County to any Bidder on request.

B. Before submitting a bid, each Bidder will, at the Bidder's own expense, make or obtain any additional information and data which pertain to the physical conditions (surface, subsurface, underground facilities) at or contiguous to the site which may affect cost, progress, performance, or completion of the Project and which Bidder deems necessary to determine its bid for performing and completing the

Project in accordance with the time, price, and other terms and conditions of the Contract Documents.

C. Upon request, in advance, the County will provide each Bidder access to the Project site to conduct such explorations and tests as each Bidder deems necessary for submission of a bid. Bidder shall fill all holes, clean up, and restore the site to its former condition upon completion of such explorations.

D. Temporary construction facilities and storage of materials and equipment will be provided by Bidder.

E. The submission of a bid will constitute an incontrovertible representation by Bidder that Bidder has complied with every requirement of these Instructions to Bidders including visiting the Project site to become familiar with local conditions that may affect the cost, progress, performance, or completion of the Project; that without exception the bid is premised upon performing and furnishing of the labor, services, equipment, and materials required by the Contract Documents in accordance with such means, methods, techniques, sequences, or procedures of construction as may be indicated in or required by the Contract Documents; and that the Contract Documents are sufficient in scope and detail to indicate and convey understanding of all terms and conditions for performance and completion of the Project.

2.5 INTERPRETATIONS AND ADDENDA

A. All questions about the meaning or intent of the Contract Documents are to be posted on the County's e-Procurement portal accessible via the following link;

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl.

B. Addenda may be issued to modify the Bidding Documents as deemed appropriate by the County.

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl

DIRECTING QUESTIONS TO ANY OTHER COUNTY COMMISSIONER, COUNTY EMPLOYEE, PROJECT ENGINEER, OR ANY OTHER PERSON IS PROHIBITED AND WILL RESULT IN A BID BEING DISQUALIFIED. QUESTIONS MUST

BE SUBMITTED ON THE COUNTY'S E-PROCUREMENT PORTAL AT

https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl NO LATER THAN 12:00 pm ON Monday, April 13, 2026. Interpretations or clarifications considered necessary by the County in response to such questions will be issued by Addenda on the County’s e-Procurement portal. Only questions answered by formal written

Addenda will be binding. Oral and other interpretations or clarifications will be without legal effect.

2.6 BLACKOUT PERIOD

The period between the beginning of the advertisement for the Invitation to Bid, and the contract award, or any resulting bid protest is resolved, or the solicitation is otherwise canceled is referred to as the blackout period. During the blackout period any communication regarding the aforementioned solicitations is prohibited between the Bidder (or its agents or representatives) and any other entity with the potential for a financial interest in the award (or their respective agents or representatives) regarding such competitive solicitation, and any County Commissioner or County employee, selection committee member, or other persons authorized to act on behalf of the County including the County’s architect, engineer, or their sub consultants, or anyone designated to provide a recommendation to award a particular contract, other than

Purchasing Division staff. Each competitive solicitation shall provide notice of the blackout period.

Exceptions to the Blackout Period. The blackout period shall not apply to:

A. Communications at any public proceeding or meeting, including pre-bid conferences, selection committee presentations, or pre-award meetings.

B. Communications during contract negotiations between designated County employees and the contract awardee.

C. Communication with a vendor initiated by a Purchasing Division employee following the bid opening to clarify the vendor’s bid or intended scope of services.

D. Communication following the filing of a protest between the protesting party and the Purchasing

Division, County Administrator’s Office, and the County Attorney’s Office, during the dispute resolution process.

E. Purchases exempt from competitive selection, sole source procurements, single source procurements, and emergency procurements, as defined in Walton County Board of County Commissioners

Purchasing Policy and Procedure Manual.

F. Communications with existing vendors in the performance of existing contracts.

2.7 BID SECURITY

A. Bid security shall not be required for this solicitation.Bids submitted in response to this Invitation to Bid shall remain valid and subject to acceptance by Walton County for a period of forty-five (45) calendar athttps://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl athttps://procurement.opengov.com/portal/waltoncountyfl days following the bid opening date.The Successful Bidder shall execute the Contract and provide all required Certificates of Insurance within ten (10) business days after issuance of the Notice of Award, unless otherwise approved in writing by Walton County.If the Successful Bidder fails to execute the

Contract or provide the required Certificates of Insurance within the specified time, Walton County reserves the right to withdraw the Notice of Award and award the Contract to the next lowest responsive and responsible Bidder, or to re-solicit the services if deemed to be in the best interest of the County.Failure of a Bidder to honor the terms of its bid during the bid validity period may result in the Bidder being deemed non-responsible for the purposes of this solicitation or future County solicitations.

2.8 SUBSTITUTE OR "OR-EQUAL" ITEMS

The use of brand names is for the purpose of describing the standard of quality, performance, and characteristics desired and is not intended to limit or restrict competition. Equipment or materials determined by the County to be substantially equivalent to that equipment or materials specified by brand name will be considered for award.

2.9 BID FORM

A. The Bidder shall use the Bid Form included with the Bidding Documents. Failure to use the Bid Form shall result in the bid being declared un-responsive. All blanks on the Bid Form must be completed in ink by hand or typewritten.

B. Bids by corporations must be executed in the corporate name by the president or a vice-president (or other corporate officer accompanied by evidence of authority to sign), and the corporate seal must be affixed and attested. The corporate address and state of incorporation must be shown below the signature.

C. Bids by partnerships must be executed in the partnership name and signed by a partner, whose title must appear under the signature, and the official address of the partnership must be shown below the signature.

D. All bids shall be notarized and names must be typed or printed below the signature. The bid shall contain an acknowledgement of receipt of all addenda via County’s e-Procurement Portal. The contact person's name, address and telephone number, for communications regarding the bid must be provided.

E. Each Bidder’s submittal shall include all the items listed in the Vendor Submissions section.

2.10 SUBMISSION OF BIDS

All bids submitted on e-Procurement Portal will be securely locked and digitally encrypted until the submission deadline passes. Please note that all bids must be submitted prior to 3:00 pm on Monday, April 27, 2026.

Ensure that all required documents and information are complete and accurately provided before submission.

Upon successful submission through the e-Procurement Portal, you will receive a confirmation email acknowledging receipt of your bid.

Bids received after the specified deadline will not be considered.

Thank you for your attention to these submission instructions. Should you have any questions regarding the bidding process or requirements, feel free to contact the Purchasing Department at purchasing@co.walton.fl.us or call 850.892.8176.

2.11 MODIFICATION AND WITHDRAWAL OF BIDS

A. Bids may be modified or withdrawn by the Bidder by clicking on “Unsubmit Proposal” via County’s e-

Procurement Portal. Bids can be re-submitted at any time prior to the opening of bids.

B. Bids may not be withdrawn for a period of FORTY-FIVE (45) calendar days after the date of bid opening.

2.12 BIDS TO REMAIN OPEN SUBJECT TO ACCEPTANCE

All bids shall remain open and subject to acceptance for a period of forty-five (45) calendar days after the date of bid opening, but the County at its sole discretion may release any bid and return the bid security prior to that date.

2.13 AWARD OF CONTRACT

A. The County reserves the right to reject any and all bids for any reason or for no reason as may be deemed necessary by the County to be in its best interest, including but not limited to bids from any contractor who has failed to successfully complete a previous project to the satisfaction of the County.

The County further reserves the right to waive any and all informalities, and reserves the right to reject all nonconforming, unresponsive, unbalanced, or conditional bids. PLEASE NOTE: ANY TERMS, CONDITIONS, OR EXCEPTIONS SUBMITTED WITH A BID SHALL BE DISREGARDED AND HAVE NO

EFFECT UPON THE CONTRACT RESULTING FROM THIS SOLICITATION. The County reserves the right to reject the bid of any Bidder if the County believes that it would not be in the best interest of the

Project to make an award to that Bidder, because the bid is not responsive or responsible, or the

Bidder is unqualified or of doubtful financial ability or fails to meet any other pertinent standard or criteria established by the County. The County also reserves the right to enter into contract negotiations with a Responsible and Responsive Bidder who submits the lowest bid. If the County and the low Bidder cannot negotiate a successful contract the County may terminate such negotiations and begin negotiations with a Responsible and Responsive Bidder who submits the next lowest bid. No

Bidder shall have any rights against the County arising from such negotiations. Discrepancies in the multiplication of units of work and unit prices will be resolved in favor of the unit prices. Discrepancies between the indicated sum of any column of figures and the correct sum thereof will be resolved in mailto:purchasing@co.walton.fl.us favor of the correct sum. Where numeric data is given both in Arabic numerals and in written language, and where there exists a discrepancy between an Arabic numeral and written language, the written language shall be presumed to be correct and the Arabic numeral presumed incorrect.

B. In the event the apparent low bid submitted by a Responsible and Responsive Bidder exceeds the

County's budget for the Project, the County reserves the right to value engineer the published scope of work in order to effect deductive cost changes. In light of the modified scope of work, the County shall review the three lowest bids submitted by Responsible and Responsive Bidders in order to select one

Bidder to whom to award the contract.

C. The County reserves the right to delete any bid items and the total bid shall be determined as the sum of the bid items awarded. In evaluating bids, the County will consider the qualifications of the Bidders, whether or not the bids comply with the prescribed requirements, time of completion and other data, as may be requested in the Bid Form or prior to the Notice of Award. The County may conduct such investigations as the County deems necessary to assist in the evaluation of any bid and to establish the responsibility, qualifications and financial ability of Bidders, proposed Subcontractors, Suppliers and other persons and organizations to perform and complete the Project in accordance with the contract

Documents to the County's satisfaction within the prescribed time. The County may consider the operating costs, maintenance requirements, performance data, and guarantees of major items of materials and equipment proposed for incorporation in the Project when such data is required to be submitted prior to Notice of Award.

If the contract is to be awarded, it will be awarded to the Responsible and Responsive Bidder submitting the lowest bid whose evaluation by the County indicates to the County that the award will be in the best interest of the Project. The Notice of Award shall be issued only after approval by the Walton County Board of County

Commissioners and upon completion of all required award documentation.

NOTE: Award will be based on the total bid for the base services. Unit pricing for additional locations will not be used for award determination but will be used for contract administration.

No contractual obligation shall exist until the contract has been approved and executed by the Board.

2.14 BID PROTEST

Any person or entity whose bid is rejected, in whole or in part, or who submits a bid but is not awarded the contract, may protest such decision. Written notice of intent to file a bid protest must be submitted with the

Purchasing Department or Chief Financial Officer within twenty-four (24) hours after the Board’s declaration of its intention with regard to an award. Written protest must be submitted to Purchasing Director or Chief

Financial Officer within ten (10) calendar days after filing written notice of intent.

Each written protest must be accompanied by a bid protest bond in the form of a certified check, cashier’s check, or money order made payable to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners, in an amount equal to 1% of the protestor’s bid received by the County, but in no case less than $500.00.

The condition of the protest bond shall be that, should the protest be determined to be without merit and non-valid, the bond shall be forfeited to the County in its entirety.

2.15 PUBLIC ENTITY CRIMES

A person or an affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for public entity crime may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in Section 287.017, Florida

Statutes, for CATEGORY TWO for a period of thirty-six (36) months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendors list.

3. Scope of Services

3.1 Scope Summary

Contractor Responsibilities

• Contractor shall provide monthly Pest Control, Weed Control, and Fertilization Services for designated athletic fields, park grounds, and other County-managed properties in Walton County, Florida, as identified in the Bid Schedule found in Section 4.

• All services shall be performed:

o In accordance with standards established by the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida.

o Consistent with current turfgrass management best practices.

• All products shall be applied in accordance with the product label, using GPS-tracked application systems to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and consistency.

• All work shall strictly comply with the Florida Pest Control Act, Chapter 482, Florida Statutes, and

Contractor must maintain appropriate licensure throughout the term of the Agreement.

Licensing & Compliance

• Contractor shall maintain an active Lawn and Ornamental License issued by the Florida Department of

Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Bureau of Entomology and Pest Control.

• All work must be performed in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations, including:

o OSHA o EPA (Title 40 CFR) o EPA/FDACS product labeling

Service Requirements Materials and Equipment

• Contractor shall furnish all materials, chemicals, equipment, labor, transportation, and related resources necessary to perform the work described.

• Only equipment designed for turf and landscape service shall be used.

• All equipment must be:

o Well-maintained o In good operating condition o Meeting appropriate safety standards

• Equipment shall not be operated in a manner that causes damage to pavement or turf (e.g., ruts, skid marks, tears).

• All containers, packaging, and residual materials shall be removed from County property and disposed of off-site in accordance with applicable law including §487.031, Florida Statutes.

Service Locations

• Contractor shall provide services at the regularly scheduled service locations identified in Section 4 -

Bid Schedule.

• Walton County reserves the right to add or remove service locations at any time with written notice.

• Billing for deleted sites shall end on the effective date of removal.

Chemical Application Program Scope of Chemical Treatments

• Chemical applications shall include, but are not limited to:

o Fertilization o Control of lawn pests such as mole crickets, ants, fleas, armyworms, ticks, white grubs, wireworms, chinch bugs, nematodes, spider mites, caterpillars, and aphids o Fungicide applications for diseases including leaf spot and Pythium o Broadleaf, grassy, and sedge weed control

• Control Definition:

Control shall be defined as no more than one occurrence of any pest, weed, or disease condition within a given season as delineated below.

Spring March, April, May

Summer June, July, August

Autumn September, October, November

Winter December, January, February

• Subsequent occurrences shall be treated at no additional cost to Walton County until eliminated.

Contractor Obligations Personnel and Management

• Provide pesticide applicators certified and trained by a recognized state authority to handle and apply required chemical products.

• Post all required warning and informational signage in accordance with product labels and applicable regulations.

• Maintain all necessary insurance coverage for the duration of the Agreement.

• Ensure personnel are trained in safe chemical handling, transportation, application, and disposal consistent with OSHA and applicable federal and state regulations.

• Ensure all service personnel meet the County’s background check requirements.

• Employ Integrated Pest Management (IPM) methods to protect the public, property, and the environment.

• Coordinate all work with the Walton County Facility Maintenance Director and ensure work schedules do not conflict with other activities.

• Prior to servicing any newly added site, submit recommended pricing, application schedules, materials, and specifications to the Facility Maintenance Director.

• Submit MSDS/SDS information for all chemicals proposed for use in compliance with Florida Statute

Chapter 442.

• Resolve service and billing discrepancies within five (5) business days of notification.

• Respond to unscheduled service calls within five (5) business days and emergency calls within 12 hours.

• Notify Walton County of any changes in account management or contact information within five (5) business days.

• Perform scheduled services within five (5) business days of the scheduled date; if unable, reschedule with the Department.

• Within ten (10) business days of Agreement execution, provide a service schedule for the initial six-month period. Thereafter, updated six-month schedules shall be submitted every six months for the duration of the Agreement.

Turf & Weed Control Standards Weed Control

• Contractor shall be responsible for all herbicide applications necessary to keep undesirable plants (e.g., broadleaf, grassy weeds, sedges) at or below acceptable threshold levels.

• Applications shall follow recommendations in the University of Florida Pest Control Guides for

Turfgrass Managers, including manufacturer dilution and application protocols.

• Contractor shall monitor weather and adjust scheduling or use adjuvants as needed to ensure appropriate contact times.

• Reapplications necessitated by weather events (i.e., rainfall) shall be performed at no additional cost.

• Thresholds:

o Broadleaf/Grassy Weeds: More than two (2) weeds per 100 sq. ft. triggers treatment.

o Sedge control shall align with standards in IFAS guidance.

• Quarterly documented walkthroughs shall be conducted by the Facility Maintenance Director and

Contractor to determine threshold status.

Insect Control

• Turf shall be inspected bi-weekly during May–August and at each service visit during remaining months for insect damage.

• Proper insecticides shall be applied per manufacturer recommendations.

• Turf damage resulting from improper chemical application or contractor negligence shall be remedied by the contractor at no cost to Walton County.

Fungicide Control

• Fungicide applications shall be applied in accordance with manufacturer guidelines.

Quality Control

• Walton County may randomly monitor application rates and collect diluted pesticide samples for independent analysis.

• If analysis indicates under-application or ineffective treatment, Contractor shall reapply at no additional cost.

Maintenance Standards

• Bermuda turf shall be maintained at a minimum of 90% weed-free level for controllable weeds, including broadleaf, grassy, and sedge species.

• Contractor shall coordinate irrigation requirements with the Facility Maintenance Director as needed to support treatment efficacy.

Weed Pest Control Program Objectives

• Effectively control infestations of undesirable plants (broadleaf, grassy weeds and sedges) at threshold limits.

• Not extend beyond target pests resulting in discoloration or injury to turf stand.

• Minimize hazards to humans and non-target organisms.

• Threshold for action:

o Unacceptable threshold populations exist when:

▪ More than five (5) broadleaf weeds per 100 sq. ft. area, and/or

▪ Five (5) grassy or sedge weeds per 500 sq. ft. area.

• Facility Maintenance Director and Contractor shall conduct documented quarterly walkthroughs of each field to determine which fields are at the required threshold for treatment.

• Note: Because some “weeds” are perennial, repeat applications may be required.

• These recommendations will be on a field-by-field basis only with prior approval from Walton County.

Additional Insect Control Requirements

• Turf areas shall be checked bi-weekly by the Contractor during May through August, and inspected at each visit for the remaining months for insect damage.

• Proper insecticides shall be applied based on the latest recommendations from the Department of

Agriculture.

• Any turf damage due to improper chemical application or other Contractor negligence shall result in

Contractor replacement of damaged areas.

• Warning signs will be placed on all treated fields. Each sign must clearly display the application date, written with a weather-resistant industrial marker.

• All containers used for mixing or application will be removed from property upon completion of the job.

• A review (walk-through inspection) will be conducted by the Facility Maintenance Department

Representative and Contractor on each visit to evaluate potential disease, pest, and/or weed damage.

• The Contractor will set aside time to communicate and document needs with the Facility Maintenance

Department Representative.

4. Bid Schedule

This is a unit price bid. Bidders shall provide a unit price per acre per application for the services described in the Bid Schedule. The acreage listed for each location represents the County’s best estimate of the treatment areas.

The basis of award will be the Total Base Bid, calculated by multiplying the unit price by the estimated acreage and the number of applications per year listed in the Bid Schedule.

The Bid Schedule is intended as a general summary of the services required and is not intended to represent every detail necessary to perform the work. Bidders are responsible for reviewing the Bidding Documents and including all necessary costs in their unit prices.

If a Bidder identifies a discrepancy between the scope of services described in the Contract Documents and the Bid Schedule, the Bidder shall notify the Purchasing Director prior to the bid closing date.

The unit prices submitted shall be used as the basis for determining the value of any authorized additions or reductions to service areas during the term of the Contract.

Walton County reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to award the Contract in the best interest of the

County.

NOTE: The unit prices listed below will be used as the basis for computing the value of any change orders either additive or deductive. THE OWNER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY OR ALL BIDS.

* Line Item 11: This unit price shall apply to any additional service locations added during the term of the

Agreement. Pricing shall be on a per-acre, per-month basis and shall include all labor, materials, equipment, chemicals, and incidentals necessary to perform the required services. This rate will be used as the basis for pricing new locations unless otherwise approved in writing by the County for materially different site conditions.

Line Item Description Quantity Unit of

Measure Per Year Unit Cost Total

1 Wee Care 552 Walton

Road DeFuniak Springs, FL

8 Acres 12

2 Paxton Little League

21872 US Hwy 331

North Paxton, FL

4 Acres 12

3 DeFuniak Springs Little

League 469 S 25th

Street, DeFuniak

Springs, FL

6 Acres 12

Line Item Description Quantity Unit of

Measure Per Year Unit Cost Total

4 Paradise Park 2 Walton

Way Miramar Beach, FL 32550

8 Acres 12

5 South Walton Sports

Complex 240 MC Davis

Blvd Santa Rosa Beach, FL

11.34 Acres 12

6 Boys & Girls Club 427

Greenway Trail Santa

Rosa Beach, FL

6.4 Acres 12

7 Driftwood 275 East

Shipwreck Road Santa

Rosa Beach, FL

5.88 Acres 12

8 Grady Brown Park

20940 US Hwy 331

South Freeport, FL

2.75 Acres 12

9 Harbeson Field 357

State Hwy 83N, DeFuniak Springs, FL

32433

5.76 Acres 12

10 Helen McCall Park 325

Moll Drive Santa Rosa, FL

6.31 Acres 12

11 Per Acre Monthly

Service Rate for

Additional Locations *

1 Acres 12

TOTAL

5. Vendor Submissions

All subsections in this section require a response.

Important: Bidders are responsible for reviewing all required forms and documentation listed in this solicitation. If any forms require notarization—such as the Public Entity Crimes Statement or the Unauthorized Alien Affidavit—they must be properly executed and uploaded with your submission. Failure to include completed and notarized documents, where applicable, may result in your bid being deemed non-responsive.

5.1 LOCAL PREFERENCE APPLICATION*

I hereby certify under penalty of perjury that my business qualifies as a local vendor/contractor in accordance with Walton County Purchasing Policies and Procedures, Procedure No: PP017.

☐ My business maintains its principal place of business within Walton County; OR

☐ My business has maintained a permanent place or places of business within Walton County and has employed people who live in Walton County on a regular and continuing basis for at least six (6) months prior to the advertising of this Invitation to Bid; OR

☐ My business is not eligible for local vendor preference with Walton County.

*Response required

5.2 BIDDER'S DECLARATION AND UNDERSTANDING *

The undersigned, herein defined as the "Bidder," declares that the only persons or parties interested in this bid are those named herein, that this bid is, in all respects, fair and without fraud, that it is made without collusion with any employee or official of the County, and that the bid is made without any connection or collusion with any person submitting another bid on this Project.

The Bidder further declares that it has visited the Project site, inspected the plans and specifications, examined all the Contract Documents, and has satisfied itself to the quantities involved, including materials and equipment and the conditions of work involved, including the fact that the description of work and materials, as included herein, is brief and is intended only to indicate the general nature of the Project and to identify the said quantities with the detailed requirements of the Contract Documents, and this bid is made according to the provisions and under the terms of the Contract Documents which are made a part of this bid.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

5.3 CONTRACT EXECUTION AND CERTIFICATES OF INSURANCE*

The Successful Bidder shall acknowledge the terms and conditions of the Contract and return a signed

Contract to Walton County along with all required Certificates of Insurance (COI) within ten (10) business days after issuance of the Notice of Award, unless otherwise approved in writing by the County.

Upon receipt and approval of the signed Contract and Certificates of Insurance, Walton County will execute the Contract and provide a fully executed copy to the Successful Bidder.

The Successful Bidder shall not commence services until the Contract has been fully executed and the County has issued a Notice to Proceed.

Failure of the Successful Bidder to execute the Contract or provide the required Certificates of Insurance within the specified time may result in the County withdrawing the Notice of Award and proceeding with award to the next lowest responsive and responsible Bidder or taking such other action as deemed in the best interest of the County.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

5.4 COMMENCEMENT OF SERVICES AND CONTRACT TERM*

The Successful Bidder shall begin providing services under the Contract within ten (10) business days after issuance of the Notice to Proceed, unless otherwise approved in writing by Walton County.

The term of the Contract shall be five (5) years from the date of complete contract execution, unless terminated earlier in accordance with the terms of the Contract.

Services shall be performed in accordance with the scope of work and service schedule established between the Contractor and Walton County. The Contractor shall coordinate service dates with the County’s designated representative to ensure that all locations are serviced in accordance with the requirements of the Contract.

The Contractor shall perform all services in a timely and professional manner consistent with industry standards and the requirements set forth in the Contract Documents.

If scheduled services are not performed within the required service window established in the Contract, Walton County reserves the right to require corrective service at no additional cost or to deduct the cost of the missed service from the Contractor’s invoice.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

5.5 SALES AND USE TAXES*

The Bidder agrees that any and all applicable federal, state and local sales and use taxes that are incurred by the Bidder are included in the stated bid price for the Project. The County is tax exempt from federal excise and state sales tax.

☐ Please confirm

5.6 Acknowledgment of Bid Schedule*

By confirming, if awarded the contract, the Bidder agrees to accept as full payment for the work proposed under this Project, as specified in the Bidding Documents prepared by Walton County, and based upon their own estimate of the quantities and costs, including the cost of any necessary fee or permit provided as part of their bid.

☐ Please confirm

*Response required

5.7 BID FORM*

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• BID_FORM_(14).docx

*Response required

5.8 BID BOND*

Will you be utilizing Surety 2000 for submitting your Bid Bond?

☐ Yes

☐ No

*Response required

When equals "Yes"

Surety 2000 Electronic Bid Bond*

Please enter your Bid Bond information from Surety2000 below.

If you would like to use your preferred surety, please select "No" to the above question.

*Response required

When equals "No"

Bid Bond*

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• 3.0_Walton_County_Florida_B...

*Response required

5.9 PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND CURRENT COMMITMENTS*

Please download the below documents, complete, and upload.

• PREVIOUS_EXPERIENCE_AND_CUR...

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