Wet Prairie Restoration - Picayune Strand State Forest

This is a Mandatory Pre-Bid Site Visit Attendees List prepared by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bureau of General Services, for a competitive sealed bid solicitation (ITB FFS 25 26 65) addressing herbicide application services for cabbage palm tree treatment across Picayune Strand State Forest near Naples, Florida. The project encompasses approximately 1,078 acres divided among four subunit sites (Site 1: 216 acres; Site 2: 92 acres; Site 3: 126 acres; Site 4: 644 acres), requiring contractors to apply herbicide treatments to cabbage palms measuring 25 feet or less in height. The mandatory pre-bid site visit is scheduled for February 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM at Picayune Strand State Forest, 2121 52nd Ave SE, Naples, Florida 34114. Critical deadlines include written questions due February 24, 2026, with responses posted February 26, 2026; sealed bid submission by March 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM; and public bid opening on March 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Tallahassee. Initial treatments are preferred by May 1, 2026, with full project completion mandated by August 1, 2026.

Eleven companies representing twelve representatives have been invited to the mandatory pre-bid site visit, including Opterra Solutions, Earth Tech Environmental, Ground Level, Chempro, ERC, EarthBalance, Sandhill, Sikes Ag Co., and Diamond E Herbicide. Vendors must submit unit prices per acre for each subsite, inclusive of all labor, materials, equipment, and transportation. Award will be made to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest Grand Total Price. Contractors must possess a valid certified commercial herbicide applicators license in natural areas weed management and/or aquatic category, provide three references from similar projects completed within the last five years, and achieve a minimum 95% kill rate of treated cabbage palms within three to four months following application. Required insurance includes General Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $300,000, and Workers' Compensation insurance. Liquidated damages of $100 per calendar day apply for delays beyond August 1, 2026, and invoices are due no later than September 11, 2026. The solicitation includes no specific set-aside designations, incumbent information, or disclosed budget range.