2022/2023 RESTORE REFORESTATION Tate’s Hell State Forest

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is seeking competitive bids for a reforestation project at Tate's Hell State Forest in Franklin County, Florida. The project involves hand-planting approximately 189 acres of containerized longleaf pine seedlings, 234 acres of bareroot slash pine, and 200 acres of bareroot pond cypress seedlings. The anticipated contract period is from November 28, 2022, to February 15, 2023. A recommended site visit will be held from August 29 to September 2, 2022, and sealed bids are due by September 19, 2022, at 5:00 PM ET. The public bid opening will take place on September 20, 2022, at 2:00 PM ET. Bids will be evaluated based on the lowest Total Project Cost, as specified in the Price Sheet. FDACS reserves the right to award to multiple bidders or make no award. Bidders must meet the mandatory requirements outlined in the Invitation to Bid (ITB), including providing proof of licenses, certifications and permits, and past performance references for similar large-scale planting projects. No subcontractor or personal references will be accepted. FDACS will not provide any materials, labor, or equipment, and all seedlings will be supplied by the Florida Forest Service.

The ITB does not mention any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. The document also does not list any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it provide any information on existing infrastructure or technology that requires integration. The total budget for the project is not specified, but bidders are required to provide a Total Project Cost in their bids.