2024-25 Hand Planting Containerized Longleaf and Slash Pine

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is seeking competitive bids for hand-planting approximately 368 acres of containerized longleaf pine seedlings at Goethe State Forest located in Levy County, Florida and approximately 28 acres of containerized slash pine seedlings at Newnans Lake State Forest located in Alachua County, Florida. The project will take place from December 1, 2024 through January 15, 2025, and the Department intends to make a single award or no award. The Invitation to Bid (ITB) provides detailed specifications for the planting, including acceptable equipment, planting densities, and other requirements. Vendors must submit bids by September 12, 2024, and a public bid opening is scheduled for September 13, 2024. The ITB requires vendors to provide pricing on a per-acre basis for each planting site.

The ITB outlines various preferences that may be applied in the event of tied bids, such as for certified minority business enterprises, Florida-based manufacturers, and veteran-owned businesses. The contract may be renewed for up to three additional one-year terms at the Department's discretion. Funding for the project may come from different sources, and partial payments may be made as work is verified. The ITB does not list any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it provide any information about existing infrastructure or technology that may require integration.