2024-25 Hand Planting Containerized Longleaf Pine Seedlings at Withlacoochee State Forest

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is seeking competitive bids for a state and local contract opportunity to hand-plant approximately 646 acres of containerized longleaf pine seedlings at the Withlacoochee State Forest, located in Citrus County and Hernando County, Florida. The project will take place during the 2024-2025 fiscal year, with no planting permitted before January 15, 2025, and all work required to be completed by February 28, 2025. Bidders must provide all necessary labor, materials, equipment, and supervision to carry out the planting at a density of 726 trees per acre. The FDACS will provide the seedlings, and partial payments may be made as the work progresses. A mandatory site visit is scheduled for October 1-9, 2024, and sealed bids are due by October 23, 2024, with a public bid opening on October 24, 2024. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest grand total price per acre.

The solicitation does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed. The total budget for the project is not provided, but the FDACS may increase the contracted acreage by up to 20% or decrease it based on budgetary constraints. The anticipated posting of the recommended award is October 30, 2024.