2026 Vegetation Management Services

Central Florida Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CFEC) is soliciting proposals through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process for vegetation management services on overhead power lines across seven substations in Florida: Trenton, Suwannee, Chiefland, Bell, Newberry, Preston, and Waccasassa. The procurement encompasses herbicide application and vegetation control services covering approximately 1,592 miles of distribution feeder lines, with the primary objective of retarding wood and invasive plant growth under or near utility wires to maintain safe clearances in accordance with CFEC specifications. Contractors must be licensed commercial applicators with personnel supervised by certified pesticide applicators in the utility right-of-way category, and must maintain comprehensive general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 aggregate, excess liability of $2,000,000, automobile liability of $1,000,000/$3,000,000, and workers' compensation at statutory limits. Deliverables include providing all labor, equipment, materials, and Apple mobile devices with cellular connectivity, achieving a 98 percent kill rate on vegetation, and maintaining daily application records in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations. Work is scheduled to commence May 1, 2026, and must be completed by December 31, 2026, with operations Monday through Friday beginning at 7:00 a.m. and optional Saturday work at CFEC's discretion. The proposal submission deadline is April 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. through the VendorLink portal, with a questions deadline of April 3, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Bidders must submit firm, fixed prices for the complete 2026 vegetation management program covering all specified substations and feeders, with no partial payments permitted for incomplete circuits; failure to meet the December 31, 2026, completion deadline results in a $300 per day penalty.

The RFP documentation does not specify any set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or other restricted vendor categories, indicating this is an open competitive procurement available to all qualified contractors meeting the stated insurance and licensing requirements. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is provided in the available documentation. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the procurement materials. Payment terms specify that contractors will receive 70 percent of invoiced amounts upon CFEC approval and acceptance of completed substations, with the remaining 30 percent withheld for 120 days following completion. The final contract award will be made by the CFEC Board of Trustees following bid opening and review by CFEC management. Prospective bidders should review all attached substation maps and the complete RFP scope of service documentation to ensure comprehensive understanding of work areas and technical requirements prior to proposal submission.