25/26 Chemical Site Prep Lake George & Tiger Bay State Forests

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is issuing an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for mechanical ground application of herbicide treatment services across approximately 366 acres distributed among four tracts at Lake George and Tiger Bay State Forests in Volusia County, Florida. The herbicide application will utilize a tank mixture of 64 ounces Garlon XRT, 44 ounces Chopper Gen 2, and 32 ounces non-ionic surfactant per acre, applied at 30 gallons per acre using water as the carrier. The four treatment areas consist of Mary Farms Tract (113 acres), Astor Tract (76 acres), Rima Ridge Tract (78 acres), and South Tract (99 acres). Prospective vendors are strongly encouraged to conduct pre-bid site visits between March 16–19, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with a vendor question deadline of March 25, 2026, and written responses posted by March 27, 2026. Sealed bids are due April 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., with public bid opening scheduled for April 7, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. via teleconference. Work must commence between June 1 and June 30, 2026, and be completed by August 3, 2026. Award will be made to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest Grand Total Price, and contractors must demonstrate a minimum 95% application coverage, maintain GPS tracking, and comply with all Florida Forest Service specifications and Best Management Practices. Required qualifications include submission of three references from similar projects completed within the last five years and proof of a current Florida Department of Agriculture commercial applicator's license.

The contract requires contractors to maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, chemical drift control liability insurance of $100,000 per occurrence, automobile liability insurance of $300,000, and workers' compensation insurance with minimum employers' liability limits of $100,000 per accident. The contract is effective upon purchase order execution through August 3, 2026, with potential for three one-year renewal periods at the Department's sole discretion. A MyFloridaMarketPlace Transaction Fee of one percent (1.0%) applies to all payments, and liquidated damages of $100 per calendar day apply for delays beyond the fixed completion date. The procurement documentation does not indicate any specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions on the types of organizations that may respond, nor does it reference any incumbent vendors or current contractors. No specific budget range or award value is provided in the solicitation materials; pricing will be determined through competitive bidding based on submitted bids.