26P-123 Lease and Development of Martel Closed Landfill For Recreational Venue

Marion County Solid Waste is requesting competitive sealed proposals to lease, design, construct, operate, and maintain a commercial recreational venue on the Martel Closed Landfill, with proposals due September 24, 2026. The project encompasses approximately 37 acres at 296 SW 67th Avenue Road, Ocala, Florida, directly adjacent to Ocala International Airport; only the portion east of SW 67th Avenue Road is available for lease. A local-business preference applies: proposers earn 5 points for Marion County physical locations, 3 points for bordering counties, 2 points for Florida, or 0 points elsewhere.

The site comprises three zones: approximately 6 acres of natural ground available for structural development, 9 acres of existing stormwater pond infrastructure that must remain fully operational, and 22 acres of closed landfill area subject to post-closure care constraints. All ground monitoring wells must remain in place and accessible for county environmental testing. Proposers must submit a conceptual site layout, qualifications and experience documentation, detailed financial proposals, and a realistic regulatory timeline for securing FAA, FDEP, and local zoning approvals. The developer accepts the property in "as-is" condition and assumes all responsibility for site preparation, engineering adjustments, and regulatory compliance.

The lease term is negotiable with a maximum of 20 years and possibility for renewal. Financial compensation follows a multi-tiered gross revenue sharing model: Year 1 requires a flat $20,000 lease fee; Years 2–6 require a minimum of 2% of gross revenues or $20,000 whichever is greater; Years 7–11 require 4% of gross revenues or $20,000 whichever is greater; and Years 12 and beyond require 6% of gross revenues or $20,000 whichever is greater.

Evaluation criteria and weights are Financial Return (35%), Development Concept (25%), Experience and Capability (20%), Regulatory Feasibility (15%), and Local Business (5%). Proposals are submitted online through the Marion County Procurement Services Bonfire portal. The county reserves the right to conduct oral presentations with short-listed proposers and request best and final offers. All proposals become public records thirty days after opening or until a short list is recommended, whichever occurs first. Respondents must complete Conflict of Interest Statement and Disclosure of Subcontractors and Suppliers forms. The contractor must maintain Workers' Compensation coverage at Florida statutory limits, Commercial General Liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Business Automobile Liability of $500,000 combined single limit, with Marion County named as additional insured.