Aerial Herbicide Application at Blackwater River State Forest

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is issuing an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for aerial herbicide application services at Blackwater River State Forest, covering approximately 529 acres located in Santa Rosa and Okaloosa Counties, Florida. The procurement seeks a qualified contractor to apply a specified herbicide tank mixture at a minimum rate of 10 gallons per acre using water as the carrier across three treatment areas consisting of clearcut land with low densities of small to large pine and oak trees. Treatment services must commence before June 30, 2026, and be completed by August 31, 2026. Bidders must submit a per-acre unit price with a Grand Total Price for all 529 acres, inclusive of labor, materials, equipment, and related costs, and the award will be made to the responsive and responsible vendor offering the lowest Grand Total Price. Required qualifications include a valid Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services commercial pesticide applicator's license with aerial category endorsement, General Liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, Drift Insurance of $500,000 per occurrence, Automobile Liability Insurance of $300,000, and Workers' Compensation Insurance. Bidders must also submit three client references for similar projects completed within the last five years, proof of required licenses and certifications, and various compliance certifications. The critical timeline includes a recommended site visit available March 27 through April 3, 2026, between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Central Time; written questions due April 3, 2026, by 5:00 p.m.; responses posted April 7, 2026; sealed bids due April 13, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. at the Mayo Building in Tallahassee; and public bid opening scheduled for April 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. via teleconference.

No set-aside designations or restrictions on organization types are specified in this solicitation, and no incumbent contractor is identified. The contract operates as a purchase order for completion of specified services with no identified contract term or renewal options. All bidders must comply with various statutory requirements, including drug-free workplace certification, vendor certifications regarding Israel boycotts, Sudan and Iran sanctions compliance, and E-Verify registration. The project is funded through state appropriations with no federal funding requirements indicated. A MyFloridaMarketPlace transaction fee of one percent will be automatically deducted from all payments. The specific award value or budget range for this procurement is not disclosed in the available documentation.