Aerial Herbicide Treatment of Invasive Plants Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is seeking competitive bids through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for aerial herbicide treatment services within Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest near Felda, Florida. The procurement targets the treatment of approximately 2,863 acres containing three invasive species: Wright's nutrush (approximately 1,952 acres with 25-50% coverage), coastal-plain willow (approximately 761 acres with 95-100% coverage), and torpedo grass (approximately 150 acres with 95-100% coverage). Contractors must provide all labor, materials, herbicides, tools, transportation, and supervision necessary for aerial application, with a critical deliverable requirement that 95% of treated plants be dead within 3-4 months of project completion. Herbicide application must occur between May and July during the growing season under suitable weather conditions, including at least three hours without rain following application and wind speeds not exceeding 10 mph. Bidders must possess a certified commercial herbicide applicator's license in natural areas weed management and/or the aquatic category at the time of bid submission and must provide three project references from the past five years with similar scope and size. The evaluation will award the contract to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest Grand Total Price based on unit pricing per acre for each invasive plant category. Critical dates include pre-bid site visits from March 10-19, 2026; the final day for vendor questions on March 20, 2026; sealed bid submissions due March 31, 2026 by 5:00 PM at the Mayo Building in Tallahassee; and the public bid opening scheduled for April 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM.

The ITB contains no identified set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to disadvantaged enterprises or specific organization types, allowing all qualified vendors to submit bids. Bid responses must include comprehensive documentation, including references (Attachment A), the FDACS Acknowledgement Form (Attachment B), a detailed price sheet (Attachment C), certification regarding lobbying and debarment (Attachment D), drug-free workplace certification (Attachment E), vendor certification (Attachment F), and proof of required licenses and certifications. Insurance requirements are substantial, including General Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence with a $2,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $300,000, and Workers' Compensation insurance. Contractors are responsible for comprehensive herbicide data collection using Florida Forest Service-approved records and GPS track data, with all submission materials becoming public record. Liquidated damages of $100 per calendar day apply if work is not completed by the fixed completion date, and contractors must remove all trash, herbicide containers, and rinse water from the site upon project completion. While a specific award value or budget range is not stated in the available documentation, the contract value will be determined by the unit pricing per acre multiplied by the acreage of each invasive species category, as submitted by the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.