Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area (ARWEA) Prescribed Burn Bid

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is soliciting competitive bids for prescribed burn management services within the Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area (ARWEA), covering approximately 1.5 million acres of Wildlife Management Area system lands in Franklin and Gulf Counties. The primary objectives of this procurement are to maintain and restore native plant species composition, increase biological diversity, enhance wildlife habitat, and reduce excessive fuel loads across diverse natural communities including pine flatwoods, wet prairies, floodplain swamp, and hammocks. Bidders must possess a Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (CPBM) certification with at least five years of experience, including 20 prior burn authorizations in specific habitat types. A mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit is scheduled for January 5, 2026, at 11:00 AM ET in Wewahitchka, with written questions due by January 12, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Sealed bids are due January 23, 2026, at 3:30 PM ET, with a public bid opening on the same date and an anticipated award date of January 28, 2026.

The contract will be effective for one year upon Purchase Order issuance, with FWC retaining the option to renew annually for up to three additional years under the same terms. Contractors must provide all necessary equipment, including a Type VI Wildland Engine and Type III Bulldozer, and be responsible for permits, insurance, and suppression costs. Payment will be made per acre burned upon completion of post-burn evaluations, with a 10% payment deduction for unsatisfactory completion. No minimum work amount is guaranteed, and FWC reserves the right to task services based on bid prices, budgetary concerns, and other factors. Subcontracting of CPBM responsibilities is strictly prohibited. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, bidders must be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and with SunBiz prior to bid opening. The procurement allows for pricing on a per-acre basis for the initial contract term and potential renewal years, with the award going to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.