Apopka-Beauclair Lock and Dam Expansion and Rehabilitation Project

The St. Johns River Water Management District is seeking professional engineering services for the Apopka-Beauclair Lock and Dam Expansion and Rehabilitation Project through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 41212. The procurement targets a multi-disciplinary engineering firm to provide comprehensive services including preliminary data collection, alternatives analysis, design, permitting, and construction management for a lock and dam improvement project located in Lake County, Florida. Key project objectives include increasing lock boat capacity to at least 18 boats per cycle, improving water flow, converting dam controls to local and remote operation, creating new control rooms, providing dewatering accommodations, enhancing manatee protection, and improving vehicular safety. Required qualifications encompass expertise in geotechnical analyses, land surveys, ecological and environmental evaluations, mitigation planning, engineering design, and federal/state/local permitting. The solicitation will be evaluated using a qualifications-based selection process, with an Evaluation Committee reviewing submissions and ranking firms based on professional licenses, project experience, approach, location, and previous work volume. Critical dates include a non-mandatory pre-submittal conference on June 16, 2025, at 16400 County Road 48, Mount Dora, Florida, with qualifications submittals due by 2:00 p.m. on July 3, 2025.

The project is funded through the Florida Resilient Florida Programs with a Catalog of State Financial Assistance (CSFA) number of 37.098, and the contract budget is estimated at $1,400,000 with an option to renew for one two-year term. Work will be accomplished through issued Work Orders, and respondents should not expect guaranteed work volume. The solicitation requires respondents to complete and submit a Non-Disclosure Confidentiality Agreement when requesting additional project documents. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are mentioned, respondents must maintain appropriate professional insurance coverage and comply with public records and confidentiality regulations. The contract is set to expire on December 31, 2028, and all work will be conducted on an as-needed basis through individual Work Orders. Interested firms must demonstrate comprehensive multi-disciplinary capabilities and submit detailed qualifications highlighting their technical expertise, previous project experience, and ability to meet the complex engineering and environmental requirements of the Apopka-Beauclair Lock and Dam Expansion project.