Application of herbicides via unmanned aerial vehicle

The St. Johns River Water Management District is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to procure aerial herbicide application services utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones) to qualified contractors across the state of Florida, with work anticipated in Putnam County and the District's service area spanning approximately 12,283 square miles across 18 counties. The primary deliverables include application of herbicides via UAV for management and control of nuisance aquatic vegetation in support of flood protection, navigation, recreation, and water quality improvement, with secondary work including management of upland vegetation to protect native plant and animal communities, site preparation for reforestation and natural community restoration, and control of vegetation affecting riparian areas, roads, trails, fence lines, and data collection sites. Selected contractors must demonstrate a minimum of three years of demonstrated experience operating UAVs for herbicide applications and possess all required state and federal authorizations. Work will be performed through individual Work Orders issued as treatment areas are identified, with pricing established through either hourly rates or per-acre rates depending on project characteristics. The District anticipates awarding multiple contractors under this solicitation, with the resulting agreements having an initial three-year term effective upon last signature through September 30, 2028. Contractor qualifications will be evaluated on professional personnel qualifications and capabilities (20 points), client references and experience for similar projects within the last three years (30 points), equipment identification, certification and compliance (25 points), methodology for sustaining continuous operations (20 points), and completeness of response (5 points), totaling 100 possible points. The deadline for submission is 3:00 PM on Tuesday, March 10, 2026, with the last day for questions being March 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM; no pre-bid meeting has been scheduled.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting organization types are indicated in the procurement materials. Contractors must provide proof of insurability with A.M. Best ratings of at least A- and furnish certificates of insurance naming the District as additional insured. No incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure integration requirements are referenced in the available documentation. The shared funding cap for all Work Orders issued during the initial three-year term is $50,000, with the cumulative total of all Work Orders not to exceed this amount. All funding is contingent upon budgetary appropriations approved by the District's Governing Board, and the agreement may be terminated for convenience with 30 days' written notice or for cause upon written notice if default is not cured within a reasonable period. The District reserves the right to reject all quotes submitted in response to individual Work Order requests.