Aquatic Fence Construction, Refencing and Removal

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for aquatic fence construction, refencing, and removal services across the St. Johns River system in Leon County and nine additional Florida counties, with approximately 90 percent of work concentrated in Lake George. The procurement seeks competitive pricing for three distinct services: new aquatic enclosure construction, refencing of existing enclosures, and complete removal of fencing materials, with pricing submitted on a per-1,300-linear-foot basis for each service and separate line items for materials and labor. Bidders must demonstrate minimum qualifications including three references for similar projects, financial ability, experience, resources, and business integrity, and all contractors must maintain a minimum production standard of 1,300 linear feet per day or face daily liquidated damages of $100. The contract term spans two years from Purchase Order issuance with possible extension under Force Majeure circumstances, and all materials, labor, equipment, and disposal of removed materials at legal landfills or recycling facilities are the contractor's responsibility. Critical deadlines include a mandatory pre-bid conference on February 11, 2026, at 11:00 AM ET, a written questions deadline of February 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET, sealed bid submission by March 2, 2026, at 3:30 PM ET at the FWC Purchasing office in Tallahassee with public opening immediately following, and anticipated award on March 5, 2026. The award will be made to the responsive, responsible bidder submitting the lowest total bid price, and prospective bidders must conduct mandatory site visits prior to submission.

All bidders must be registered in MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) and SunBiz prior to bid opening; no specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or small business designations are identified in the procurement documents. Subcontracting is permitted with submission of a List of Subcontractors and Subcontractor Minority Status Report with each invoice, allowing for potential participation by minority-owned or disadvantaged business enterprises through this mechanism. Payment is based on linear feet of work completed as verified by GPS measurement, with partial invoices permitted every two weeks during active construction, providing flexible cash flow management for contractors. Work shall be performed weekdays during daylight hours with suspension during unsafe weather conditions, and no incumbent vendor or existing contractor information is specified in the available documentation. Budget parameters or award values are not disclosed in the procurement announcement; however, the scope encompasses extensive aquatic fencing work across ten counties with the majority concentrated in Lake George, suggesting a substantial contract value.