Aquatic Vegetation Control

The Pinellas County School District is soliciting bids for Aquatic Vegetation Control services through Invitation to Bid #25-HO-039, seeking a specialized contractor to provide monthly treatment of wetland mitigation areas and stormwater systems across 86.93 acres of school facilities. The contract will run from April 22, 2025, to April 23, 2026, with potential two-year renewal options. Bidders must be a "Specialty Contractor" with specific licensing requirements, including a State of Florida "Qualified Business License" and a Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Aquatic and Natural Area Weed Management License. The successful contractor must complete all services in-house, with no subcontractors allowed without written approval, and must respond to service requests within 48 hours. Key deliverables include comprehensive vegetation management, removal of nuisance/exotic species, proper herbicide application, environmental compliance, and weekly reporting. The mandatory pre-bid conference was held on February 26, 2025, with bid submissions due by March 14, 2025, and an anticipated School Board award date of April 22, 2025. The procurement is structured as an "ALL or NONE" bid, meaning the entire contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.

The bid does not explicitly mention any set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The procurement appears open to qualified specialty contractors with appropriate licensing and capabilities in aquatic vegetation control. Nine companies attended the pre-bid conference, including Florida Aquatic Solutions, Aqugenic Tigris Company, Florida Permitting, Blue Water Aquatics, Environmental Management Acquisition, Crosscreek Environmental, Lake Brothers LLC, Stantec, and Wetland Management Services LLC. The estimated contract value is approximately $75,000 per year, with pricing structured as a unit cost per acre for herbicide application using various methods including shore, boat, and drone treatments. Contractors must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including General Liability Insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence, Automotive Liability Insurance, and Workers' Compensation Insurance, with specific requirements detailed in the accompanying insurance specifications document. The district reserves the right to add or delete treatment sites as necessary, and contractors must submit detailed documentation including photographs and site-specific treatment plans for each school location.