Artificial Reef Construction: Large Vessel Reef in Escambia SE or LAARS E. Reef Site, AR2608: Re-Solicit

Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is requesting proposals for the supply, cleaning and preparation, transport, and precise deployment of one or more vessels exceeding 85 feet in length as artificial reef material at either the Escambia County Southeast or LAARS East Artificial Reef Site under RFP PD 25-26.097, with proposals due August 14, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. and a non-mandatory pre-solicitation meeting on July 21, 2026.

Deployment must occur without explosives in Class III state waters at depths of 80–200 feet, with material placement marked by perimeter buoys during construction. All vessels must be steel or aluminum construction with minimum hull and superstructure thickness of one-quarter inch, seaworthy condition suitable for SCUBA diver attraction, and a marine survey dated within twelve months prior to Notice to Proceed. The project requires comprehensive vessel cleaning to remove all fuels, oils, greases, debris, furnishings, flaking paint, and contaminants. Contractors must submit a Florida Artificial Reef Materials Cargo Manifest to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at least 7 days prior to deployment and a Materials Placement Report within 30 days of completion; NOAA must be notified of reef location within 30 days of material placement. Both Army Corps of Engineers and Florida Department of Environmental Protection permits authorize the work; the ACOE permit extends through December 23, 2026.

Contractors must demonstrate a minimum of three similar artificial reef deployments at comparable depths (90–200 feet) in open waters completed within the past five years, with documentation including permit holder contact information. Insurance requirements include general liability ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate), workers' compensation at statutory limits, pollution liability ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate), Protection & Indemnity insurance ($1 million per occurrence / $2 million aggregate), and marine pollution liability.

The estimated deployment date is January through June 2027, with six months from Notice to Proceed to complete the project. Escambia County reserves the right to award to one or multiple qualified respondents. Evaluation uses a points-based system: vessel construction and integrity (15 points), habitat value (20 points), horizontal and vertical stability (20 points), deployment capability (15 points), project plan (15 points), and pricing (15 points). Pricing represents 15 percent of the evaluation score and must include the total cost of the vessel deployed on the seafloor in full compliance with all applicable regulations and permit conditions. The deadline for submitting questions is July 28, 2026.