Artificial Reef Materials Deployment to Gulfside Five (5) Mile Reef, Gulfside Eight (8) Mile Reef, and Gulfside Nine (9) Mile Reef

Monroe County, in partnership with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), is seeking proposals for the acquisition, construction, and deployment of prefabricated concrete artificial reef modules at three offshore Gulf of America reef sites: Gulfside Five-Mile, Eight-Mile, and Nine-Mile Reefs. The project involves deploying approximately 318 tons of concrete materials per site across four distinct patch reefs, with specific requirements for module specifications including large and small tetrahedrons and layered disc stands. Each module must meet detailed design criteria such as weight, height, panel thickness, reinforcement, and embedded materials to increase surface area and marine habitat complexity. Proposals will be evaluated using a 100-point scoring system, with points allocated across module specifications (20 points), pricing (30 points), professional qualifications (15 points), schedule of operations (20 points), and available deployment resources (15 points). The solicitation was posted on October 3, 2025, with proposals due on November 5, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. through the Bonfire electronic bidding platform, with an anticipated award date of December 10, 2025, and a project completion deadline of December 31, 2026.

The procurement does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent types, and no incumbent vendors are explicitly mentioned. The project is funded through a substantial $15,000,000 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission grant, with a total project budget of $2,100,000 for this specific artificial reef deployment effort. The contract includes provisions for liquidated damages, with potential payment reductions ranging from 10% to 100% for misplaced, damaged, or improperly deployed reef modules. Artificial reef materials will include secondary-use concrete, prefabricated concrete modules, limestone boulders, and other approved structures, all weighing at least 500 pounds to ensure stability. The project aims to enhance marine environments by creating new habitats for marine organisms, providing fishing and diving opportunities, and potentially drawing human activity away from more stressed marine areas. All materials must comply with federal and state guidelines, maintain a minimum 22-foot navigational clearance, and be configured to prevent marine life entanglement.