Blue crab trap retrieval program

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is issuing a competitive Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the Blue Crab Trap Retrieval Program, seeking a contractor to provide administration, labor, and materials necessary to retrieve blue crab traps from state waters across six designated regions in Florida during three annual regional blue crab trap closures. The contractor's primary deliverables include developing preliminary trap retrieval schedules submitted at least five days prior to project commencement, coordinating with FWC-appointed observers aboard participating vessels, recruiting and compensating project participants, ensuring vessel safety and equipment compliance, and arranging proper disposal of all retrieved traps and materials at authorized waste management facilities. Required qualifications include registration in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and with SunBiz prior to bid opening, maintenance of commercial general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage with specified limits, compliance with E-Verify employment eligibility verification, and adherence to all Florida and Federal laws. The evaluation criteria prioritizes the responsive, responsible bidder submitting the lowest total bid price per region, with the FWC anticipating award to all regions based on budget and closure availability. Sealed bids must be received by March 26, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET with a public bid opening scheduled for the same date and time, and the anticipated award date is March 31, 2026. The initial contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with three optional one-year renewal periods available at the Commission's discretion. Pricing must be submitted on the provided Price Sheet with unit pricing per retrieved trap for each region and separate pricing for the initial term and each renewal year, with all prices excluding Federal and State sales or use taxes.

The solicitation does not indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises; however, subcontracting is permitted with submission of a Subcontractor Minority Status Report required with each invoice. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The estimated total budget for the project is $200,000, with pricing structured as multi-award contracts on a per-region basis. Performance standards require 100% achievement for trap retrieval and disposal measures and 95% compliance with other contract requirements, with financial consequences for non-performance including a 10% reduction from payment or $6,000 per day loss of productivity, whichever is greater. The FWC retains the right to terminate the contract for convenience with 15 days' notice, for cause with opportunity to cure, or immediately for fraud or willful misconduct. Contract administration will be conducted under Section 379.2424, Florida Statutes, and Rule 68B-55, F.A.C.