Boundary fire break construction and rehabilitation on escribano point wildlife management area(WMA)

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking competitive bids for boundary fire break construction and rehabilitation on the Escribano Point Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in Santa Rosa County. The procurement is an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for approximately 6.6 miles of fire break creation and rehabilitation, utilizing specialized techniques such as floating excavators or marsh mats to minimize ground disturbance. Primary objectives include mulching vegetation along the WMA boundary to enhance prescribed fire and wildland fire safety and containment. Bidders must be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and with SunBiz prior to bid opening. A mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit is scheduled for November 1, 2024, with sealed bids due by November 20, 2024. The FWC anticipates contract award on December 2, 2024, with an initial one-year term and potential for two additional annual renewals. Evaluation will be based on the lowest total price across all years, with pricing requested for both existing and new fire lines.

The FWC encourages participation from minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses, though no specific set-aside designations are explicitly stated. Bidders will be required to provide detailed pricing per mile for fire line work, with renewal year pricing also mandatory. The contract's funding is subject to annual appropriation, and the Commission reserves the right to prioritize treatment areas based on available budget. While no incumbent vendor is mentioned, the project requires specialized equipment capable of operating in sensitive wildlife management environments. The contract appears to have flexibility in scope, with the Commission potentially adjusting project areas based on budgetary constraints. Though a specific budget range is not provided, the comprehensive nature of the fire break rehabilitation suggests a substantial investment in ecosystem management and wildfire prevention infrastructure.