Chassahowitzka WMA - Boundary Mulching

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking competitive bids for selective forestry mulching services at the Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area (WMA) located in Leon County, Florida. This invitation to bid (ITB) procurement involves mulching approximately 191.64 acres of moderate to dense vegetation in natural areas composed of sandhill and mesic flatwoods. The contractor must perform forestry mulching of vegetation 6 inches or less in diameter to a height of 4 inches or lower, with all treated vegetation shredded and mulched in accordance with FWC specifications. Key requirements include minimizing ground disturbance, maintaining a 15-foot buffer from wetlands and ponds, coordinating with the FWC Project Manager, and providing all labor, materials, equipment, and supplies necessary to complete the work. Bidders must be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and with SunBiz prior to bid opening and must provide a minimum of three references for similar projects. A mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit is scheduled for January 28, 2026, at 10:00 AM ET at the project location in Brooksville, Florida. Written questions must be submitted by February 2, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET, with responses posted by February 4, 2026. Sealed bids are due by February 11, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET at the FWC Purchasing office in Tallahassee, with public bid opening on the same date and time. The contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the lowest bid price, with an anticipated award date of February 16, 2026.

The contract term extends one year from issuance of the Purchase Order, with project completion required by May 31, 2026. Subcontracting is not permitted under this procurement. The FWC encourages certified minority-owned, women-owned, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises to participate, though there are no set-aside restrictions limiting competition to these entities. Payment terms are limited to the accepted bid price for work performed after receipt of a Notice to Proceed, with a 10 percent reduction in payment if the contractor fails to complete deliverables within specified timeframes. Liquidated damages are assessed at $100.00 per calendar day for failure to meet the May 31, 2026 completion date, unless the delay is beyond the contractor's control. The estimated budget for this project is $65,000.00. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the procurement documents, and there are no technology integration or infrastructure requirements specified.