Commercial Water-Based Charter Boat and Tour Operator Permits

Sarasota County is soliciting bids for commercial water-based charter boat and tour operator permits under IFB 262874FB, with bids due August 18, 2026. The County will award 60 permits total (30 North County, 30 South County) across five designated park locations by highest annual bid price, with a maximum of two permits per company per zone. No local or American business preferences apply due to grant funding requirements.

Applicants must document two years of commercial water-based charter fishing or guided excursion tour experience within the past five years, provide two references from separate entities, and hold current State of Florida vessel registration, USCG Auxiliary Vessel Safety Check, valid USCG Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel license, State of Florida Division of Corporations registration, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission saltwater charter license if applicable. Vessels must be 25 GRT or less. Operators must participate in a USCG-compliant Drug Consortium program.

Insurance requirements are substantial: workers' compensation with minimum employer liability of $500,000 per accident, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and marine liability/Protection and Indemnity insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, with Sarasota County named as additional insured on applicable policies.

The minimum annual permit fee is $1,200 per permit, with awarded holders paying their full bid amount annually in advance. The initial contract term is one year with four optional one-year renewals. Permit holders must submit monthly reports by the tenth day following each reporting period documenting tour numbers, customer counts, and location data.

Park locations and permit allocations are Nora Patterson Bay Island Park (20), Turtle Beach Park (10), Indian Mound Park (5), Marina Park and Boat Ramp in Venice (5), and Nokomis Beach Public Boat Ramp (20). Questions should be submitted through the OpenGov Procurement portal.