Derelict Vessel Removal

Okaloosa County, Florida is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for derelict vessel removal and disposal services within the county's jurisdictional waters, including Choctawhatchee Bay, Santa Rosa Sound, and adjacent Gulf of Mexico waters. The procurement seeks qualified marine contractors capable of performing safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible vessel removal operations, including transportation and proper disposal of vessel debris, fluids, and materials in full compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations. Key qualifications required include Florida state licensing in accordance with Chapter 489, a Certificate of Good Standing from the Florida Department of State, and compliance with E-Verify employment verification requirements. The evaluation of proposals will be based on four criteria: technical approach and work plan (30 points), experience and past performance (30 points), qualifications and equipment availability (25 points), and response time/mobilization capability (15 points). Critical dates include a deadline for questions on February 4, 2026, and a proposal due date of February 19, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. CST, with the review committee meeting scheduled for March 10, 2026, award recommendation on March 13, 2026, and contract finalization by the Board of County Commissioners on March 24, 2026. The resulting agreement will be effective upon execution and remain in effect for three years with two optional one-year renewal periods, with compensation determined on a task order basis submitted by the contractor and approved by the Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners Finance Office.

The solicitation does not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular categories of organizations based on disadvantaged enterprise status. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed in the procurement documents. All work will be assigned through task orders based on contractor availability, ability to adhere to project schedules, performance on previous tasks, and quoted amounts, with compensation structures established individually per assignment rather than as a fixed contract value. The contractor must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation, commercial general liability of $1 million per occurrence, business automobile liability of $1 million combined single limit, and watercraft liability of $1 million per occurrence. Additionally, contractors must register with SAM.gov if any work is grant-funded, ensuring compliance with federal procurement requirements and transparency in contractor eligibility.