District Five, Wildlife Collision Avoidance System

The Florida Department of Transportation District Five is issuing a Request for Proposal to procure a novel wildlife collision-avoidance system (WCAS) utilizing roadside technology designed to reduce vehicle-animal collisions on State Route 40 through the Ocala National Forest in Marion and Lake Counties. The procurement requires vendors to furnish, install, configure, and test eight complete WCAS assemblies mounted on previously installed Intelligent Transportation Systems poles, along with providing post-deployment, as-needed, and technical support services for a three-year contract term with potential renewal for up to three additional years. The WCAS must autonomously detect macro-species wildlife including deer, bears, panthers, coyotes, bobcats, and wild hogs within designated warning areas and trigger localized motorist alerts via flashing warning beacons. The solicitation is structured around three Task Work Orders: Task 1 requires permit test plan approval and Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) eligibility verification within six months; Task 2 encompasses vendor installation, integration, and testing services at an SR 429 testing site within twelve months; and Task 3 involves full-scale deployment of eight complete WCAS assemblies on SR 40. Technical proposals are due May 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. with public opening at 2:00 p.m. the same day, price proposals will be opened May 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., and the selection committee will meet May 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. to determine the intended award. Evaluation criteria allocate 100 points for technical proposals (15 points for vendor qualifications, 60 for system technical approach, and 25 for the evaluation period plan) and 30 points for price proposals, with responsive proposals requiring a minimum technical score of 70 points.

All vendors must be registered in Florida's MyFloridaMarketplace system prior to the technical proposal opening date, and out-of-state corporations, limited liability companies, and limited partnerships must be authorized to do business in Florida. Vendors are required to provide completed Vendor Certification Regarding Scrutinized Companies Lists forms and E-Verify compliance documentation, and general liability insurance with minimum limits of $200,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence must be obtained prior to work commencement. The procurement document specifies that vendors must establish unit rates in Tables 2 and 3 of the price proposal for as-needed purchases of individual system components, additional installations, software development, and warranty services, with all payments subject to a one-percent transaction fee through MyFloridaMarketplace. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the available solicitation materials, and no incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified. The solicitation is subject to change with notices of addenda posted on the Vendor Information Portal, and all potential bidders are responsible for monitoring the site for any modifications prior to submitting proposals.