Drilling Services for Submerged Cave Systems in the Wakulla Basin

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is soliciting responses through Request for Proposals (RFP 2026015) for drilling services to install submerged cave monitoring wells in the Wakulla Basin located in Leon County. This procurement seeks qualified water well drilling contractors to perform specialized wireline core drilling, PVC well casing installation, and comprehensive documentation at two mandatory sites and up to two optional sites within karst and cave systems to facilitate water quality and tracer research. Respondents must possess an active Water Well Contractor License from one of Florida's five Water Management Districts and demonstrate documented experience with rock core drilling, advanced technical specifications, and lost circulation zone drilling in cavernous formations. The evaluation criteria allocate 75 points for past performance (25 points per reference), 70 points for technical qualifications, and 50 points for pricing (25 points for the initial term and 25 points for renewal terms), totaling 195 available points, with pricing evaluated using a lowest total price formula. Site 1 requires 240 linear feet of pilot hole drilling with associated reaming stages, Site 2 requires 140 linear feet, optional Site 3 involves 260 linear feet, and optional Site 4 requires 300 linear feet, with all work including permitting, mobilization, site preparation, coring, PVC casing installation, and site cleanup. Proposals are due by May 4, 2026, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time at the DEP Procurement Section in Tallahassee, with public opening on May 5, 2026, an anticipated award date of June 2, 2026, and all services required to be initiated by June 15, 2026, and completed by September 1, 2026.

A Florida-based business preference applies, providing a 5% price adjustment to Florida vendors if a non-Florida vendor submits the lowest bid. The contract structure consists of an initial one-year term with options for renewal for up to three additional years contingent upon satisfactory performance. Respondents must submit fixed unit rates for all line items and contract periods in a designated Rate Schedule form provided in both electronic Excel format and printed hard copy, with all contractor costs including travel, labor, materials, supplies, drilling fluid, and cement incorporated into the unit pricing with no separate reimbursement. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum limits of $250,000 per occurrence and $500,000 policy aggregate, commercial automobile insurance with limits of $200,000/$300,000 if applicable, and workers' compensation insurance with minimum limits of $100,000 per accident, and a one percent MyFloridaMarketPlace transaction fee will be assessed on all payments received from the state. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation documents; pricing will be determined competitively through the submitted Rate Schedules. The Department reserves the right to award to one or multiple respondents or to make no award, and no pre-response conference or site visit is scheduled.