Fisheating Bay Islands Planting

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking competitive bids for the Fisheating Bay Islands Planting project, which involves supplying and planting native emergent plants on spoil islands in Fisheating Bay, Lake Okeechobee, located in Glades County. The procurement requires a vendor to plant specific native species, including 100 bald cypress, 100 pond apple, 100 pop ash, 80 cocoplum, 7,500 giant bulrush, and 7,500 Egyptian paspalidium across 2-4 acres of islands ranging from 1-3 acres in size. Bidders must be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and with Sunbiz prior to bid opening, and must provide references for similar projects. The bid evaluation will focus on the lowest total bid price from a responsive and responsible bidder, with work to be completed between March 31 and May 30, 2025, preferably starting in April. The bid due date is November 26, 2024, at 2:30 PM (ET), with a public bid opening on the same date. All bid submissions must include comprehensive pricing for supplying, transporting, planting, staking, and watering the specified plant species according to detailed technical specifications.

The FWC encourages participation from minority, women, and veteran-owned business enterprises, suggesting potential set-aside considerations or preference points for these designated business types. The contract will be awarded on a fixed-price basis, with payment made upon completion of work and approval by the FWC Contract Manager. Potential liquidated damages may be assessed for project delays. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract will be effective for one year from the purchase order issuance. The procurement does not specify a precise budget range, but bidders should be prepared to cover all costs associated with plant procurement, transportation, planting, and site maintenance. Successful vendors must comply with all technical specifications, including precise planting density, plant liner placement, and site restoration requirements. Interested bidders should carefully review all documentation on the Florida Vendor Information Portal (VIP) website and ensure complete compliance with the solicitation's detailed requirements.