Fort King Archaeology Services

The City of Ocala Recreation & Parks Department is seeking qualified archaeological firms to provide professional archaeological services for the Fort King National Historic Landmark through RFP #REC/250728. The procurement specifically requires archaeological monitoring, non-invasive survey technology, and interpretive programming focused on Second Seminole War-era archaeology. Proposers must be licensed archaeologists in Florida with a minimum of 15 years of experience in archaeological excavations, monitoring, mitigation, artifact analysis, cataloging, and technical report writing. The evaluation criteria will allocate 40 points for qualifications and experience, 40 points for approach and methodology, and 20 points for pricing, with qualifications weighted more heavily than cost. A mandatory pre-proposal meeting and site visit is scheduled for August 22, 2025, at 9:30 AM EST at 3925 E. Fort King St., Ocala, FL, and proposal submissions are due by September 12, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST. The initial contract term will be two years, with two optional one-year renewal terms available, and potential price increases limited to 3% annually based on the CPI-U.

The RFP does not specify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The selected contractor will be responsible for on-site archaeological monitoring, identifying and documenting archaeological resources, conducting ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys, and assisting with interpretive programming. Insurance requirements include commercial auto liability, commercial general liability, and workers' compensation, with the City of Ocala to be named as an additional insured. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated in the documents, the price proposal form (Exhibit A) includes line items for archaeological monitoring services, reporting and documentation, staff and volunteer training sessions, and monthly archaeological deliverables. The project is located at the Fort King National Historic Landmark in Ocala, Marion County, Florida, with a comprehensive archaeological site map detailing survey progress and priority zones for surface impact management. The City reserves the right to negotiate with the highest-ranked proposer and may conduct interviews with shortlisted firms.