Gopher Tortoise Recipient Reservation Site Price for the Utilities Operation Center East, and Eastern Water Restoration Facility Roadway Improvements

Orange County, Florida is seeking sealed bids for a Gopher Tortoise Recipient Reservation Site Price contract (IFB No. Y22-614-AV) for the Utilities Operation Center East and Eastern Water Restoration Facility Roadway Improvements project. The primary objective is to secure recipient sites for relocating approximately 40 gopher tortoises from construction areas. Bidders must submit electronic responses through the OpenGov Procurement portal by 4:00 PM on October 6, 2022, with strict requirements for submission. Qualified bidders must possess an active permit from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission and comply with current FWC rules for gopher tortoise relocation. The contract requires recipient sites to be located within 100 miles north or south of the donor site, with specific mitigation guidelines including reduced contribution fees of $223 for the first group of 10 burrows and $334 for each additional tortoise. Evaluation will focus on lowest responsive and responsible bidder(s), with the county reserving the right to purchase between 1-40 credits from potential recipients.

Respondents must provide comprehensive documentation, including an active FWC permit, completed bid response form, and various compliance forms such as drug-free workplace and conflict of interest statements. There are no specific set-aside designations mentioned for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract does not guarantee a minimum purchase amount and will be subject to fund availability, with potential for renewal as specified in the bid documents. Successful bidders will be responsible for the full logistics of tortoise relocation, including transportation, marking, and release in accordance with conservation guidelines. While no specific award value is explicitly stated, the contract involves the purchase of gopher tortoise relocation credits, with pricing structured at $223 for the first 10 burrows and $334 for subsequent tortoises. The procurement is specifically for Orange County and the City of Orlando, targeting environmental mitigation for infrastructure improvement projects. Bidders must also meet specific insurance requirements as outlined in the bid documentation.