Herbicide Application Services - Peace River State Forest

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Agriculture, is soliciting sealed bids under ITB FFS 26 27 55 for herbicide application services targeting invasive exotic plants on approximately 107 acres of Peace River State Forest in DeSoto County, with a mandatory pre-bid site visit on November 12, 2026 and bids due December 1, 2026. Bidders must hold a certified commercial applicator license in the natural areas weed management or aquatic category, and the site visit admits two representatives per prospective vendor.

The contractor must perform initial herbicide treatment of all Florida Invasive Species Council Category 1 non-native plants within treatment block PRSFPR0110, with likely targets including Brazilian pepper, rosary pea, old world climbing fern, cogon grass, Caesar weed, and melaleuca. Work must be completed by June 10, 2027. The contractor supplies all labor, materials, equipment, and transportation, including herbicides, surfactants, and marking dye, and is responsible for GPS data collection, application records, equipment decontamination, site cleanup, and off-site disposal of herbicide containers and waste. Bidders must submit three verifiable past performance references from similar projects completed within the last five years. Required insurance includes $500,000 chemical drift control liability, $1,000,000 general liability per occurrence, $300,000 automobile liability, and workers' compensation.

Award goes to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest Initial Term Grand Total Price, calculated as a firm fixed unit price per acre multiplied by 107 acres. The Department anticipates a purchase order for an initial one-year term, with renewals in one-year increments not to exceed three additional renewal years on the same terms. Place of performance is Peace River State Forest, 4300 SW County Road 769, Arcadia, Florida 34269. Appendix I contains the treatment area maps.

The site visit takes place November 12, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. at the forest. Sealed bids are due December 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. at the Mayo Building in Tallahassee, and the public bid opening follows on December 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m., by teleconference or in person.