ITB-1345 Purchase of Mitigation Credits

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) 1345 for the purchase of mitigation credits to offset environmental impacts for State Road 72 and State Road 70 in Polk County. Specifically, the project requires procurement of federal and state mitigation credits for approximately 9.30 acres of freshwater forested wetlands, 2.20 acres of freshwater herbaceous wetlands, and wood stork species credits within the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Regulatory Peace River Basin. Vendors must possess valid state and/or federal mitigation banking permits and provide current credit ledgers demonstrating their mitigation bank's service area covers the specified project impacts. The bid is due on June 3, 2025, at 9:00 AM, with a public bid opening at 11:00 AM and intended award posting at 2:00 PM the same day. This is a 24-month term contract with no guaranteed quantity of mitigation credits, allowing vendors to submit credit prices for state-only, federal-only, or combined federal and state credits.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must comply with state requirements, including drug-free workplace certification and verification against scrutinized companies lists. The credits must be acceptable to regulatory agencies including SWFWMD, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. While no specific budget is mentioned, FDOT reserves the right to purchase credits from the lowest bidder or combination of bidders to meet project needs and potentially use excess credits on future projects. The contract's flexibility allows for strategic credit acquisition based on pricing and regulatory compliance, with the primary goal of environmental mitigation for the road improvement project. Vendors will be evaluated based on their ability to provide appropriate mitigation credits that satisfy federal and state environmental regulatory requirements within the specified geographical area.