John Bethea State Forest Road Maintenance - Project No. 06250ROAD24

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) No. ITB FFS 24 25 143 for road maintenance within John Bethea State Forest in Baker County, Florida. The procurement involves regrading approximately 11 miles of state forest dirt roads and pulling ditches, with specific technical requirements including ditch pulling, using excavated dirt to build up roads, harrowing to remove organic vegetation, and mechanically compacting roads using a vibratory roller. Bidders will be evaluated based on the lowest unit price per 1/10 mile for road maintenance as specified in the technical specifications. A mandatory site visit is scheduled for April 10, 2025, at 10:00 AM, with sealed bids due by April 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM. The public bid opening will occur on April 29, 2025, at 10:30 AM via teleconference, with an anticipated contract award posting on May 6, 2025. The anticipated contract period is 120 calendar days, with 30 days for substantial completion and 30 days for project close-out after the Notice to Proceed.

Contractors must comply with Florida Forest Service Silviculture Best Management Practices and will be responsible for proper signage, cleanup, and protection of existing state property during the project. The proposed budget for this project is up to $226,000.00, with the Department intending to make a single award or no award based on what is determined to be in the best interest of the state. While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor types are explicitly mentioned in the documentation, the contract will require contractors to demonstrate technical capability in forest road maintenance and adherence to environmental best practices. The contract will utilize a standardized agreement template from FDACS that includes provisions for contract modifications, progress tracking, and financial documentation. Potential bidders should carefully review the technical specifications and be prepared to provide comprehensive documentation of their road maintenance capabilities, equipment, and approach to completing the project within the specified timeframe and budget constraints.