Lafitte Cove Dredging - Re-Solicit

Escambia County is seeking a licensed marine contractor to perform mechanical dredging services at the Lafitte Cove Canal entrance. The project involves dredging a 200' x 65' area to a depth of -5.0' Mean Low Water, with an estimated 800 cubic yards of sediment removal per dredging event. The dredged material will be transported to an upland disposal site located south of Pensacola Beach Boulevard Water Towers. The contractor must dredge the canal entryway two to three times annually, with anticipated work periods in February, July-August, and October-November, strictly adhering to environmental restrictions that prohibit work during shorebird nesting season and require completion by March 14 each year. The solicitation was released on December 9, 2025, with bid questions due by December 17, 2025, and final bid responses due on December 22, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. The contract will have an initial 36-month term, with potential renewals up to a total of 60 months, subject to mutual agreement and fund availability.

The procurement requires bidders to be licensed marine contractors registered with the Florida Division of Corporations, with demonstrated experience in similar dredging projects within the past three years. Contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including workers' compensation, general liability, business auto liability, and marine-specific insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, the county has implemented a local business preference policy, though this does not apply to construction services funded with state appropriated funds. Bidders must comply with E-Verify requirements, maintain a drug-free workplace, and verify no public entity crimes. The solicitation does not specify a precise budget range, but the pricing structure includes a lump-sum basis with unit pricing per cubic yard of material removed and transported. Successful contractors will need to coordinate closely with Escambia County and comply with both U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Florida Department of Environmental Protection permit requirements.