Lake Kissimmee Revegetation - Submerged Vegetation

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking competitive bids for the Lake Kissimmee Revegetation - Submerged Vegetation project, which involves the procurement of nursery-grown eelgrass (Vallisneria neotropicalis) and Illinois pondweed (Potemogeton illinoinsis) plant-pots for restoration purposes in Lake Kissimmee, Polk County. The project requires bidders to supply plant-pots with a minimum of four individual plants per 4-inch biodegradable container, grown for at least two months prior to installation. Key objectives include restoring native submerged vegetation while preventing the spread of non-native hybrid eelgrass species through rigorous genetic screening and quality control measures. Bidders must have at least two years of similar work experience and provide three references. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for January 13, 2026, at 1:00 PM ET at Coleman Landing in Lake Wales, with written questions due by January 20, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Sealed bids are due January 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM ET, with a public bid opening on the same date and an anticipated award date of February 3, 2026.

The procurement does not specify specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and with SunBiz prior to bid opening. The total budget for the project is $499,999.99, with $300,000 allocated for eelgrass and $199,999 for Illinois pondweed. The contract will be awarded to the responsive, responsible bidder submitting the highest total number of plant-pots within the budget. Contractors must maintain a Certificate of Nursery Registration and provide documentation of genetic authentication and plant origin. Insurance requirements include workers' compensation with minimum limits of $100,000 per accident and general liability coverage. The contract term is one year from Purchase Order issuance, with project completion required by June 4, 2026. Liquidated damages of $100 per calendar day will be applied for completion delays beyond the specified date.