Lake Miccosukee Mechanical Muck Management

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is requesting competitive bids for mechanical muck management at Lake Miccosukee under ITB FWC 26/27-11, with sealed bids due October 27, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET and a mandatory pre-bid conference and site visit on October 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM ET at Cypress Boat Landing.

The scope encompasses six work sites totaling 1,168.60 acres within Lake Miccosukee in Leon and Jefferson County, Florida. The contractor will mechanically disturb organic muck and vegetation on the lakebed using heavy equipment to expose fresh, moist muck and facilitate oxidation and deterioration. Muck may require repeated treatments per specifications. The contractor must submit a per-acre-per-treatment price and is responsible for all labor, equipment, mobilization, demobilization, equipment maintenance, safety compliance, and permitting. GPS tracking data and weekly progress reports are required; only acres verified as meeting specifications will be invoiced. A minimum production requirement of 40 acres every two weeks applies, with financial consequences for failure to meet this threshold.

The estimated budget is $355,000, with total invoicing not to exceed the purchase order amount. Funding is provided by the FWC's Aquatic Habitat Restoration/Enhancement Subsection. The contract term is one year effective upon issuance of the Purchase Order during fiscal year 2026-2027 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027), with the FWC retaining the option to renew for one additional year. All treatments must be completed and invoiced by June 4, 2027. Partial payments are permitted every two weeks upon FWC verification of completed acreage.

Prospective vendors must be registered in MyFloridaMarketPlace and SunBiz prior to bid opening. Workers' compensation insurance (if the contractor employs more than four employees), automobile insurance, and public liability and property damage insurance are required. Subcontracting is permitted with prior written approval. Bidders must submit a minimum of three verifiable references for similar ground disturbance projects. Written questions are due October 15, 2026 at 5:00 PM ET, with responses anticipated by October 20, 2026. The anticipated award date is October 30, 2026.