Lake Okeechobee - Sawgrass Planting

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is issuing an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the procurement of nursery-grown sawgrass plants (Cladium jamaicense) and associated planting services at Lake Okeechobee's Steamboat Marsh in Glades County, Florida, with the primary objective of restoring native emergent plants in response to documented sawgrass decline in the western and southwestern marshes. Bidders must supply equal quantities of 2-inch and 4-inch liner plants with minimum heights of 15 inches and 24 inches respectively, with all liners potted and grown for at least two months prior to installation. All costs including plants, containers, labor, equipment, transportation, fuel, and maintenance must be included in the bid pricing, and successful planting of a minimum of 95 percent of specified plants is required to avoid default. Bidders must possess a Certificate of Nursery Registration or Certificate of Stock Dealer Registration (DACS-08004), provide at least three verifiable references for similar projects, demonstrate Florida business registration through MyFloridaMarketPlace and SunBiz, maintain appropriate insurance coverage including workers' compensation and general liability, and maintain E-Verify enrollment. The sealed bid deadline is February 20, 2026, at 2:30 PM ET with public opening on the same date; questions must be submitted by February 9, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET. Planting is scheduled for spring 2026 (March through June preferred) contingent upon suitable water levels, with work to be completed within fourteen calendar days of commencement and invoices due within seven calendar days of project completion or June 12, whichever is earlier. The anticipated award date is February 24, 2026, with the contract term of one year from purchase order issuance, possible extensions granted at the Contract Manager's discretion, and liquidated damages of $100 per calendar day assessed for failure to meet the completion date unless delay is attributable to circumstances beyond the contractor's control.

The procurement documents do not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular types of organizations or disadvantaged enterprises, indicating this is an open competitive procurement available to all qualified vendors meeting the stated qualifications. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available procurement materials. The total project budget is $58,050, with payment made upon completion and Contract Manager approval based on the number of plants successfully planted; if between 95 and 100 percent of specified plants are provided, payment will be prorated accordingly. Bidders must submit separate pricing per plant for each liner size on the provided price sheet, and the contract will be awarded to the responsive, responsible bidder submitting the lowest total bid price for both liner sizes combined.