Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area Fireline Clearing

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is seeking competitive pricing for the Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area Fireline Clearing project, located in Hillsborough County. The procurement involves two primary jobs: the removal of vegetation from approximately 65,405 feet of marked lines to prepare a 15-foot-wide path, and the subsequent root-raking of approximately 71,544 feet of the cleared areas. The work must be completed by June 30 of each calendar year, with an initial contract term of one year and options to renew for two additional one-year periods. A mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for October 1, 2024, and sealed bids are due by November 7, 2024, at 4:00 PM ET. The contract will be awarded to the responsive, responsible bidder submitting the lowest total price, with bidders required to provide unit pricing per linear foot for vegetation removal and root-raking for each contract year. Bidders must submit pricing for both the initial year and potential renewal years, with the understanding that no minimum amount of work is guaranteed and FWC reserves the right to adjust the project scope based on available funding.

The FWC actively encourages participation from minority, women, and veteran-owned business enterprises, though specific set-aside percentages are not detailed in the documentation. Vendors must be registered in the MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) system and with SunBiz prior to the bid opening, which creates a barrier to entry for unregistered businesses. The anticipated budget for the fiscal year 2024/2025 is $75,000, with the project to be completed through progressive work completion. Contractors will be responsible for providing all necessary equipment and properly disposing of cleared vegetation off-site. The pricing structure allows for fixed-price payments per linear foot or potentially a cost-reimbursement approach for eligible project costs. While no incumbent vendor is specifically mentioned, the solicitation indicates that the work is part of ongoing environmental management for the Lake Wales Ridge Wildlife and Environmental Area, suggesting this may be a recurring or cyclical procurement opportunity.