Living Shorelines

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is pursuing a single-source procurement for a Living Shorelines project, specifically targeting coastal resiliency and environmental restoration initiatives in Hillsborough County. The contract will be awarded to Shuman Foundation, Inc. d/b/a DRIVE for Clean Water, leveraging their unique proprietary drone technology for precision deployment of marine ecosystem components. Key deliverables include implementing nature-based infrastructure projects focused on shellfish restoration, coastal ecosystem science, and biogeochemical nutrient cycling. The scope of services requires the vendor to conduct at least four group sessions, workshops, and seminars, and deploy specialized infrastructure such as oyster catcher matts and live-stream cameras at restoration sites. The project encompasses multiple service categories including shellfish and aquatic invertebrates, coastal ecology, natural resources management, water testing, and mangrove swamp ecology. The solicitation was posted on October 3, 2025, with a final date for information receipt set for October 27, 2025, at 8:00 AM. All project tasks must adhere to FDOT's Project Development and Environmental Manual, Design Manual, and incorporate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

This procurement appears to be a sole-source contract without specific set-aside designations or restrictions on organizational types. The project will involve collaboration with the University of Florida and requires integration with existing environmental management protocols. The contract is structured for a three-year duration with a total value of $250,000.00, focusing on innovative environmental restoration techniques. The vendor must coordinate with local governments, agencies, and civic organizations to build functioning multitrophic ecosystems and integrate the project into educational platforms for schools and public engagement. The FDOT will provide a Contract Manager, currently identified as Richard Moss from the Planning Environmental Management Office in Tampa, Florida, with the flexibility to change management personnel as needed. The unique technological approach, specifically the six-foot diameter drone designed to aerially deploy clam and oyster spat, represents a distinctive qualification that justified the single-source selection. Community volunteer facilitation and professional environmental engagement are integral components of the project's implementation strategy.