Long Key Living Shoreline Restoration Project

Monroe County is soliciting proposals for the Long Key Living Shoreline Restoration Project through a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued on October 23, 2025, with submissions due by December 4, 2025, at 3:00 PM. The project aims to construct a 1,282-foot living shoreline to enhance coastal resilience for the Long Key Transfer Station and provide environmental benefits to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Proposers will be evaluated based on a comprehensive 105-point scoring system, with cost proposals accounting for 55 points and considering factors such as company information, qualifications, technical proposals, and construction methodology. A non-mandatory virtual pre-bid conference is scheduled for November 20, 2025, at 10:00 AM, and the project has a 90-calendar day completion timeline, with all work required to be finished by June 15, 2026. Contractors must submit comprehensive documentation through the Bonfire electronic bidding platform, including detailed technical plans, references, and financial qualifications. The project involves installing wave attenuation devices, native plantings, and mangrove restoration to minimize shoreline erosion, improve water quality, and protect marine habitats.

The contract is funded by a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Resilient Florida State Grant (#22-FRP-131) with a budget of $900,000, requiring no match from Monroe County. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the RFP emphasizes comprehensive evaluation of proposers' capabilities and qualifications. The project will utilize federal funding, which triggers certain federal compliance requirements, including the Byrd Anti-Lobbying Certification and prevailing wage standards established by the U.S. Department of Labor. Wage rates are predetermined, with minimum hourly rates ranging from $9.34 for common laborers to $27.00 for painters, and contractors must comply with Executive Orders regarding minimum wages and sick leave provisions. The project site consists of approximately 1.62 acres near an existing solid waste transfer station, with potential environmental considerations including the presence of threatened species like the American Crocodile. Contractors will need to demonstrate expertise in coastal restoration, environmental construction, and compliance with marine sanctuary preservation guidelines.