Marine Archeological Submerged Cultural Resources Remote Sensing Investigation

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is soliciting proposals for a Marine Archeological Submerged Cultural Resources Remote Sensing Investigation in the Lignumvitae Key Submerged Land Managed Area. The procurement seeks qualified vendors to conduct comprehensive submerged cultural resource surveys across approximately 215 acres, utilizing integrated remote sensing equipment including magnetometer, sidescan sonar, subbottom profiler, depth finder, and GPS. The primary objective is to identify potential historical resources and shipwrecks to guide the placement of 344 channel markers, signs, and buoys that will protect cultural sites and seagrass habitats from boating damage. Respondents must attend a mandatory virtual pre-response conference on December 16, 2025, with vendor registration required by December 12, 2025. Written questions are due by December 18, 2025, with responses posted around December 24, 2025. Proposals are due January 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM Eastern Time, with a public opening scheduled for January 13, 2026. The contract will be awarded based on a comprehensive evaluation considering past performance (75 points), technical response (85 points), and price (50 points), totaling 210 available points.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations, but Florida-based vendors may receive a 5 percent price preference. All respondents must meet mandatory criteria, including having no discriminatory vendor status, maintaining an active W-9, and agreeing to all solicitation terms. The contract will be awarded to a single contractor with a fixed-price structure, covering services from the execution date through June 30, 2026, with no renewal options. Deliverables include a detailed report following Florida Division of Historical Resources guidelines and a multi-feature geodatabase, both due by June 1, 2026, with a 1 percent daily penalty for late submissions. The contractor must obtain research design approval from the Florida Division of Historical Resources and secure the required 1A-32 Archaeological Research Permit. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, pricing must be submitted as a per-acre rate for the estimated 215 acres, with actual payment based on services rendered. The DEP will contact three client references as part of the past performance evaluation process.