Natural Urban Drainage System Maintenance

Sarasota County is seeking a contractor for Natural Urban Drainage System Maintenance through an Invitation for Bids (IFB) #242616FB, covering multiple sites including Buchan Ditch, Clower Creek Mitigation, South Venice Waterways, Hudson Bayou, and Hog Creek Mitigation areas. The primary services include manual exotic and invasive vegetation removal, selective chemical application, cutting with treatment, and occasional replanting of native species, with maintenance to be performed quarterly across these locations. Bidders must demonstrate experience in drainage system maintenance, specifically in aquatic wetland mitigation and herbicide treatment, and provide at least two references from the past seven years. Required qualifications include licensing for pesticide application, traffic control certification, and adherence to environmental management practices. Contractors must possess comprehensive insurance coverage, including workers' compensation, commercial general liability, automobile liability, and pollution liability for pesticide/herbicide applications. The solicitation documents were posted on August 2, 2024, with a due date of October 22, 2024, and the county anticipates an initial contract term of three years with options for two additional one-year renewals. Evaluation will focus on responsiveness and the lowest bid from a responsible contractor.

The solicitation does not indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises, and local or American business preferences will not apply due to grant funding requirements. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with no incumbent vendor information provided in the documentation. The comprehensive bid documents suggest a detailed environmental restoration approach, utilizing native Florida plant species and following strict Integrated Pest Management (IPM) guidelines established by Sarasota County. While no specific contract value is explicitly stated, the scope of work covers maintenance across multiple sites, including detailed planting plans for restoration projects involving ecological zones such as wetlands, upland areas, and filter marshes. The project aligns with county environmental protection goals, as evidenced by the inclusion of detailed Best Management Practices (BMP) manual and the Fertilizer and Landscape Management Code (Ordinance No. 2007-062), which emphasizes minimizing environmental impact and protecting local water resources.