Okaloosa County Offshore Artificial Reef Construction Project 2026-Large & Small Prefabricated Modules

Okaloosa County, Florida is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Okaloosa County Offshore Artificial Reef Construction Project 2026, competitively procuring the design, fabrication, and deployment of large and small prefabricated artificial reef modules. The project requires the delivery of 32 marine-grade concrete modules (28 units minimum 6 feet tall and 4 units minimum 15 feet tall), each weighing at least 6,000 pounds with a minimum compressive strength of 4,000 psi, to be deployed at five designated patch reef locations at depths of 114 to 121 feet within the LAARS A permitted area offshore Okaloosa County. All modules must include surface treatments and multiple openings for water circulation and marine life access. Proposal evaluation will be based on five criteria: Module Specifications (40 points), Reef Price per Unit/Total Project Cost (20 points), Experience and Understanding (15 points), Schedule of Operations (15 points), and Available Deployment Resources (10 points). A mandatory pre-proposal meeting was scheduled for May 18, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom, with the question deadline set for May 20, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., and proposals due electronically through OpenGov by May 29, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. All work must be completed by July 31, 2026, with no compensation for work completed after this deadline. The review committee will evaluate proposals on June 9, 2026, with potential oral presentations during the week of June 15, 2026, followed by Board of County Commissioners approval.

Respondents must be responsible and responsive contractors with successfully completed artificial reef construction projects within the past five years and three professional references, including at least one from a prior artificial reef client. Required insurance coverage includes Commercial General Liability ($1 million per occurrence), Business Auto Liability ($1 million per accident), Watercraft Liability ($1 million per occurrence), and Workers' Compensation insurance. Contractors must also maintain a Certificate of Good Standing from the Florida Department of State, comply with E-Verify requirements, and register with SAM.gov if the project receives federal or state grant funding. The contract includes provisions prohibiting contractors from being scrutinized companies engaged in boycotts of Israel or operating in Cuba, Syria, Sudan, or Iran's petroleum energy sector. The RFP documents do not specify a published budget range or award value; however, compensation will be paid upon invoice submission following completion of work, with liquidated damages assessed for modules that are misplaced, disoriented, cracked, or broken during deployment, ranging from 10 to 100 percent deductions based on damage severity. The County reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and award to multiple vendors if deemed in its best interest.