Phillippi Creek Phase II Maximum Allowable Dredging

Sarasota County is requesting bids on maintenance dredging of Phillippi Creek Phase II, involving approximately 77,160 cubic yards over an estimated 33,500 linear feet to restore design elevation to –4 feet MLW between US 41 and South Beneva Road, with bids due October 28, 2026. The project is grant-funded entirely or in part by Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) through HUD and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection; consequently, local and American business preferences do not apply, and Davis-Bacon wage determinations, equal employment opportunity provisions, Section 3 preferences for low-income residents and businesses, and domestic preference for U.S.-produced materials all apply.

The scope includes dredged material management area (DMMA) preparation, material handling, disposal, turbidity control and monitoring to no more than 29 Nephelometric Turbidity Units above background, and site restoration. Dredging will employ mechanical or hydraulic methods from shallow-draft barges. Dredged material will be dewatered and disposed at the Lorraine Road Expansion area (primary) or Sarasota County Landfill 12a (secondary). DMMA staging occurs at seven county-owned properties and three private sites by contractor–owner agreement. Contract time for substantial completion is not more than 390 calendar days from Notice to Proceed, which issues after the County obtains three permits: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FDEP, and WNCA/Earthmoving Exemption Permit.

Minimum qualifications require two completed projects within the last seven years involving hydraulic or mechanical dredging in navigable waterways with minimum 20,000 cubic yards each, two temporary DMMA and restoration projects, two turbidity-control and environmental-compliance projects, and two pre- or post-construction surveying projects. At least one referenced project must have a construction cost of $5,000,000 or more. Bidders must be licensed as General Contractors or Marine Specialty Contractors. Insurance includes workers' compensation, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence, business automobile liability of $1,000,000, umbrella/excess liability of $2,000,000, pollution liability of $1,000,000, and marine liability of $1,000,000. A 100 percent performance and payment bond is required; a 5 percent bid bond or Letter of Bondability (A.M. Best rating B+ or higher for bids under $500,000, A– or higher for bids exceeding $500,000) is also required. Bidders' offers are irrevocable for 180 days from bid opening or until Notice to Proceed, whichever occurs first. Award is made to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the lowest total bid price, provided the bid is reasonable and in the County's best interest.