Re-Ad for Osborne Reef Restoration Waste Tire Abatement Services

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued Request for Proposals (RFP) 2025019 for Osborne Reef Restoration Waste Tire Abatement Services, specifically targeting the removal of submerged waste tires from the Osborne Tire Reef off the coast of Broward County. The primary objective is to restore and protect Florida's marine ecosystem by systematically removing tires from sand and reef/hardbottom habitats. Contractors will be responsible for tire removal operations, including transportation and loading tires into designated port containers, with strict methodological requirements to minimize environmental disruption. The initial contract term is seven years, with potential for an additional seven-year renewal. Evaluation criteria will be comprehensive, totaling 1,675 points distributed across past performance (75 points), technical response (525 points), and pricing (500 points for initial term, 300 points for renewal term). Responses are due by July 22, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with a public opening scheduled for July 23, 2025. The DEP intends to make a single award but reserves the right to award to multiple respondents or make no award.

Respondents must be registered with MyFloridaMarketPlace and comply with various state requirements, including conflict of interest disclosures and business responsibility criteria. While no specific set-aside designations were explicitly mentioned, contractors will need to demonstrate qualifications in marine environmental restoration and tire removal techniques. Pricing will be evaluated based on a rate per tire for different habitat types (sand and reef) and water depths (shallow and deep), with an additional lump sum mobilization fee. The contract compensation structure is based on fixed unit rates, with work assignments authorized through Task Assignment Notification Forms (TA) or Task Assignment Change Order Forms (TACO). The Department will not reimburse contractors for costs incurred before a TA/TACO is fully executed. Although a specific budget range was not provided, the project is part of an ongoing effort to remove waste tires from the Osborne Reef, as documented in the Restoration Plan, suggesting significant environmental investment and potential for substantial contract value.