Red Tide Generated Marine Life Collection and Disposal

Pinellas County is seeking a qualified contractor for the Red Tide Generated Marine Life Collection and Disposal project through Request for Proposal (RFP) #23-0400-RFP. The primary objective is to collect, remove, and dispose of marine life killed by red tide events across the county's 274 square miles, including 588 miles of shoreline and 35 miles of coastal beaches. Collection efforts will focus on the Gulf of Mexico, Tampa Bay waters, the Intracoastal Waterway, and associated canals to prevent marine life from washing onshore, specifically targeting public waterways, beaches, and public properties. The contract will have an initial 5-year term with an option for a 2-year extension. Proposals are due on July 25, 2023, at 3:00 pm, with an evaluation process that allocates points across four key criteria: Qualifications (300 points, 30%), Approach (400 points, 40%), Compensation (250 points, 25%), and No Exceptions (50 points, 5%). Contractors must provide unit pricing for personnel, vessels, and support equipment, with a requirement that the primary contractor perform at least 30% of the work using their own resources.

The solicitation is partially funded through federal grants, specifically involving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's FEMA Public Assistance Program, which introduces several compliance requirements. The county emphasizes affirmative steps to include small and minority businesses, women's business enterprises, and labor surplus area firms in the contracting process. Contractors must adhere to federal regulations including Equal Employment Opportunity standards, Davis-Bacon Act wage requirements, and Clean Air Act compliance. The project requires contractors to demonstrate financial capacity to mobilize and begin full operations without reimbursement for the initial 60 days. Private properties and marinas are explicitly excluded from the scope, with property owners responsible for their own marine life collection. While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract appears designed to support the Pinellas County Red Tide Plan, which aims to provide coordinated operations using a combination of county and contractor resources. The solicitation does not specify a precise budget range, but interested contractors should be prepared to provide comprehensive marine life collection and disposal services with significant operational capabilities.