Restoration ground cover planting - little italy tract

The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) is issuing a Quote Request (42004QR26) for restoration ground cover planting services at the Little Italy Tract, a 100-acre sandhill restoration site in Polk County, Florida. The procurement seeks qualified contractors with a minimum of two years of documented experience in herbicide treatment and native grass installation to treat invasive vegetation—including Natal grass, dogfennel, and pasture grasses—across approximately 10 acres and hand-plant approximately 48,400 native sandhill plants (4,840 plants per acre). The planting specification requires 60 percent Wiregrass in 5-inch cell liners and 40 percent other sandhill grasses in 3-inch cell liners installed at three-foot spacing to support effective fire movement through the designated burn area. The crew supervisor or at least one crew member must possess a current Florida Herbicide Applicator License. Site preparation and herbicide application must occur at least three weeks but no more than two months before planting, with the planting phase scheduled between June 2026 and August 2026, with the contract term extending through August 30, 2026. Respondents must submit proof of insurance, active Florida business registration, E-Verify enrollment confirmation, applicable licenses, and a minimum of three reference letters from similar projects completed within the last three years. The last day for submitting questions is Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM, with quotes due by Tuesday, February 11, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Compensation will be provided on a per-acre basis for both herbicide application and planting services, with all unit prices to be all-inclusive of labor, materials, equipment, supervision, mobilization, and incidentals.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting the types of organizations eligible to respond are identified in this solicitation. Respondents must maintain Florida business registration with the Division of Corporations, be enrolled in the E-Verify system, and provide proof of insurability through certificates issued by Florida-authorized insurance companies rated A- or better by A.M. Best Company, with workers' compensation insurance at statutory minimums and commercial general liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 project aggregate. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are referenced in the solicitation documents, and the District has confirmed it has no preferred plant supplier list, allowing respondents flexibility in sourcing materials. The District reserves the right to adjust total acreage at its discretion to remain within the available budget. The estimated project budget is $40,000, with monthly invoicing permitted based on work completion, though plant material invoicing is permitted only after installation. The District will provide site mapping and tours, and the District's Project Manager will be present for the first day of preparation and planting activities to ensure compliance with specifications.