Rough fish removal for lake apopka in ocklawaha river basin and lake george in ST johns river basin

This is a contracting opportunity issued by the Governing Board of the St. Johns River Water Management District for the large-scale harvest and disposal of rough fish, primarily gizzard shad, from Lake Apopka in the Ocklawaha River Basin and Lake George in the St. Johns River Basin. The objective is to support lake restoration efforts by removing these fish as designated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The harvesting period may occur between May and December of any year and possibly continuing into the following year through March or April, with usual harvests ranging from 500,000 to 1.5 million pounds of fish per lake, per harvesting period. The contract term will begin in October 2023 and continue through September 30, 2028. Respondents must meet minimum qualifications related to similar project experience, financial capability, and equipment. Bids are due by 2:00 p.m. on September 20, 2023, and the contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder.

The contract is open to all qualified bidders, and there are no set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. The estimated budget for this five-year project is $7,500,000, with an annual budget of $1,500,000 for each fiscal year. The District reserves the right to increase, decrease, or delete any part of the work, and to reject all bids if subsequent negotiations result in costs over the estimated budget.