Support New Varieties Research at A. H. Whitmore Foundation Farm

The Florida Department of Citrus intends to contract with the Florida Citrus Research Foundation (FCRF) to manage research and caretaking activities at the A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm, which is dedicated to citrus research and breeding new varieties. The primary objectives are to evaluate the farm's repair and maintenance needs, gain necessary approvals, and contract with third-party vendors to complete the work. This is not a request for bid or proposal, but rather a notification of the Department's intended decision to enter into a single-source contract with FCRF, valued at an estimated $350,000 for the period from April 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023. The Department has determined that FCRF is uniquely positioned to oversee this work due to the devastating impact of citrus greening on the industry and the need to protect existing and support future research at the A.H. Whitmore Foundation Farm, which it partially manages.

The Department will provide notice of its intended decision to enter a single-source contract with FCRF in accordance with Florida statutes. This opportunity is specific to Polk County, Florida and is not open to a competitive bid process. The Department has not identified any set-aside designations or restrictions on the types of organizations that can respond. There is no indication of an incumbent vendor or current contractor, and the Department has not specified any existing infrastructure or technology that requires integration.