Suwannee river access site lease

The Suwannee River Water Management District is soliciting bids through an Invitation to Bid (ITB No. 25/26-001) for leasing six Suwannee River access sites across Suwannee and Hamilton Counties. These sites, including Suwannee Springs Park, NW Mattair Springs, NE Mattair Springs, Woods Ferry, Blue Sink, and Swift Creek, are designated for commercial vendors to conduct shuttle drop-off and pick-up operations for recreational paddlers. Bidders may submit proposals for one to six sites, with the District planning to award leases to multiple vendors based on the highest individual site lease amounts. Minimum bid requirements are set at $100 per site annually, with mandatory vendor qualifications including bonded, licensed, and insured status. Key submission dates include a November 17, 2025 deadline for questions, with answers posted by November 18, 2025, and a bid submission deadline of December 1, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time through the DemandStar electronic platform. The District will review lease agreements on January 13, 2026, with an anticipated contract start date of January 16, 2026.

Successful bidders must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including workers' compensation and motor vehicular liability insurance with minimum combined single limit of $300,000, as well as commercial general liability insurance with $300,000 limits for personal and advertising injury and general aggregate. Electronic proposals must include certification of accessibility compliance with Florida Statutes and the Rehabilitation Act. The procurement allows for multiple vendor awards, suggesting no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the minimum bid of $100 per site per year provides a baseline for potential revenue. The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids and can waive technical non-substantive deficiencies. Additionally, bidders are prohibited from contacting District employees during the 72-hour period following the notice of intended award, except in written communication.