Suwannee river access site lease

The Suwannee River Water Management District is seeking bids for leasing six commercial access sites across Suwannee and Hamilton Counties for recreational paddler shuttle operations. The sites include Suwannee Springs Park, Mattair Springs Tract (two locations), Woods Ferry Tract, Blue Sink Tract, and Swift Creek Tract. Bidders may submit proposals for one to six sites, with a minimum acceptable lease amount of $100 per site annually. All bids must be submitted electronically through DemandStar by December 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with bid responses requiring completed qualification forms and bid sheets specifying proposed annual lease amounts. Questions must be submitted by December 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., with answers posted by December 18, 2025. The District's Governing Board will review lease agreements on February 10, 2026, with an anticipated contract start date of February 16, 2026. Successful bidders must meet comprehensive insurance requirements, including workers' compensation, motor vehicle liability of at least $300,000 combined single limit, and commercial general liability coverage of $300,000 for personal and advertising injury and general aggregate.

The procurement includes specific preferences for minority business enterprises and, in their absence, veteran-owned business enterprises when service providers are ranked equally. Bidders must be bonded, licensed, and insured, with strict compliance requirements for ADA accessibility per Florida Statutes 282.603 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Vendors are prohibited from contacting District employees or officers about the solicitation between the release date and 72 hours following the notice of intended award. While no specific budget range is detailed, the lease structure allows for multiple vendors to be awarded based on individual site lease amounts. The solicitation suggests a flexible approach to site allocation, enabling vendors to bid on individual or multiple access sites. The procurement aims to establish commercial vendor shuttle drop-off and pick-up operations for recreational paddlers, indicating a focus on supporting tourism and recreational access to the Suwannee River region.