Tarpon Street and Riverside Pier Construction

The City of Fort Myers is seeking qualified contractors to complete a comprehensive rebuild of the Tarpon Street Pier and repair/restoration of the Riverside Pier and paddle craft launch, with the project solicitation (No. 25-042-ITB) released on March 18, 2025. The project involves replacing existing damaged pier infrastructure along the Caloosahatchee River, including constructing a 6-foot wide by 435-foot long fixed main access dock, a 17.6-foot wide observation pier, and associated infrastructure. Specific requirements include installing solar-powered LED lighting, fire protection systems meeting NFPA 14 and NFPA 303 standards, and using specific marine-grade materials like Southern Yellow Pine pilings and Micro-Mesh decking. The pre-submittal non-mandatory meeting is scheduled for March 25, 2025, at 2:00 pm, with electronic bid submissions required through the OpenGov portal by April 21, 2025, at 2:00 pm. The project has a proposed substantial completion timeline of 120 calendar days and final completion within 150 calendar days from the Notice to Proceed, with tentative City Council contract approval scheduled for May 19, 2025.

The procurement includes several set-aside and diversity requirements, with a 15% Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation goal and mandatory minimum qualifications for bidders, including holding current Florida business licenses and being in business for at least three consecutive years. Contractors must comply with multiple diversity and compliance provisions, including Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) guidelines, with the state maintaining an overall 10.54% DBE participation goal. The project will be funded, at least in part, by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds, which necessitates compliance with federal procurement regulations. The total project budget includes contingency amounts of $200,000 for the Tarpon Street Pier and $100,000 for the Riverside Pier, with specific unit pricing requirements for various construction components. Contractors must also complete several mandatory affidavits, including local preference verification, human trafficking compliance, and foreign entity restrictions, with potential penalties for non-compliance.