Tate's Hell State Forest Roadside Ditch Debrushing 2025

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is seeking competitive bids for a roadside ditch debrushing project at Tate's Hell State Forest in Franklin County, Florida. The Invitation to Bid (ITB FFS 24 25 125) requires masticating/mulching of approximately 102 miles of vegetative material along roadside ditches, specifically targeting brush, shrubs, and small trees under 6 inches in diameter. Contractors must mulch vegetation down to 3 inches or less on both sides of the ditch corridor, including Titi of any size. The project demands comprehensive services including all necessary labor, materials, equipment, tools, transportation, supplies, and supervision. Evaluation criteria will focus on the lowest Total Estimated Project Cost per mile, with the contract awarded to the most responsive and responsible vendor. Key dates include a mandatory pre-bid site visit on February 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM, bid submissions due by March 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM, a public bid opening on March 17, 2025, at 9:00 AM, and anticipated award posting on March 25, 2025. Contractors must provide proof of insurance, including $1M general liability, $300K automobile liability, and workers' compensation coverage.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Vendors must attend the mandatory site visit, limited to two representatives per company, and obtain a Certification of Site Visitation form. Contractors are required to submit three references from similar projects completed within the last five years and certify compliance with drug-free workplace requirements and E-Verify. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the previous bid amount for similar work was $1,724.00 per mile, with the total project covering 102 miles and mileage measured per road side. The contract period runs through June 30, 2025, with three optional one-year renewals available. FDACS reserves the right to increase or decrease project quantities by up to 20% at the same bid price, and will impose liquidated damages of $100 per calendar day for contractor-controlled delays. Nine companies were documented as attending the mandatory site visit, including Cooper Logging Inc, Rogers Brothers, Browns Land Service, Living Land Management, Sims Custom Services, Lloyd Management, Mission Forestry Mulching-Land Management, JT Ruby Contracting, and Ground Level.