Water Quality Treatment Services to Combat HAB within Lake Okeechobee

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has issued Solicitation No. 2024016 for Water Quality Treatment Services to Combat Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) within Lake Okeechobee, targeting a comprehensive intervention strategy for managing water quality challenges. The procurement seeks advanced water treatment solutions specifically designed to mitigate and remediate harmful algal bloom impacts in the Lake Okeechobee ecosystem. Key procurement timeline events include the initial invitation to negotiate (ITN) advertisement on 3/26/24, with questions due by 4/9/24 at 5:00 PM and anticipated answers posted by 5/13/24. Formal replies are due 6/3/24 at 3:00 PM, with a public opening scheduled for 6/4/24 at 10:00 AM via teleconference. The evaluation phase is anticipated to run from 6/12/24 to 8/05/24, with reference checks planned between 6/5/24 and 9/13/24. The negotiations process is specifically scheduled for February 26, 2025 - March 6, 2025, with all submissions to be managed through the Vendor Information Portal (VIP) and physical submissions delivered to the DEP Procurement Section in Tallahassee, Florida.

While specific set-aside designations are not explicitly detailed in the provided documentation, the solicitation appears to be a standard competitive procurement process open to qualified vendors specializing in water quality treatment technologies. The procurement covers Leon County and is focused on Lake Okeechobee, suggesting potential interest in local or Florida-based environmental remediation firms with expertise in harmful algal bloom mitigation. The solicitation indicates a complex technical evaluation process, with anticipated reference checks and a multi-phase negotiation approach, which suggests the project may require sophisticated technological solutions and significant environmental engineering capabilities. Although specific budget ranges are not disclosed in the current documentation, the comprehensive nature of the solicitation and the involved evaluation timeline imply a potentially substantial contract value. Vendors will need to demonstrate advanced technical capabilities in water treatment, harmful algal bloom management, and environmental restoration technologies to be competitive in this procurement opportunity.