Watersports Instruction at Sugden Regional Park

Collier County Board of County Commissioners Procurement Services Division is seeking proposals for watersports instruction services at Sugden Regional Park via Invitation to Negotiate, with proposals due August 31, 2026 at 3:00 p.m., and a pre-proposal conference scheduled for August 7, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. at the Procurement Services Division office in Naples, Florida. Local vendor preference worth 10 evaluation points applies; vendors must maintain a physical Collier County business address and demonstrate measurable contributions to county economic development.

The scope encompasses water skiing, wake surfing, and sailing instruction for beginners through advanced participants, plus adaptive and inclusive recreation programming for individuals with disabilities, veterans, and seniors. Additional optional services include paddle board and canoe rentals, water safety classes, kayaking, fishing instruction, races, fishing tournaments, and wellness programs. The County will make available approximately 40 watercraft and related assets including Optimist and Laser sailing dinghies, ski boats, pontoon boats, inflatable boats with outboard motors, catamarans, trailers, and specialized equipment. Vendors must comply with U.S. Coast Guard boating and captain certifications and appropriate instructional certifications. Services are conducted at Sugden Regional Park, 4284 Avalon Drive, Naples, Florida 34112.

The award structure is a single three-year concession agreement with three optional one-year renewals. Vendors propose a flat annual commission fee payable monthly in twelve equal installments by the fifteenth of each month and bear all operational costs including fuel, maintenance, equipment replacement under $1,000, merchant fees, and daily cash management. Proposals are evaluated on a 100-point scale: cover letter/management summary (5 points), certified woman and/or minority business enterprise status (5 points), business plan (20 points), proposed commission to the County (20 points), firm experience and capacity (20 points), specialized expertise of team members (20 points), and local vendor preference (10 points). E-Verify enrollment is mandatory at proposal submission. Vendors must provide commercial general liability coverage at $2,000,000 single limit, watercraft insurance with Protection & Indemnity endorsements, and performance and payment bonds at 100 percent of contract award if the contract exceeds $200,000. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the Collier County Procurement Services Division Online Bidding System at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/collier-county-fl and remain valid for 180 days.