Waterway Navigation Repairs and Maintenance

Sarasota County, Florida is issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to establish a prequalified contractor pool for the installation, maintenance, relocation, and removal of marine navigation aids throughout the county's bays, rivers, and connected waterways, including Sarasota Bay, Roberts Bay, Little Sarasota Bay, Dona Bay, Lemon Bay, and the Myakka River. The county anticipates an initial contract term of three years with multiple contracts to be awarded, with individual projects assigned to contractors submitting the lowest lump sum quotes on task orders issued on an as-needed basis. Prospective contractors must possess an active Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation license as a Certified General Contractor, Certified Marine Specialty Contractor, or Certified Marine Pile Driving Specialty Contractor, maintained throughout the contract term, and must provide a minimum of two project references from different commercial, industrial, or governmental entities demonstrating experience with marine navigational aid installation, maintenance, repair, or removal within the past seven years, with at least one reference involving pile installation work. The scope of work encompasses installation and maintenance of pilings, buoys, dayboards, and regulatory signage designed to standardized specifications outlined in the reference guide, with contractors responsible for furnishing pilings, stainless steel hardware, and all other necessary materials while the county supplies dayboards, regulatory signs, buoys, concrete anchors, and reflective bands. Contractors who fail to respond to more than three county quote requests within a twelve-month period may have their contracts terminated at the county's discretion. The solicitation deadline for proposals is April 8, 2026, with all submissions required through OpenGov Procurement at https://procurement.opengov.com/portal/scgov.

The solicitation does not specify set-asides or restrictions limiting participation to disadvantaged enterprises, small businesses, or minority-owned businesses; however, the county notes that certain projects may be funded through Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants, which would require contractor compliance with applicable federal procurement terms and conditions, including prevailing wage requirements, equal employment opportunity standards, debarment and suspension certifications, and domestic preference for United States-produced materials and iron and steel products. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. Contractors must maintain compliance with extensive federal and state requirements including the Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act, Clean Air and Water Act standards, human trafficking attestations, and immigration compliance, with the county authorized to terminate contracts for convenience with 30 days' written notice or for cause with opportunity to cure curable defaults within ten working days. All contractors are required to maintain detailed Pile Drive Report Forms documenting technical specifications for each installation, and the county retains a five-year record retention requirement. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation materials, as individual task orders will be issued based on project-specific requirements and contractor submitted quotes.