Wet Prairie Restoration – Picayune Strand State Forest

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is soliciting competitive sealed bids for herbicide application services to treat cabbage palm trees (Sabal palmetto) across four subunit sites totaling approximately 1,078 acres within Picayune Strand State Forest near Naples, Florida. The procurement requires contractors to apply herbicide treatments to cabbage palms measuring 25 feet or less in height, with initial treatments preferred by May 1, 2026, and full project completion mandated by August 1, 2026. Deliverables include herbicide application across Site 1 (216 acres), Site 2 (92 acres), Site 3 (126 acres), and Site 4 (644 acres), with vendors required to submit unit prices per acre for each subsite, inclusive of all labor, materials, equipment, transportation, and related charges. Key objectives include achieving a minimum 95% kill rate of treated cabbage palms within three to four months following application, with contractor-funded retreatment required for any untreated or unresponsive areas. Required qualifications include possession of a valid certified commercial herbicide applicators license in natural areas weed management and/or the aquatic category, and submission of three references from similar projects completed within the last five years. The evaluation criteria prioritizes award to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest Grand Total Price. Critical deadlines include a mandatory pre-bid site visit on February 20, 2026, at 9:00 AM; written questions due by February 24, 2026, with responses posted by February 26, 2026; sealed bid submission by March 5, 2026, at 5:00 PM; and public bid opening on March 6, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Tallahassee, with invoices due no later than September 11, 2026.

The solicitation does not indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to disadvantaged enterprises or particular organizational categories. Contractors must comply with comprehensive insurance requirements including General Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate, Automobile Liability of $300,000, and Workers' Compensation insurance, and must submit all required certifications addressing lobbying, debarment, drug-free workplace status, and vendor responsibility matters. The procurement includes no reference to incumbent vendors or existing contractors. The Florida Forest Service reserves the right to increase treatment acreage by up to an additional 20% at the same unit price, expanding potential project scope. Liquidated damages of $100 per calendar day apply for any delays beyond the August 1, 2026, completion deadline. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation materials, as pricing will be determined through competitive bidding based on contractor-submitted unit prices per acre.