Commercial Water-Based Charter Boat and Tour Operator Permits

Sarasota County is soliciting bids for a Concession Agreement to grant permits to commercial water-based charter boat and tour operators. The program allows authorized businesses to provide recreational fishing trips, sightseeing tours, and dive trips from designated county-owned properties, including Nokomis Beach Park, Indian Mound Park, and Marina Park and Boat Ramp. To be eligible, operators must utilize vessels with a USCG-certified gross tonnage of 25 GRT or less and ensure at least one crew member can effectively communicate in English. Permit holders are required to maintain valid Florida vessel registrations, USCG safety examination decals, and active registration with the Florida Division of Corporations. The contract will be awarded to responsive and responsible bidders who offer the highest annual permit fee per park location, with a minimum allowable bid of 1,200 dollars per permit. Bidders are limited to a maximum of two permits per zone. Due to grant funding requirements, standard local and American business preferences do not apply to this award. Successful operators must adhere to strict branding and signage guidelines, provide safety and environmental briefings to all customers, and maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including marine liability and dockside operations coverage of at least 1,000,000 dollars per occurrence. All submissions must be completed through the OpenGov portal by the November 12, 2026, deadline.