Lafitte Cove Dredging - Re-Solicit

Escambia County is soliciting bids for licensed marine contractors with dredging experience to perform mechanical dredging at the entrance of Lafitte Cove Canal in Florida. The project requires dredging within a permitted 200-foot by 65-foot area to a depth of -5.0 feet Mean Low Water, with an estimated volume of approximately 800 cubic yards per event. Dredging must proceed from east to west and occur two to three times annually as needed, with precise timing dependent on County approval and environmental constraints. Dredged material is to be transported to a designated upland disposal site south of Pensacola Beach Boulevard. Operations are restricted to avoid disrupting protected shorebird nesting seasons, requiring all dredging activities to conclude by March 14 each year to comply with federal and state permits, including those issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Permit SAJ-2015-00600) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Compliance with environmental safeguards such as turbidity controls, manatee protection measures, and use of non-entangling silt barriers are mandated. The contract, issued as solicitation PD 25-26.028, is structured for a base period of 36 months with options extending service up to 60 months total. Award will be to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all technical and licensing requirements. Bidders must demonstrate prior dredging experience and submit proper documentation such as a Florida Certificate of Authority and insurance coverage including general liability, marine liability, pollution liability, and workers’ compensation with stated limits. The contractor is subject to local preferences and must comply with laws including drug-free workplace standards and immigration regulations. Inspection and acceptance of completed work will occur at the designated site within Escambia County. Pricing is based on the volume of material removed and transported per event, but specific pricing details are not provided in the solicitation documents. The County reserves the right to reject nonconforming work and may require personnel replacements if contractor staff are deemed unsuitable. All proposal submissions must adhere strictly to the provided bid documents and be delivered physically by the stated deadline, with electronic or email submissions expressly prohibited. The project emphasizes environmental protection, regulatory compliance, and maintenance of navigable waterways for the Lafitte Cove Canal entrance over the contract period.