New Varieties Development for Florida Citrus

The Florida Department of Citrus has issued a sole-source solicitation, numbered 2027-SS-01-D, to award the New Varieties Development and Management Corporation (NVDMC) a contract valued at $650,000 for the continued development and management of new citrus varieties. This award is justified on the basis of NVDMC’s unique and irreplaceable expertise in citrus variety research, particularly in addressing citrus greening (HLB), and its long-standing role since 2006 in managing breeding programs and technology transfer for Florida’s citrus industry. No competitive bidding process was conducted, and no formal evaluation factors, weights, or trade-off analyses were applied due to the non-competitive nature of the procurement. The contract requires NVDMC to identify and acquire breeding stock, establish research priorities, negotiate sublicensing agreements, and ensure growers have timely, affordable access to disease-resistant, commercially viable citrus varieties aligned with consumer demand and global market trends. Performance is limited to the State of Florida, with oversight conducted by the Florida Department of Citrus, headquartered in Bartow. Key personnel include Sharon McLeod as the primary point of contact and Dr. Rosa Walsh as the requestor, though official roles such as PCO or COTR are not explicitly designated. Proposals or protests must be submitted by April 30, 2026, via mail, email, or fax, with failure to protest within the timeframe waiving rights under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. The solicitation references compliance with Florida Administrative Code Rule 60A-1.045 and Florida Statutes Section 287.057(3), but no Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses, packaging specifications, inspection criteria, accounting identifiers, or formal certifications are included. No detailed breakdown of deliverables, period of performance, or line-item pricing is provided beyond the total contract value, and no attachments are enumerated in the documentation, despite reference to supporting materials.