St. Johns River - Eelgrass Revegetation - Agency Decision

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has issued an Agency Decision to award solicitation FWC 26/27-34 to Ground Level, Inc. for the harvesting and planting of wild native eelgrass in Lake George and Lake Monroe. This project aims to improve fish and wildlife habitats by replacing lost submersed aquatic vegetation. The contract has an estimated budget of 1,200,000 dollars over a two-year term, with anticipated planting windows occurring between February and June in both 2027 and 2028. All work must be completed within 90 calendar days of the Notice to Proceed. The scope of work requires the installation of bare root relocated eelgrass at a minimum depth of two inches into bottom sediments, with plants installed within 48 hours of harvesting. Performance is subject to strict quality assurance; if plant pop-ups exceed 10 percent at any site within two days, the contractor must replant at no additional cost. The contract is governed by various state and federal regulations, including the Davis-Bacon Act, the Build America, Buy America provision, and Florida Statutes regarding forced labor and scrutinized companies. Payment is contingent upon written confirmation of acceptance and the submission of certified invoices.