The Town issued Invitation To Bid (“ITB”) 2016-32 with the intention of establishing an integrated program of waterway management and maintenance for the Town's canal system and park aquatic areas for four (4) canals and twelve (12) parks.

The ITB required bidders to hold a valid Pest/Herbicide Applicator state certification and possess a minimum of three (3) contracts and (3) years of experience performing work of a similar size, scope, and complexity. Field Supervisor must have a minimum of three (3) years field supervisory experience on work of a similar size, scope and complexity.

The services stipulated in the solicitation included a scope to encompass all aspects of waterway management currently being provided to the Town under various agreements: Canal system embankment/slope mowing (Group “A”), canal system above surface aesthetic debris removal (Group “B”), and park aquatic management services for the water area abutting Town parks, to include aesthetic above surface debris removal, algae and aquatic weed control, border grass and brush control to water's edge, water testing, bacteria testing, aquatics consulting, management reporting, and biological control agent permit applications (Group “C”). An additional services menu was also included to allow for predetermined pricing for culvert cleaning, mechanical harvesting, herbicide treatment, flat fee for on-site assessment of obstruction removal and aquatic management services on an as-needed basis at various pocket parks. The ITB stipulated that the sum of groups A, B and C would determine the Lowest Base Bidder.

The Town issued the ITB on April 21, 2016. The solicitation notice was advertised in the Miami Daily Business review, posted on the Town's Contractual Opportunities page, DemandStar and the Town Hall lobby. Three (3) responsive bids were received on May 18, 2016 from the following firms: SFM Services, Inc. (“SFM”), Aquagenix/DeAngelo Brothers LLC and Scientia Environmental with pricing as follows:

Upon review of the bid prices, staff determined that SFM's price for Group “C” – Park Aquatic Management Services is substantially higher than what we presently have budgeted and what we currently pay on a month to month basis for these services at designated locations. The Town will continue to provide services on a month to month basis at designated park locations while options are reviewed to secure a permanent vendor.

With the Town's five year canal and storm water interlocal agreement with Miami-Dade County expiring in September and the Town in the process of reviewing the renewal agreement, this bid provided an opportunity to solicit pricing for the canal and stormwater maintenance services the County presently provides for comparison purposes. After review, the pricing provided in the bids was found to be in most instances higher than the County's proposed renewal pricing. As a result, we are not recommending award of any of the additional services menu items to the lowest base bidder.

In summary, I am recommending award to SFM in Groups “A” and “B” for an annual contract value of $82,000, with an initial three year term and two, one year options to renew, the total contract value over the life of the contract is $410,000. I am not recommending award for Group “C” or the additional services menu items.