South Creek Oyster Habitat Enhancement and Restoration

The City of Sarasota, Florida is acting as the Purchasing Agent for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP). The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, a special district of the State of Florida, is requesting Proposals from qualified individuals or firms to provide services to enhance and create oyster reef habitat (<2 acres) within the southern portion of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program area, near the mouth of South Creek. The successful Proposal shall provide all personnel, services, materials, equipment, tools, consumables, transportation, skills and incidentals necessary to provide the services described in this Request for Proposal (RFP).

Proposers are encouraged to propose low-cost, plastic-free novel restoration techniques that have a proven track record of success (e.g., cotton rag pots, cement-jute volcanoes). Placement of reef domes/modules, plastic -free oyster bags, anchored vertical oyster gardens/anchors, and fossilized or recycled cultch will also be considered. Proposers will be expected to provide cost estimates for each task and summarize for the entire project, materials should be included in cost estimate. Proposers will be expected to provide an estimate of cost per square foot of materials and installation and an estimated total area of restored oyster coverage that can be achieved at this cost within the budget limits.

Proposers are encouraged to create multiple opportunities for volunteering and/or direct community involvement in oyster reef restoration activities.

Proposers will be expected to secure all necessary permits for oyster restoration on sovereignty submerged lands within 3 months of notice to proceed. No services under this Solicitation require licensure under Chapters 471, 472, or 481, F.S., GIS deliverables are for documentation only and are not survey products.

This enhancement should focus on oyster habitat west of 41 bridge and east of Inter Coastal Waterway (ICW) for appropriate salinity requirements.

All responses shall be submitted electronically. Only electronic responses will be submitted to the CITY via the CITY’s online solicitation program.

The electronic copy should include one consolidated PDF file that contains the entire response.

Any response not so withdrawn shall, upon opening, constitute an irrevocable offer for a period of one hundred and twenty (120) days to sell to the SBEP the goods or services set forth in the attached specifications.

Questions and requests for clarification should be submitted through the CITY's online solicitation system.

**Question Submission Deadline:** November 13, 2026, 5:00pm

**Proposal Submission Deadline:** December 1, 2026, 2:30pm