Notice of Bid/Request for Proposal

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
Division of Administration

INVITATION TO BID

As a Contractor, you are invited to submit a bid to the FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, DIVISION OF FORESTRY, hereinafter referred to as Owner, for the construction of a 250 foot communication tower and demolition of an existing 250 foot communication tower located at 8431 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida 32808, which shall include all labor, equipment, materials necessary to construct the tower and demolish the old tower. The Project Budget is: undetermined.

PROJECT NAME & LOCATION: Construction of a 250 foot communication tower in Orlando, Florida.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENT: The entire solicitation document, including plans and specifications, may be viewed and downloaded from the Vendor Bid System at http://www.myflorida.com, click on Business, Doing Business with the State of Florida, Everything for Vendors and Customers, Vendor Bid System, Search Advertisements, Bid Number ITB/DF-05/06-102, or by calling the Purchasing Office, (850)487-3727.

MANDATORY PRE-BID CONFERENCE/SITE VISIT: Each bidder must, before submitting a bid, attend the mandatory pre-bid conference/site visit.  The pre-bid conference/site visit will be held on March 23, 2006, at 1:00 p.m., at the tower site, 8431 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, Florida 32808. It is the bidders' responsibility to consider any and all site conditions or requirements for the project. The Specifications, prepared by Pate Engineering, Inc., the Geotechnical Report, prepared by Universal Engineering, and Site Plans, will be available at the mandatory pre-bid conference/site visit.

PUBLIC ENTITY CRIME INFORMATION STATEMENT: A person or affiliate who has been placed on the convicted vendor list following a conviction for a public entity crime may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public entity in excess of the threshold amount provided in Section 287.017, F.S., for Category Two for a period of 36 months from the date of being placed on the convicted vendor list.

DISCRIMINATION; DENIAL OR REVOCATION FOR THE RIGHT TO TRANSACT BUSINESS WITH PUBLIC ENTITIES: An entity or affiliate who had been placed on the discriminatory vendor list may not submit a bid on a contract to provide any goods or services to a public entity, may not submit a bid on a contract with a public entity for the construction or repair of a public building or public work, may not submit bids on leases of real property to a public entity, may not be awarded or perform work as a contractor, supplier, subcontractor, or consultant under a contract with any public entity, and may not transact business with any public  entity.

PERFORMANCE BOND: A performance bond in the amount of one-hundred percent (100%) of the base bid price shall be required.

Sealed bids will be received, publicly opened and read aloud on:

DATE AND TIME: April 7, 2006, 2:00 p.m.

PLACE: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 407 S. Calhoun Street, SB8 Mayo Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, (850)487-3727

CONTRACT AWARD: The official Notice of Award Recommendation will be by electronic posting at http://fcn.state.fl.us/owa_vbs/owa/vbs_www.main_menu. Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. If no protest is filed the contract will be awarded to the qualified, responsive low bidder in accordance with Chapter 60D-5, F.A.C., by the Owner.