INVITATION TO BID

As a Contractor, you are invited to submit a bid to the FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES, DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATION, hereinafter referred to as Owner, for an exterior envelope repairs/renovations project for the Florida Citrus Building located at 500 3rd Street N. W., Winter Haven, Florida. The Project Budget is estimated to be: $950,000.00.

The contractor shall provide all materials, labor, equipment, permits and inspection fees necessary for the completion of the project in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Invitation to Bid.

PROJECT NAME AND LOCATION: Exterior Envelope Repairs/Renovations Project for the Florida Citrus Building located at 500 3rd Street NW, Winter Haven, Florida.

SOLICITATION DOCUMENT: The entire solicitation document may be viewed and downloaded from the Vendor Bid System at http://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/DA-08/09-01, or by calling the Purchasing Office at (850)487-3727. Plans and specifications are available through BGA, Inc., 3101 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 110, Tampa, Florida 33607, (813)375-3399, Fax (813)375-3400. Plans and specifications are available for a $100 deposit, refundable if returned in good condition within 10-days after bid opening.

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 July 2, 2008, at 11:00 a.m., at 500 3rd Street, N. W., Winter Haven, Florida. During the pre-bid conference a site visit will be held for prospective bidders. It is the bidders’ responsibility to consider any and all site conditions or requirements for the project.

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 AND LABOR AND MATERIAL PAYMENT BOND: If the construction contract award amount is $100,000.00 or less, a Performance Bond and a Labor and Material Payment Bond are not required.

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

DATE AND TIME: July 18, 2008, 2:00 p.m.

PLACE: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 407 S. Calhoun Street, Room 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.