Agenda Item Name:
Title
Ranking and Award of RFP 23-249 Annual Hunting Services Agreement Mill Creek Preserve at no cost to the County, for Environmental Protection, Land Conservation Department.
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Presenter:
Stephen Hofstetter, Director, 352.264.6811/Larry Sapp, 352.374.5202
Description:
Ranking and Award of a contract for RFP 23-249 Annual Hunting Services Agreement Mill Creek Preserve.
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approve the Ranking and Award of RFP 23-249 Annual Hunting Services Agreement Mill Creek Preserve as follows:
1. Hitchcock and Sons, Inc.
2. Newmans Heating & AC
3. Blackham Contracting Group, LLC
Authorize staff to negotiate an agreement with the top ranked firm, Hitchcock and Sons, Inc., Should the staff be unable to negotiate a satisfactory agreement with the top ranked firm, negotiations with that firm will be terminated and will move to the second ranked firm. And authorize the County Manager to sign all future amendments.
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Prior Board Motions:
January 22, 2013, Item 15; Hunting Business Plan for Alachua County Forever Preserves. The Board moved to approve the Alachua County Forever Hunting Business Plan and adopt its associated principles, policies and directives to guide recreational hunting on Alachua County Forever Preserves and direct staff to bring back a recommendation on how to create a local preference program for either public hunting or licensed hunting.
August 13, 2013, Item 45; Process to Solicit for Multi-year Hunting Agreements on Certain Alachua County Forever Preserves. The Board moved to approve the Alachua County Forever Hunting Request for proposals Process that will solicit Multi-year Hunting Agreements on certain County Preserves.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
Caretaking, maintenance and security services are being provided to the County at no cost. Entering into this agreement will save the County the cost of certain caretaking services that will be performed by the hunter/caretakers.
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Strategic Guide:
Strategic Guide
Environment
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Background:
The Board of County Commissioners approved the Hunting Business Plan for Alachua County Forever preserves on January 22, 2013. One of the strategies included in this plan was to continue the practice of allowing private entities to hunt on certain Alachua County Forever Preserves in exchange for a suite of property caretaking services that help offset the cost of managing preserves. These services include, site security, feral hog control, mowing, solid waste removal, invasive plant management, and road, fence and gate maintenance and repairs. The plan calls for the County to competitively bid these opportunities. On August 13, 2013 the Board of County Commissioners approved the competitive process by which the County solicits and evaluates multi-year hunting agreements on certain Alachua County Forever Preserves.
This strategy is used in areas where the other public recreational access either has not yet been established for the site, or where it can be separated from the areas where hunting is allowed. In general, hunting caretaker agreements are established during the interim period after County acquisition of a property, but prior to opening the site to public recreational use. The agreements are typically for a 5-year period.
RFP 23-249-MM Annual Hunting Services Agreement Mill Creek Preserve advertised a hunting caretaking opportunity at Mill Creek Preserve, on 520 acres of the property, in an area not open for other public recreational access.
RFP 23-249-MM Annual Hunting Services Agreement Mill Creek Preserve advertised on May 18, 2022. The deadline for receipt of RFP 23-249-MM Annual Hunting Services Agreement Mill Creek Preserve was July 6, 2022; three (3) vendors responded.
This agreement will continue a history of successful, cost-saving partnerships with local hunters to take care of County Preserves.