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 an administrative office building at the Florida Center for Wildlife and Forest Resources Management Training Center, located at 24059 Childs Road, Brooksville, Florida (which is on US 41, 8 Miles North of Brooksvillle). The Project Budget is estimated to be: $230,000.00.

The Department is seeking a Contractor for the construction of an administrative office building at the Florida Center for Wildlife and Forest Resources Management Training Center. The contractor shall provide all materials, labor, equipment and inspection fees necessary for the construction of the administrative office building in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Invitation to Bid.

PROJECT NAME & LOCATION: Construction of an Administrative Office Building at the Florida Center for Wildlife and Forest Resources Management Training Center, located at 24059 Childs Road, Brooksville, Florida (which is on U.S. 41, 8 Miles North of Brooksvillle).

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/DF-07/08-48, or by calling the Purchasing Office at (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 February 12, 2008, 11:00 a.m., at the Withlacoochee Forestry Center, 15019 Broad Street, Brooksville, Florida. The Center is located 1 mile South of the Florida Center for Wildlife and Forest Resources Management Training Center (where the new building is to be constructed), or 7 miles North of Brooksville, FL on U.S. Hwy. 41. 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: 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: March 4, 2008, 2:00 p.m.

PLACE: Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 407 S. Calhoun Street, SB 8, 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.