Orange County Environmental Protection Division

800 Mercy Drive, Suite 4

Orlando, Florida 32808

Bid Sheet

Orange County Environmental Protection Division

Gopher Tortoise Relocation Bid

The intent of this bid is to procure quotes for the relocation of Gopher Tortoises onto five
specified parcels in Orange County. The quoted price should include cost for a baseline survey to
determine the density of tortoises on each proposed site as well as a survey of the available
forage per site, Develop a site preparation plan for each site including but not limited to
temporary fencing, testing tortoises for Upper Respiratory Tract Disease, physical relocation and
establishment of procedure for monitoring and maintaining land. Prepare an economic evaluation
for each site outlining the costs for site preparation, management activities etc., versus the
potential revenue that could be generated per site.

COMPLETION DATE

Contractor will begin work 30 days of notification of contract award. Project completion will be
within 180 days of start date, unless the project coordinator gives approval in writing.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BID

 There will be a pre-bid meeting conducted by Purchasing and Contracts.

 After reviewing all job specifications, submit quote on attached “Quote Sheet” form. All
bids should be mailed or hand delivered to John Schmidt. The quote price will include
cost for site surveying, development of site preparation plan, tortoise preparation,
development of monitoring and maintenance plan and economic analysis of the project.
 Orange County reserves the right to reject any and all bids.

Gopher Tortoise Relocation Bid

1
PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS
For
Gopher Tortoise Relocation Project

I. Project Coordinator:

Beth Jackson
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
800 Mercy Drive, Suite 4
Orlando, Florida 32808
Office: (407) 836-1481
Fax: (407) 836-1499

II. Project Site Locations:

Parcel 105
The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at 22001 East Colonial
Drive, Section 32, Township 22, Range 33, Lot 001 and encompasses 904.1 square acres.

Long Branch Parcel

The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at 710South County
Road 13, Section 42, Township 22, Range 32, Lot 025 and encompasses 163 square acres.

Alice K. Strite Parcel

The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at 5611 Plymouth
Sorrento Road, Section 07, Township 20, Range 28, Lot 006 and encompasses 83.03 square acres.

NRC Parcel
The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at 20206 State Road
520, Section 36, Township 22, Range 32, Lot 002 and encompasses 402.98 square acres.

Fazio Parcel
The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at 43 Rainey Road,
Section 05, Township 20, Range 28, Lot 003 and encompasses 166.22 square acres.

III. General Project Description:

A. Perform a baseline survey of each parcel to determine the density of tortoises as well as a
survey of the available forage per site. Lands must be determined to be viable for relocation to
occur.

B. Develop a site preparation plan for each proposed site including temporary fencing that
would enclose each parcel. This may also include a prescribed burn plan recommendation.

Gopher Tortoise Relocation Bid

2
 C. Test 25% of the relocated population for URTD. 25% of existing species on the recipient
lands should also be tested for URTD.

D. Develop physical relocation procedures including obtaining proper take permits from FWC
and any other governing agency.

E. Prepare a plan, including a budget, detailing land monitoring and management

recommendation.

F. Provide a detailed cost/benefit analysis of each site, outlining the costs of all
aforementioned activities versus the potential revenue that could be generated per site.

IV. General Specifications:

1. Bidders will be responsible for knowing and complying with federal, state and local
guidelines pertaining to project activities, especially concerning the proper handling and
relocation of gopher tortoises.
2. Disturbance of vegetation outside of the property line should be avoided. If excessive ground
disturbance seems necessary to complete the job, the Contractor should confer with the project
manager before proceeding.
3. CONTRACTORS will furnish all equipment, material, labor, and such items necessary to
remove fence and posts, clear vegetation, and install fence and gates.
4. At the time of completion, all project specifications will be inspected by the designated
project coordinator(s) to ensure specifications were followed.

V. Technical Specifications:

Baseline Survey Specifications

1. Survey needs to be performed by a professional environmental consultant who has

previously performed surveying specifically relating to gopher tortoise habitat.
2. The total site survey should be completed by a three-person crew with a maximum
width of 21 feet. The burrows should be marked by their GPS position and/or on an
aerial.
3. Generally, the land needs to be no less than 25 acres with an effort to have a minimum
of 50 acres with at least 50% being excellent to good tortoise habitat.
4. The recipient site must be determined to be within 50 miles of the donor site.
5. Predator population needs to be evaluated.
6. The survey needs to include the following information:
a. The existing gopher tortoise population and density/acre.
b. An estimate of the carrying capacity for tortoises on the site.
c. A vegetative map of each site that includes: estimated acreage and an
evaluation of habitat quality for tortoises including: Existing forage

Gopher Tortoise Relocation Bid

3
 including physical factors that may limit the availability of the forage
including roads, railroads, ditches and heavy use areas.
d. The open tree and shrub canopy should be 20-40% and the open soil
should be 20-40%.
e. Soil should be same to similar as the donor site soil with groundwater
table at same to similar depth.
f. The land use history should be evaluated to determine what species
formally occupied the land to ensure potential survival.

Site Preparation Specifications

1. Any trails or walkways in the site need to be off-limits to ATV or any other
motorized vehicle traffic.
2. If roads are within 300 feet of the reserve boundary, an excluder fence should be
put into place. The fence should be 18 inches under ground and a minimum of four
feet above. The fence should be of a type that will exclude both juveniles and adult
tortoises from wandering into harm’s way. This type of fence with the same
specifications needs surround the perimeter of the property for at least six months
in order to prevent migration.
3. The area should be burned, mowed, grazed or other activities should be undertaken
to reduce the shrub layer, enhance grass and herbaceous species in class 1 and 2
forage. This should be done 2-3 months prior to release.
4. Existing species need to be tested for disease including Upper Respiratory Tract
Disease.
5. Starter burrows large enough for the largest adult in the pen should be dug
(approximately 3 feet deep. 4:1 slope). Burrows for 25% of the tortoises should be
dug.

Tortoise Preparation Specifications

1. Testing 25% of the relocated population for Upper Respiratory Tract Disease.
2. The recipient site should be of the same genetic group and race as the donor
species.

Relocation Specifications
1. The tortoises and commensals should be taken through burrow excavation
using a backhoe. The backhoe operator is skilled and uses a toothless
bucket.
2. The tortoises are released within one day of capture.
3. No sick tortoises are released onto the site. They may be treated and if
cured they can be released.
4. Each tortoise when captured is immediately processed and placed in a
Rubbermaid container with a lid that closes completely but allows air to

Gopher Tortoise Relocation Bid

4
 flow. These containers are maintained below 80F and above 55F. They are
never left in the sun or in a vehicle.
5. If there are drought conditions present, individuals should be soaked for 2-
6 hours in non-chlorinated water.
6. Lids are kept closed on the containers to keep the tortoise in the dark to
reduce stress.
7. The best time for tortoise relocation is after June 15th to the end of October.
The second best time is mid to late February through the first week of
April. Relocation should not occur during April through the end of May.

Management and Monitoring Procedure Specifications

1.Monitoring needs to be completed by a person or agency with the biological expertise to
manage the lands in such a way that will meet the conservation goals.
2. The pens should be checked twice daily to see if tortoises are upright and that there aren’t
any problems.
3. Management Plan should include:
1. Procedure that will sustain quality and carrying capacity.
2. Procedure for habitat and population monitoring and reactive management
to sustain goals of relocation.
4. Maintenance of the land should ensure:
1. The canopy and soil remains at the optimal levels: The open tree and shrub
canopy should be 20-40% and the open soil should be 20-40%.
2. Necessity of perimeter fencing. Fences can be replaced with hay bale
fencing unless roads exist on the perimeter.
3. Soil quality and depth. Artificial soil piles could be inserted to alleviate
potential problems that prohibit burrowing.
5. Monitoring of gopher tortoises need to report on:

1. Checking dead tortoises for signs of predation.

2. Keep track of densities of raccoon and other predators of gopher tortoises.
3. All data is entered into the monitoring database.

Cost/Benefit Analysis Procedure Specifications

1. The Cost/Benefit analysis should be performed by someone who is
familiar with economic valuation, specifically relating to environmental
issues and future use.
2. A cost proposal sheet detailing specifically the costs for site preparation
and management need to be objectively determined. This should be
done for each site individually.
3. Potential revenue for each site should be determined. This is supposing
the land was developed and used for either housing or business.
4. The costs of preservation and maintenance will be compared to the
potential revenue presented by developing the land in a detailed
cost/benefit analysis of each site.

Gopher Tortoise Relocation Bid

5
QUOTE SHEET

Orange County Environmental Protection Division

Gloria Reid/Palmer Tract

I have read the attached specifications and agree to the conditions established by the
Orange County Environmental Protection Division. I would like to submit the following
written quote:

Total $__________________________

Name:

Address:

City/State/Zip Code:

Fed. ID# or SS#:

Printed Name:

Signature:

Please Mail or fax your quote to the address below before 5:00 PM on (insert date).

Insert Name and Address of Purchasing