Orange County Environmental Protection Division

800 Mercy Drive, Suite 4

Orlando, Florida 32808
id S!eet
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
"o#!er $ortoise %elocation id
The intent of this bid is to procure quotes for the relocation of Gopher Tortoises onto five
specified parcels in Orange County. The quoted price should include cost for a baseline survey to
determine the density of tortoises on each proposed site as well as a survey of the available
forage per site Develop a site preparation plan for each site including but not limited to
temporary fencing testing tortoises for !pper "espiratory Tract Disease physical relocation and
establishment of procedure for monitoring and maintaining land. Prepare an economic evaluation
for each site outlining the costs for site preparation management activities etc. versus the
potential revenue that could be generated per site.
COMP&E$'O( D)$E
Contractor will begin wor# $% days of notification of contract award. Pro&ect completion will be
within '(% days of start date unless the pro&ect coordinator gives approval in writing.
'(S$%*C$'O(S FO% 'D
There will be a pre)bid meeting conducted by Purchasing and Contracts.
*fter reviewing all &ob specifications submit quote on attached +,uote -heet. form. *ll
bids should be mailed or hand delivered to /ohn -chmidt. 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 pro&ect.
Orange County reserves the right to re&ect any and all bids.
"o#!er $ortoise %elocation id
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P%O+EC$ SPEC'F'C)$'O(S
For
"o#!er $ortoise %elocation Pro,ect
'- Pro,ect Coordinator.
0eth /ac#son
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
(%% 1ercy Drive -uite 2
Orlando 3lorida $4(%(
Office5 62%78 ($9)'2('
3a:5 62%78 ($9)'2;;
''- Pro,ect Site &ocations.
Parcel /00
The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at 22001 East Colonial
Drive, Section 32, Tonship 22, !ange 33, "ot 001 and enco#passes $0%.1 s&uare acres.
&ong ranc! Parcel
The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at '10South County
!oad 13, Section %2, Tonship 22, !ange 32, "ot 02( and enco#passes 1)3 s&uare acres.
)lice 1- Strite Parcel
The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at ()11 *ly#outh
Sorrento !oad, Section 0', Tonship 20, !ange 2+, "ot 00) and enco#passes +3.03 s&uare acres.
(%C Parcel
The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at 2020) State !oad
(20, Section 3), Tonship 22, !ange 32, "ot 002 and enco#passes %02.$+ s&uare acres.
Fa2io Parcel
The site is located in east Orange County. Specifically, the site is located at %3 !ainey !oad,
Section 0(, Tonship 20, !ange 2+, "ot 003 and enco#passes 1)).22 s&uare acres.
'''- "eneral Pro,ect Descri#tion.
*. Perform a baseline survey of each parcel to determine the density of tortoises as well as a
survey of the available forage per site. <ands must be determined to be viable for relocation to
occur.
0. 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.
"o#!er $ortoise %elocation id
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C. Test 4=> of the relocated population for !"TD. 4=> of e:isting species on the recipient
lands should also be tested for !"TD.
D. Develop physical relocation procedures including obtaining proper ta#e permits from 3?C
and any other governing agency.
E. Prepare a plan including a budget detailing land monitoring and management
recommendation.
3. 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.
'3- "eneral S#eci4ications.
'. 0idders will be responsible for #nowing and complying with federal state and local
guidelines pertaining to pro&ect activities especially concerning the proper handling and
relocation of gopher tortoises.
4. Disturbance of vegetation outside of the property line should be avoided. Af e:cessive ground
disturbance seems necessary to complete the &ob the Contractor should confer with the
pro&ect manager before proceeding.
$. COBT"*CTO"- will furnish all equipment material labor and such items necessary to
remove fence and posts clear vegetation and install fence and gates.
2. *t the time of completion all pro&ect specifications will be inspected by the designated
pro&ect coordinator6s8 to ensure specifications were followed.
3- $ec!nical S#eci4ications.
aseline Survey S#eci4ications
'. -urvey needs to be performed by a professional environmental consultant who has
previously performed surveying specifically relating to gopher tortoise habitat.
4. The total site survey should be completed by a three)person crew with a ma:imum
width of 4' feet. The burrows should be mar#ed by their GP- position and@or on an
aerial.
$. Generally the land needs to be no less than 4= acres with an effort to have a minimum
of =% acres with at least =%> being e:cellent to good tortoise habitat.
2. The recipient site must be determined to be within =% miles of the donor site.
=. Predator population needs to be evaluated.
9. The survey needs to include the following information5
a. The e:isting gopher tortoise population and density@acre.
b. *n estimate of the carrying capacity for tortoises on the site.
c. * vegetative map of each site that includes5 estimated acreage and an
evaluation of habitat quality for tortoises including5 E:isting forage
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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 4%)2%> and the open soil
should be 4%)2%>.
e. -oil 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 Pre#aration S#eci4ications
'. *ny trails or wal#ways in the site need to be off)limits to *TC or any other
motoriDed vehicle traffic.
4. Af roads are within $%% feet of the reserve boundary an e:cluder fence should be
put into place. The fence should be '( inches under ground and a minimum of four
feet above. The fence should be of a type that will e:clude both &uveniles and adult
tortoises from wandering into harmEs way. This type of fence with the same
specifications needs surround the perimeter of the property for at least si: months
in order to prevent migration.
$. The area should be burned mowed graDed or other activities should be underta#en
to reduce the shrub layer enhance grass and herbaceous species in class ' and 4
forage. This should be done 4)$ months prior to release.
2. E:isting species need to be tested for disease including !pper "espiratory Tract
Disease.
=. -tarter burrows large enough for the largest adult in the pen should be dug
6appro:imately $ feet deep. 25' slope8. 0urrows for 4=> of the tortoises should be
dug.

$ortoise Pre#aration S#eci4ications
'. Testing 4=> of the relocated population for !pper "espiratory Tract Disease.
4. The recipient site should be of the same genetic group and race as the donor
species.
%elocation S#eci4ications
'. The tortoises and commensals should be ta#en through burrow e:cavation
using a bac#hoe. The bac#hoe operator is s#illed and uses a toothless
buc#et.
4. The tortoises are released within one day of capture.
$. Bo sic# tortoises are released onto the site. They may be treated and if
cured they can be released.
2. Each tortoise when captured is immediately processed and placed in a
"ubbermaid container with a lid that closes completely but allows air to
"o#!er $ortoise %elocation id
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flow. These containers are maintained below (%3 and above ==3. They are
never left in the sun or in a vehicle.
=. Af there are drought conditions present individuals should be soa#ed for 4)
9 hours in non)chlorinated water.
9. <ids are #ept closed on the containers to #eep the tortoise in the dar# to
reduce stress.
7. The best time for tortoise relocation is after /une '=
th
to the end of October.
The second best time is mid to late 3ebruary through the first wee# of
*pril. "elocation should not occur during *pril through the end of 1ay.
Management and Monitoring Procedure S#eci4ications
'.1onitoring needs to be completed by a person or agency with the biological e:pertise to
manage the lands in such a way that will meet the conservation goals.
4. The pens should be chec#ed twice daily to see if tortoises are upright and that there arenEt
any problems.
$. 1anagement Plan should include5
'. Procedure that will sustain quality and carrying capacity.
4. Procedure for habitat and population monitoring and reactive management
to sustain goals of relocation.
2. 1aintenance of the land should ensure5
'. The canopy and soil remains at the optimal levels5 The open tree and shrub
canopy should be 4%)2%> and the open soil should be 4%)2%>.
4. Becessity of perimeter fencing. 3ences can be replaced with hay bale
fencing unless roads e:ist on the perimeter.
$. -oil quality and depth. *rtificial soil piles could be inserted to alleviate
potential problems that prohibit burrowing.
=. 1onitoring of gopher tortoises need to report on5
'. Chec#ing dead tortoises for signs of predation.
4. Feep trac# of densities of raccoon and other predators of gopher tortoises.
$. *ll data is entered into the monitoring database.
Cost5ene4it )nalysis Procedure S#eci4ications
'. The Cost@0enefit analysis should be performed by someone who is
familiar with economic valuation specifically relating to environmental
issues and future use.
4. * cost proposal sheet detailing specifically the costs for site preparation
and management need to be ob&ectively determined. This should be
done for each site individually.
$. Potential revenue for each site should be determined. This is supposing
the land was developed and used for either housing or business.
2. 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.
"o#!er $ortoise %elocation id
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6*O$E S7EE$
Orange County Environmental Protection Division
"loria %eid5Palmer $ract
A have read the attached specifications and agree to the conditions established by the
Orange County Environmental Protection Division. A would li#e to submit the following
written quote5
$otal 8__________________________
Bame5
*ddress5
City@-tate@Gip Code5
3ed. ADH or --H5
Printed Bame5
-ignature5
Please 1ail or fa: your quote to the address below before =5%% P1 on 6insert date8.
Ansert Bame and *ddress of Purchasing