Commercial Water-Based Charter Boat and Tour Operator Permits

Sarasota County is soliciting qualified commercial water‑based charter boat and tour operators to obtain permits for charter fishing and guided excursion services from County‑owned parks. Permits are awarded by geographic zone and specific park location to the highest annual bid, with a maximum of two permits per company per zone and a total contract term of three years. Bidders must demonstrate recent charter or tour experience, maintain required vessel registrations, USCG and Florida fish‑and‑wildlife licenses, and carry substantial insurance (workers’ comp, marine liability, etc.). The minimum annual permit fee is $1,200; bidders may submit bids for multiple park locations but are limited to two permits per zone. The award process follows a sequential ranking by bid amount, with tie‑breakers and local/American business preferences (though preferences are waived due to grant funding). Compliance with County workplace policies and submission of a detailed vendor questionnaire and pricing table in the OpenGov portal are mandatory. • Minimum annual permit fee: $1,200 per permit • Contract term: 3 years, renewable at County’s discretion • Maximum of 2 permits per company per zone • Required licenses: Florida vessel registration, USCG UPV decal, FWC saltwater charter license, USCG OUPV (“Six‑Pack”) license, corporate registration, drug‑testing program participation • Insurance: Workers’ comp (≥ $500k), Marine Protection & Indemnity (≥ $1M), additional insured status for Sarasota County • Submission via OpenGov portal; must include vendor questionnaire and completed pricing table • No pre‑bid meeting or site visit is mandated in the document