Project Information

Bid Title

Hydrodynamic modeling of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County, Florida

Issuing Agency

Northwest Florida Water Management District

Location

Florida

Published Date

Dec 9, 2025

Closing Date

Jan 5, 2026

Government Level

State & Local

Status

Closed

Ref. #

RFP 26-002

Original Source

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Bid Documents

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Project Description

Procurement ID:	RFP 26-002
Title:	Hydrodynamic modeling of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County, Florida
File(s):	Bid package
Opening Date:	January 5, 2026

Notice to Potential Bidders

The Northwest Florida Water Management District is excited to announce a partnership with DemandStar for competitive bid solicitations.

To streamline its bid system and to enhance the integrity of its bid openings, the District switched to an online service with DemandStar for competitive solicitations issued on or after October 1, 2023. This will simplify the current process and enhance the transparency of all contracts administered by the District.

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Overview

The Northwest Florida Water Management District purchases goods and services from vendors throughout the state and nation. The overall mission of procurement is to acquire goods and services in a responsive manner through contractual mechanisms that support District initiatives, using procedures of integrity and fairness, which also encourage diversity and are consistent with applicable laws, policies, and procedures.

Procurement Opportunities

Notices of Solicitations and related documents are posted on this site. These documents, along with archived solicitation documents, can also be found on the State of Florida’s Vendor Bid System by clicking “Search Advertisements,” selecting “Northwest Fla Water Management Dist” for the Agency, and then “Advertisement Search.”

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NORTHWEST FLORIDA WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

Request for Proposals ("RFP") No. 26-002

Hydrodynamic Modeling of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County, Florida

The Northwest Florida Water Management District, 81 Water Management Drive, Havana,

Florida 32333, is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) from qualified firms to determine data

needs, produce a modeling plan, collect data, and subsequently develop, calibrate, and apply a

circulation model, (e.g. hydrodynamic model) to assess circulation patterns in St. Joseph Bay.

The deadline for submission of sealed Proposals is 2:00 P.M. ET, January 5, 2026. The

opening of the Proposals is open to the public and will be at District headquarters. Provisions

will be made to accommodate those with a disability provided the District is given at least 72

hours advance notice. All Proposals must conform to the instructions in this RFP and comply

with applicable Florida Statutes. Interested parties may obtain a copy of the complete RFP

package from the District’s website (http://www.nwfwater.com), from the DemandStar website

at: (https://www.demandstar.com/app/login), or from the State of Florida’s Vendor Information

Portal website at: (https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/).

NWFWMD RFP No. 26-002: Hydrodynamic Modeling of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County, Florida

Page 1 of 18

Table of Contents

Part 1. GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................ 3

1.1 Definitions............................................................................................................................3

1.2 Introduction and Purpose .....................................................................................................3

1.3 Scope of Work .....................................................................................................................3

1.4 Issuing Office, Date, and Location of Opening ...................................................................5

1.5 Schedule ...............................................................................................................................5

1.5 Delays ..................................................................................................................................6

1.6 Submission and Withdrawal ................................................................................................6

1.7 Inquiries ...............................................................................................................................7

1.8 Addenda ...............................................................................................................................7

1.9 Equal Opportunity................................................................................................................7

1.11 Americans With Disabilities Act .........................................................................................7

1.10 Insurance ..............................................................................................................................8

1.11 Public Crimes/Discriminatory/Antitrust Violator Vendors .................................................8

1.12 Inspectors General Cooperation...........................................................................................8

1.13 Prohibited Contact ...............................................................................................................8

1.14 Protest of RFP Provisions ....................................................................................................9

1.15 Challenge of District’s Intent to Award Contract ................................................................9

1.16 Development Costs ..............................................................................................................9

1.17 Publicity ...............................................................................................................................9

1.18 Waiver of Minor Irregularities.............................................................................................9

1.19 Scrutinized Companies; Boycotting ..................................................................................10

PART 2. RESPONDENT PROPOSALS..................................................................................... 11

2.1 Proposal Requirements ......................................................................................................11

2.2 District Forms and Rules ...................................................................................................12

2.3 Conflict of Interest .............................................................................................................12

2.4 Respondent Checklist.........................................................................................................12

PART 3. EVALUATION AND CONTRACTING ..................................................................... 13

3.1 Evaluation Criteria .............................................................................................................13

3.2 Contract Awards ................................................................................................................13

3.3 Contract Operations ...........................................................................................................14

PART 4. SUBMITTAL FORM ................................................................................................... 15

EXHIBIT A – AGREEMENT FOR CONTRACTUAL SERVICE............................................. 16

NWFWMD RFP No. 26-002: Hydrodynamic Modeling of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County, Florida

Page 2 of 18

PART 1. GENERAL INFORMATION

1.1 Definitions

For the purpose of this RFP, "respondent" means contractor, vendors, consultants, organizations,

firms or other persons submitting a Proposal in response to this Request for Proposal.

1.2 Introduction and Purpose

The Northwest Florida Water Management District, 81 Water Management Drive, Havana, Florida

32333, (hereinafter referred to as the “District”) is issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) from a

qualified firm to provide consulting services to the District for the purpose of developing a

circulation model for St. Joseph Bay located in Gulf County, Florida. The purpose of this model

is to better understand circulation patterns within St. Joseph Bay and the critical forces driving

these patterns. Work is anticipated to be authorized through individual task orders.

The Selection Committee, composed of District staff, will evaluate and rank the respondents. It is

the intent of the District to contract with one or more firms that meet the criteria. The District shall

select in order of preference one or more firms deemed to be the most highly qualified to perform

the required services. The initial contract shall be for a period of up to three (3) years (the “Term”),

with an option for a renewal of up to three (3) years (the “Renewal Term”) at the District’s

discretion. A contract awarded pursuant to this RFP does not obligate the District to assign any

work to a respondent nor does it obligate the District to pay a respondent the rates reflected in the

respondent’s Schedule of Costs. The District retains the right to negotiate a lower Schedule of

Costs after contract award if it is in the best interest of the District to do so.

1.3 Scope of Work

The District seeks assistance in developing a hydrodynamic model of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County,

Florida for the purpose of simulating circulation and particle transport in the bay. Three primary

tasks are anticipated to be included in the scope of work, including:

1- Develop a Hydrodynamic Modeling Plan (MP) for St. Joseph Bay and St. Andrew Bay

2- Develop and Calibrate a Hydrodynamic Model for St. Joseph Bay

3- Perform Model Scenario Runs

Additional details regarding the three proposed tasks is provided below.

Task 1: Develop a Hydrodynamic Modeling Plan for St. Joseph Bay and St. Andrew Bay

In Task 1, the Contractor will develop a Modeling Plan (MP) detailing the process, recommended

modelling software, model boundary conditions and spatial and temporal resolution and modelling

extent, data and software needs and availability (including critical data gaps and data collection

plan needed to fill those gaps), data qa/qc and data processing and analysis, identification of model

development and calibration approach including performance metrics, and estimated costs and

timeline of major tasks to complete the model development and calibration.

NWFWMD RFP No. 26-002: Hydrodynamic Modeling of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County, Florida

Page 3 of 18

The MP will include both St. Joseph Bay as well as St. Andrew Bay, though the model to be

developed as part of this grant/task will include St. Joseph Bay only. The contractor will address

all District and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) comments prior to submitting the

final MP. This task must be completed, including all final deliverables and submitted invoices, by

June 14, 2026.

Task 2: Development of a Hydrodynamic Model for St. Joseph Bay

In Task 2, a hydrodynamic model will be constructed using the best available data, including data

collected as identified in the MP (Task 1). The type of model and relevant calibration parameters

will be determined in collaboration with the District and DEP.

Examples of specific sub-tasks associated with the model development include:

1- Develop model extent and grid system;

2- Develop input datasets for model calibration, examples include:

a. Offshore boundary conditions;

b. Freshwater inflows;

c. Meteorological data;

d. Bathymetry and DEM data;

e. Available velocity and discharge data in the bay;

f. Water surface elevation and water quality data at additional locations throughout

the bay;

g. Tidal flux discharge measurements at ungagged tidal creeks and other potential

surface water inputs into the bay;

h. Water quality data, such as water temperature and salinity;

3- Construct and parameterize hydrodynamic model;

4- Calibrate hydrodynamic model.

The model should be calibrated to observed water levels, salinity, temperature, flows, and/or any

other variables of interest to the State of Florida for which sufficient data are available. Calibration

periods will be selected based on a review of the available data relative to modeling objectives.

Model parameter values will be checked for reasonableness and visualizations illustrating these

temporal and spatial changes in model outputs will be produced to better evaluate model output.

Graphical and numerical comparisons will be made between measured data and corresponding

model outputs at data collection/calibration locations in St. Joseph Bay spanning periods of

average, high, and low rainfall (surface water inputs such as the Gulf County Canal). Specific

diagnostic measures for evaluating model calibration results will be generated based on model

outputs such as water surface elevation, salinity, and/or temperature as appropriate. Model

calibration performance metrics may include:

• Graphical and numerical comparisons of time series data versus model simulations,

including time-series plots of model residuals;

• Graphical and numerical comparisons of observed and simulated data distributions

(percentiles);

• Root mean square error (RMSE) statistics comparing observed and modeled data;

• Mean error (ME) statistics comparing observed and modeled data;

• Mean absolute error (MAE) statistics comparing observed and modeled data; and

NWFWMD RFP No. 26-002: Hydrodynamic Modeling of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County, Florida

Page 4 of 18

• Correlation coefficient statistics (e.g. Pearson’s r or Kendall’s τ) comparing observed and

modeled data.

Task 3. Hydrodynamic Circulation Model Scenario Runs.

Once the calibrated model is deemed appropriate for use by the District and DEP, the Contractor

will perform a minimum of three scenario runs to evaluate the effects of changing boundary

conditions on conditions in St. Joseph Bay. The Contractor will evaluate changes in key model

outputs and bay hydro- and water-quality dynamics resulting from these scenarios and produce

visualizations, including animations of model outputs, illustrating these changes. Grantee will

additionally complete a sensitivity analysis to assess the sensitivity of key inputs to model outputs.

Additional Tasks

Additional tasks may also be necessary in the completion of this project including the following:

Data Collection – The selected Contractor may be requested to perform data collection to fill data

gaps identified in the modeling plan. Types of data collection that may be needed include, but are

not limited to, water quality data, hydrologic data, and bathymetric/topographic data.

Alternatively, the District may issue task orders for data collection to a different contractor,

depending on the type of data collection, costs, staffing availability, and other factors.

Report Preparation – Reports associated with the modeling effort including, but not limited to,

items such as documenting the modeling and data collection work plans, modeling plans, model

development reports, model calibration reports, and modeling scenario reports.

Meeting Attendance – The attendance of meetings may be required. Meetings may be virtual or in

person. Meetings may require the Contractor to present to speak publicly about their work.

1.4 Issuing Office, Date, and Location of Opening

Northwest Florida Water Management District

Attn: Agency Clerk

81 Water Management Drive

Havana, FL 32333-4712

THE DISTRICT MUST RECEIVE ALL PROPOSALS BY 2:00 P.M. (EASTERN TIME)

ET, January 5, 2026, THE DAY OF THE PUBLIC OPENING.

1.5 Schedule

Respondents shall adhere to the following schedule in all actions concerning this RFP.

Date/Time

Action

December 8, 2025

December 18, 2025

January 5, 2026

District issues Request for Proposals

Deadline for written inquiries by email

Deadline for submission of Proposals

NWFWMD RFP No. 26-002: Hydrodynamic Modeling of St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County, Florida

Page 5 of 18

Commodity Codes

• NAICS 541330Engineering Services
• NAICS 541620Environmental Consulting Services
• NAICS 541690Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
• NAICS 541990All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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