The Monroe County Commission couldn’t find a way to “split the baby.” Both Environmental Adventure (AE) and the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen Association (FKCFA) applied for a $1.43 million bid to manage a nearshore debris cleanup between Marathon and Sugarloaf Key. The cleanup is funded by a state Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) grant to finish cleaning up after Hurricane Irma. The funds have a dual purpose: hurricane financial reparations for commercial fishermen hard hit by the storm, and cleaning up the environment.
“I love both these companies. I don’t want to have to choose between these two. If there’s a way to ‘split the baby,’ so to speak, I would like to explore it,” said Commissioner David Rice. “I think either of these companies are infinitely qualified to do the job. And I think it’s a flip of the coin, quite frankly. Wouldn’t it be nice if they could shake hands and split this, legally?”
Adventure Environmental is a locally owned company that performed much of the canal cleanup following the hurricane, under contract with Monroe County. Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen Association is a long-standing and successful nonprofit that represents local fishermen. The FKCFA proposes to use the Conch Republic Marine Army for its expertise of the current nearshore water situation, prompting questions to that organization as well as AE from commissioners about how many commercial fishermen it promises to employ.
At the virtual monthly meeting on Jan. 20, Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron asked both entities to respond to the shared contract suggestions.
AE’s spokesperson Greg Tolpin said, “At the end of the day, Monroe County is my client. I would do whatever you guys want.” He also noted his company’s expertise in handling the logistics of such an operation — scheduling, tracking and documentation.
Bill Kelly, CEO of the FKCFA, and Brian Vest, founder of the Conch Republic Marine Army, stated they would rather be awarded the entire contract, but would have discussions with AE regarding a shared contract.
“It can’t be divided geographically,” said Vest.
Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi suggested to commissioners they should see if the two parties could come to some agreement on how to share the contract, which the county attorney said was doable, but if they couldn’t, commissioners should award the contract to the top-rated vendor, Adventure Environmental, at the February meeting.
“I don’t want to put our staff in the middle. If the two organizations can’t come up with a solution, then I say we should go with the (top ranked vendor) Adventure Environmental. The difference between the two top ranked vendors is only three points, but any game, or any RFP can be lost by one point. I say we give them a chance to collaborate, and if they can’t, we bring back a contract for the winning bidder.”
Commissioner Rice said that prejudices any negotiation between the two companies.
“I couldn’t agree with that. We can’t have a negotiation with a known winner. I don’t want to announce how we will make a decision or what it would be ahead of time.”
Coldiron agreed. “Based on the bids, and FKCFA’s use of commercial fishermen, I would pick FKCFA. I can’t say who we would automatically pick,” she said.
The work must be complete by June. Both bids specified the work would be done by commercial fishermen with different levels of detail, and the bids also varied on how many days the project would take and what equipment would be deployed.
In the end, the commission agreed to table the matter until the February meeting. Both companies agreed to meet and discuss a shared contract, and to bring back a more detailed business plan that outlines who would do the work and what percentage of the contract dollars would be paid to commercial fishermen.
In other news:
• The commission discussed when and how to bring county employees into the office.
• Monroe County approved a land swap that would allow Fishermen’s Hospital to expand onto the adjacent lot of the Marathon library. A new library is being constructed across the street and is likely to be open in June.
