Votes at a glance: council approves FY26 RFP awards, two science grants, Coastal Connections and new boat purchase

The Indian River Lagoon council on Feb. 14 approved multiple funding and contract actions recommended by the management conference and advisory committees. The board voted, typically by unanimous voice vote, to accept ranked proposals and to authorize staff to negotiate contracts and execute them pending federal funding clarity where applicable.

Key outcomes (motions approved):

- Water‑quality RFP (EPA section 320 funds): the management conference rated Brevard County’s proposal as top ranked to implement sewer quick‑connects; the board accepted the recommendation and authorized staff to negotiate and fund the top‑ranked contract. The second‑ranked Port St. Lucie septic‑to‑sewer proposal was eligible but unfunded because the top proposal requested the full category allocation. A third applicant (Grand Harbor Community Association) did not meet the 75% eligibility threshold and was not funded.

- Habitat restoration RFP (FY26): both top‑ranked projects were funded. Hub SeaWorld Research Institute was the top ranked applicant for shoreline design and engineering at Coconut Point; Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance was also funded for mangrove and seagrass restoration in Jupiter Narrows. The board approved contracting and placed the modest leftover balance into reserves.

- Community‑based restoration RFP: Coastal Connections, which provides monofilament‑line recycling and volunteer collection, was the top ranked and approved for funding. A separate proposal from Indian River Mosquito Control District did not reach the 75% threshold and was not funded.

- Science & Innovation (Section 320 funds): the board approved awards to Florida Institute of Technology to expand benthic flux and hypoxia mapping and to Hub SeaWorld Research Institute for marine mammal toxin exposure monitoring. Two other proposals narrowly missed the eligibility threshold and were not funded. Staff noted the category had a small surplus that must be spent within EPA section 320 work plan activities and recommended allocating that surplus to communications and related allowable activities.

- Vessel procurement (Invitation to Bid 2024‑01): staff received two bids and recommended award to the low bidder (Legacy Marine and Stewart) for a replacement vessel. The board approved the invitation to bid award and required a small reserve draw to complete the purchase; the current older vessel will be retained for material transport and occasional use but is near end‑of‑life for passenger operations.

Voting and procedure: most motions to accept management‑conference recommendations were made by Commissioner Sarah Hurd and seconded by Commissioner Kim Atkinson or by other commissioners as recorded in the minutes. Each motion was approved by the board and recorded as passing unanimously in the meeting record. For projects that did not meet the 75% scoring threshold, staff and committees followed the RFP scoring rules and the council declined funding.

Next steps: staff will negotiate scopes and contracts with the top‑ranked applicants, hold execution pending clearer federal funding signals for awards funded from federal lines, and return to the board for executed contract approval or for updates on reserve allocations.