Council staff presented a request-for-qualifications for professional engineering services tied to a NOAA habitat-restoration grant and recommended contracting with two firms following management and committee review.

Daniel Clodney, identified in the meeting as the council’s chief operating officer, said NOAA requires as‑built or construction drawings for 15 restoration sites that the council had not originally budgeted. Clodney explained the council sought one firm to produce uniform deliverables across the sites, but legal review determined the work required a competitive solicitation under consultant procurement rules. Four firms responded; Tetra Tech was ranked highest and Dredging & Marine Consultants qualified as an additional services contractor.

Clodney summarized staff and management board reasoning: having two prequalified firms permits the council and member agencies to “piggyback” on the solicitation for related work and provides capacity should workload exceed a single contractor. “We’re recommending that both firms be under a service contract,” Clodney said. He added there is no financial risk to the council from having two contractors under contract but no guarantee of work for the second firm.

Commissioner Cole Oliver (St. Johns River Water Management District) and others said using two firms is common practice on large programs to meet demand. The Board of Directors approved the staff recommendation to negotiate and contract with both selected firms; the motion passed unanimously.

The RFQ outcome allows the council to proceed with NOAA grant deliverables (as‑built drawings) and to offer the solicitation as a vehicle other management members can use if the scope fits their needs.