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Evaluation committee reopens RFP award process after protest, seeks clarifications on pesticide license and experience scoring
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Summary
Hillsborough County evaluation committee reconvened to consider a protest of the notice of intent to award for RFP P26-00069 (Lower Green Swamp cattle grazing lease). The committee flagged questions about Florida Pesticide Applicator license requirements and how experience on owned vs. leased land is scored and will request virtual oral presentations from the two proposers.
Hillsborough County’s evaluation committee reconvened to discuss a protest filed against the notice of intent to award for RFP P26-00069, the county’s solicitation for a cattle‑grazing lease at the Lower Green Swamp, and agreed to request clarification from the two proposers before finalizing scores.
"On 01/31/2026, as was publicly posted, a protest of the notice of intent to award was received," said Ethan Kersey, the buyer assigned to the project, opening the meeting. Procurement staff outlined two central issues the committee must clarify: whether proposers must hold an active Florida Pesticide Applicator license under Section 133 and how to credit experience that proposers claim on owned land versus leased land.
Aaron, the county’s procurement operations coordinator, summarized the licensing question: "The proposal shall possess a Florida Pesticide Applicator's license. The FPL shall be active ... In the event the proposal does not possess an FPL, the proposal can utilize a subcontractor for this element, and the proposal shall provide a copy of that subcontractor's FPL license along with the required business agreement among the parties for the FPL." He told the committee that language in the RFP allows use of a subcontractor’s license provided the subcontract and business agreement are submitted.
Forrest Turbiville, conservation and environmental lands management director, said the committee’s purpose for the reconvened meeting was to "identify any questions or request clarifications regarding the RFP responses" submitted by Arbonne Ranch and Roll Hard Cattle. He said the committee would not change scores during the reconvening but could invite the firms to give oral presentations and then reconvene to adjust or confirm scores.
Allen Williams, a small‑farms extension agent with UF/IFAS Extension, asked the committee to clarify the "appropriate subcategory for the pesticide license," noting that lease plans can include specific requirements that the committee should be able to verify during presentations.
The committee discussed logistics for the presentations. Staff proposed virtual sessions that would include a brief overview (about 15 minutes) followed by a question‑and‑answer period (about 30 minutes). Committee members agreed to reserve an afternoon block on May 7 for the presentations and to contact Arbonne Ranch and Roll Hard Cattle to schedule virtual appearances.
No formal motions or votes were taken at the reconvened meeting. The committee closed the session after confirming there were no further questions and directed staff and proposers to proceed with scheduling. Participants were told to continue monitoring the county procurement portal (UNIF) for updates.
Next steps: the committee will hold the requested virtual presentations, then reconvene to consider any clarifications and determine whether to adjust scoring or proceed with the award decision.
