Bidder says his high hunting-lease offer was marked non-responsive; council to revisit bids April 21

Clayton Crane, representing Lazy Acres USA and the high bidder on a Port Orange hunting-lease solicitation, told the council he found his bid marked "non-responsive" on the tabulation sheet but received no detailed explanation from staff.

"When the bid tabulation sheet was released, my bid was marked non-responsive. Yet, there was no supporting documents or explanation provided," Crane said. He said staff later told him there were five issues in his packet, primarily related to the financial statement, but provided no specifics and that several of those items were minor, administrative and correctable.

Crane said he submitted proof of funds exceeding the required deposit and obtained a business tax receipt and E-Verify registration promptly after learning they were required. He asked the council either to allow him time to explain the missing items, to reconsider rejecting all bids, or to award the lease to the highest responsible bidder.

Council members acknowledged receipt of public correspondence and said the hunt-club lease would be discussed on the council agenda on April 21. One councilmember said staff would be ready to take questions that night; another said they had yet to see sufficient staff information to change course but wanted the conversation held publicly.

What remains open: The record does not show a final award or reversal; council scheduled the issue for its April 21 agenda for discussion and possible action. Crane said he filed a formal protest and asked staff to put on the record the specific reasons his bid packet was deemed non-responsive.

Sources: Public-comment statements by Clayton Crane and council comments recorded in the meeting transcript.