TO: Mayor and Commissioners
FROM: Missie Barletto, Public Works Director
THROUGH: Terrence R. Moore, ICMA-CM
DATE: January 20, 2026
Title
APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION NO. 27-26 TO AWARD AN AGREEMENT WITH ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES, INC. FOR MARINE TURTLE CONSERVATION PROGRAM SERVICES PURSUANT TO RFP NO. 2025-054 IN THE TOTAL ESTIMATED FIVE-YEAR AMOUNT OF $713,364.65
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Motion to Approve Resolution No. 27-26 to award an Agreement with Ecological Associates, Inc. for Marine Turtle Conservation Program Services pursuant to RFP No. 2025-054 in the total estimated five-year amount of $713,364.65
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Background:
The City of Delray Beach (City) has one of the most successful beach maintenance and preservation programs in the United States. Since 1973, the beach has been successfully maintained through five (5) periodic beach renourishments and four (4) storm repair projects. The City’s 2.8-mile-long beach area begins just north of the Highland Beach/Delray Beach boundary to just south of the Ocean Ridge/Delray Beach City limit.
The City holds a Joint Coastal Permit (JCP), Permit No. 0303553-001-JC, with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) for sand nourishment of the beach with offshore borrow areas. The JCP has conditions specific to the beach nourishment/construction activities, marine turtle and manatee protection, monitoring and report. The JCP marine turtle protection conditions include annual surveying for marine turtle nesting activity and egg relocations (as necessary) during the nesting season from March 1 to October 31.
The City has maintained a Marine Turtle Conservation program since 1984 and is environmentally sensitive to the endangered sea turtles’ species and understands the value that this information provides to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) and other environmental agencies. Additionally, the City of Delray Beach cleans the beaches with mechanical equipment (beach tilling) and, as such, marine turtle nesting surveys, staking and egg relocations are required for the protection of the species. The sea turtles that nest on Florida Beaches are either endangered or threatened and are protected under the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 and Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act (379.2431, Florida Statutes).
The FWC, qualifies and issues marine turtle permits under authority granted to the state through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The turtle conservation program requires reporting on hatching and reproduction success rates and also involves inventory and excavation of nests on Delray Beach’s beach.
On August 20,2025, the City issued Request for Proposals (RFP) No. 2025-054 to acquire a firm which will provide Marine Turtle Conservation Program Services.
On September 24, 2025, the City received one submittal, all of which were found to be responsive and responsible to the requirements of RFP No. 2025-054. On November 14, 2025, the Selection Committee completed its review of the submittal and made the following ranking recommendations:
Rank Firm Final Score
1 Ecological Associates, Inc. 298
In accordance with Florida Statutes, representatives from the Purchasing and Contracts Administration Division and Public Works Department conducted a negotiation meeting with Ecological Associates, inc. On December 10, 2025, the first negotiation session was held and finalized the terms of the Agreement.
Staff has reviewed the negotiated fee of $142,672.93 and finds it to be fair and reasonable. This fee will be paid based upon the proposed hourly rates and actual hours worked. Rates are effective for one year from the date of contract execution. Hourly Rates will increase 3% on each anniversary date of the contract, including option years.
The Agreement terms will be from the date of full execution through the completion of work and full acceptance by the City.
This motion is in accordance with Code of Ordinances Section 36.02 Commission Approval Required.
Attachments:
1. Agreement RFP No. 2025-054
2. Exhibit A - Scope of Services
3. Exhibit B - Pricing
4. Resolution No. 27-26
5. Legal Review Checklist
6. RFP No. 2025-054 Final Solicitation
City Attorney Review:
Approved as to form and legal sufficiency.
Funding Source:
Funding is available from 332-41-363-572-34.90.
Timing of Request: