FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

After years of planning and analysis, the Manatee Pocket Project took another step forward on March 20 by seeking Request for Proposals from companies for the dredging phase of the project.  
 
Contractors interested in submitting bids attended a mandatory pre-bid meeting at the County offices on March 31. More than fifty representatives attended the meeting from local, regional and worldwide companies. Numerous questions were raised and incorporated into the addenda to the Request for Proposals. Several proposals were received prior to the deadline at the end of May. 

Next Steps
 
Representatives from Martin County's Coastal Engineering Division and other participating agencies - including The Army Corps of Engineers, Florida Inland Navigation District, and the South Florida Water Management District - will review and evaluate responses received from dredging contractors. 
 
In selecting the best contractor for the job, cost is only one of the factors that will be considered. Other factors include: the Contractor's proposed work plan, project duration and timeline; Contractor's proposed Environmental Compliance Plans; Contractor's ability to reduce impact to residents and area infrastructure during the dredging process; Contractor's willingness and capacity to provide clear and continuous communication about the status of the project; and Contractor's use of technology.
 
The review of the proposals will take about six weeks before a recommendation can be provided to the Martin County Board of County Commissioners for approval.

About the Manatee Pocket Project

he Manatee Pocket Project is a dredging project that entails the removal of about 280,000 cubic yards of muck in the Manatee Pocket in Port Salerno. Once completed, the project will result in a clean, 100-foot-wide channel that will provide navigational, economic and environmental enhancements to the Manatee Pocket and its adjacent waterways.

The goals of the project are to:

• Increase the draft and size of vessels that will be able to access the Pocket
• Define a channel to minimize impacts to adjacent shallow water areas and benefit manatee protection
• Remove detrimental muck sediments
• Improve the ability of marine life to re-establish in the Pocket
• Improve the water quality in the Pocket

For more information visit www.manateepocketproject.com