Commissioners Approve Concession Contract

Commissioners voted to move forward with BluWater Florida and an already modified contract to operate the county marinas against staff recommendation to put the contract out for rebid. 

The Board was ready to approve a contract with BluWater at their June 27th meeting. That contract gave BluWater the ability to offer watercraft rental services at the four county—owned marinas. It was during this meeting they heard that a county staff member told a company with a potential competing bid that watercraft rental services would not be allowed as part of the contract. Upon learning of that discrepancy, commissioners rejected the contract and directed staff to go back to BluWater and eliminate the watercraft rental portion or put the contract out for rebid.

At the July 11th board meeting, staff came forward and said that during the renegotiation process, they identified other problems with the contract. Because of those “inconsistencies,” they recommended putting the contract out for rebid.

BluWater attorney Joseph Davidow argued that the county should move forward with the renegotiated contract, where BluWater agreed to eliminate the watercraft rental services portion of the contract. “This is a closed bid,” said Davidow. Commissioner McDaniel suggested adding another modification to the contract that would eliminate cash sales, something staff identified as problematic. Davidow agreed to adding that modification.

In a 4-1 vote, Commissioners agreed to move forward with BluWater Florida’s contract with modifications. Commissioner Kowal was the opposing vote, believing that a rebid was the best way forward. 

BluWater will operate the marinas in Cocohatchee, Port of the Islands, Goodland and eventually Caxambas when it reopens providing live bait and fuel sales as well as managing the ship stores.