The Village of Key Biscayne is seeking prices for an additional 7,000 cubic yards of beach-compatible sand in its beach nourishment project, citing recent high tides and two November king tide events.

An addendum to the village's beach nourishment bid, released Oct. 29, adds an alternate line item asking contractors to price out an additional 7,000 cubic yards of beach-compatible sand on top of the base project. The village cited recent high tides, strong northeast winds and "two additional king tide events in November" as the reason for the increase.

The extra sand would be delivered, placed and graded to match the project's existing specifications, according to the addendum.

What the base project calls for

The village released the original Invitation to Bid (ITB) on Oct. 22 for a truck-haul beach nourishment covering roughly 4,350 feet of shoreline between Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) reference monuments R-103.5 and R-107.75, according to the bid document. The base scope calls for approximately 18,400 tons of beach fill.

Sand would come from one of three permitted inland mines in the Moore Haven and Clewiston areas of south-central Florida and be trucked to the island.

The project is funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, administered by the Florida Division of Emergency Management, according to the bid document. Contractors must comply with federal procurement rules, including the Davis-Bacon Act.

Timeline and next steps

A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting is scheduled for Nov. 3 at 10 a.m. at the village's BZP Conference Room, Suite 250, at 88 W. McIntyre St. Bids are due Nov. 24 at 11:30 a.m. through the DemandStar electronic bidding system, with a public opening on Zoom shortly after.

The village's schedule targets a staff review of submissions by Dec. 1, a final selection by Dec. 8 and an award recommendation by Dec. 15 or later. The winning bid must be approved by the Village Council before a contract is executed. Once work begins, the contractor would have 45 calendar days to substantially complete the project and 60 days for final completion.

Erosion history on the island

Key Biscayne completed a beach renourishment in 2024 that placed approximately 25,000 cubic yards of sand and about 48,300 plants along the dune line, according to the village's project page. That effort cost an estimated $3 million, shared with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, after storms eroded up to 28.4 feet of shoreline in some areas.

Village Manager Steve Williamson said in a March 2024 overview that the earlier project was "necessary to fortify our shorelines and improve the quality of our beaches."

The village is also exploring longer-term protection. The Village Council unanimously approved a two-year feasibility study for an offshore hybrid artificial reef system, led by coastal engineering firm Moffatt & Nichol, as the Islander News reported in September. Roland Samimy, the village's chief resilience and sustainability officer, told the Islander News that the reef concept remains unproven. The study costs $1.075 million, with the village's share at $412,000 after federal and state contributions.

Contractors can reach the village's procurement department at (305) 365-7577 or [email protected]. Bids close Nov. 24 at 11:30 a.m.