Jervey Gantt Aquatic Center pool deck resurfacing
Ocala City Council approves contract for out-of-state firm after extensive outreach.
Jara Fermaintt plays with her son, Ethan Techera, 2, in the pool at the Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center in Ocala on July 20, 2021. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette file photo]
The pool deck at Jervey Gantt Aquatic Center is getting a facelift.
Ocala City Council members have approved a $262,580 contract for resurfacing the pool deck, breezeway and restroom floors at the Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center.
Aquatic Renovation Systems, Inc. d/b/a RenoSys Corp. of Indianapolis, was named the lowest responsive and responsible bidder on the city’s reissued invitation to bid (ITB) for the project. The city issued a notice of intent to award on Feb. 12 and the council granted final approval during its regularly scheduled meeting on March 17.
“The solicitation underlying this purchase was issued as an invitation to bid, which, in accordance with the city’s procurement policy, is appropriate for use where complete, adequate and precise technical specifications for the services are clearly defined and the solicitation will lead to a firm fixed price contract,” explained Greg Davis, public information officer for the city.
“The basis for award under an ITB is the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. A bidder is deemed to be responsive where the bid submitted conforms in all material respects to the solicitation documents. A bidder is deemed to be responsible where documentation supports that the bidder is capable of meeting all of the requirements of the solicitation and has the full ability to perform as contractually required. References were requested by the city in the solicitation, provided by RenoSys, and verified by procurement and contracting staff prior to award,” Davis said.
A lower bid of $208,574.45 from Sundek Commercial Contracting, dba Sundek National Accounts, based in Grand Prairie, Texas, was rejected as non-responsive for failing to meet licensing and bid-bond requirements, according to the official bid tabulation.
Residents may wonder why the city didn’t hire a local contractor for the project.
Davis said the city followed its standard rules for large purchases like this one, which was more than $50,000. Those rules require a formal, open and competitive bidding process that is publicly advertised to give everyone a fair chance to bid.
“The city’s procurement policy requires goods and services valued at >$50,000 to be procured by a formal, publicly advertised, competitive solicitation process. In this case, the city advertised its solicitation for pool resurfacing twice, the first from Oct. 20, 2025, to Dec. 15, 2025 (18,722 registered vendors were notified via the city’s e-procurement system) and the second from Jan. 7, 2026, to Feb. 6, 2026 (18,724 vendors notified). The city also sourced and personally emailed 51 additional pool contracting vendors to inform them of the opportunity. Despite our efforts, only two bidders responded to the solicitation, and neither were from the Ocala area,” Davis noted.
“The scope of work required responsive bidders to be certified by the State of Florida as a pool/spa contractor. While the awarded company is headquartered in another state, the company does possess the requisite Florida licensure. The solicitation also clearly notified all bidders that the city’s local vendor preference ordinance, ordinance 2017-35, applied. Had a local vendor submitted a bid in response to the city’s solicitation, they would have had the opportunity to use it to their advantage. Absent extenuating circumstances, placing geographical restrictions on solicitations (i.e. restricting a bid to only local vendors) goes against procurement regulations,” Davis continued.
The project addresses the existing knockdown-textured concrete surface, installed in 2020, that has begun cracking, peeling and crumbling across approximately 17,650 square feet. RenoSys will install a commercial-grade reinforced PVC membrane decking system, the city’s preferred option, replace three sections of NDS channel drain grate covers, add a 2- to 3-foot contrasting safety border around the pool edge and install new depth markers.
Key requirements include high slip resistance that meets Florida Department of Health standards and ADA compliance; UV-, chlorine- and chemical-resistant materials; repair of expansion joints; and full compliance with the Florida Building Code and the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
The contract with RenoSys includes the following key timeline and requirements:
- The contractor must start work within 10 working days after receiving the city’s official notice to proceed.
- The project must reach substantial completion within 45 calendar days from the notice to proceed.
- The entire project must be ready for final inspection and payment no later than May 15, 2026.
If the contractor misses the completion deadline, the city can charge liquidated damages (a set penalty for delays) of $250 per day. After substantial completion, any remaining delays would incur $100 per day.
Construction work is scheduled for weekdays only, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., to minimize disruption. Once the work passes final inspection, the Jervey Gantt Aquatic Fun Center is expected to reopen to the public shortly afterward.
On facility usage, Davis noted that the aquatic center is utilized throughout the year.
“Tekmasters Swim Club rents time at the pools all year for practice,” Davis said.
According to Davis, public swim hours are seasonal, typically from late May through late August, around May 30 to Aug. 30, sometimes extending to Labor Day weekend.
The pools are open for public use Tuesday through Saturday, with morning sessions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and afternoon sessions from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. On Sundays and Mondays, only afternoon sessions are offered, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Hours may vary toward the end of the season, with some periods limited to weekends only in late August or early September.
To learn more about Jervey Gantt the city’s other such venues, go to ocalafl.gov/government/city-departments-i-z/recreation-parks/recreation/aquatic-fun-centers
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