Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/285258
"I actually unknowingly last summer visited this vendor in Cades Cove up in Tennessee," Robinson said, referring to a family vacation. She even bought a Christmas ornament in the gift shop, she added, and commented at the time "on how nicely run the shop was." Robinson continued, "Little did I know that [the operator] would be a future vendor for the Springs …" "I hope you're correct that they're a good vendor," Barbetta responded. "But I'm really concerned about the huge discrepancy between the first and second bidder." Bioluminescence Institute, represented by William Delp, bid $300,000 on the short-term operation, according to documents prepared by the North Port Purchasing Department. Bioluminescence had no references for similar operations in the past 10 years, the document noted, and it did not meet the criteria for hav- ing a minimum of one year of management experience during the past five years. According to its website, National and State Park Concessions, based in Hobe Sound, was founded by its current president and CEO, Jack E. Bobo Jr., in 1988. Bobo "saw a need to provide quality … services for visitors to the Florida State Parks," the website adds. "In October 1988, he and his partner were awarded a contract from the State of Florida to operate a boat tour in the Collier-Seminole State Park." Over the years, the site continues, "Mr. Bobo's operations have expanded and have been A graphic shows existing structures at Warm Mineral Springs. Image courtesy Sarasota County Sarasota News Leader March 28, 2014 Page 50