The Miami Beach City Commission considered a plan Wednesday, Oct. 14, to open competitive bidding for a Marine Science Center at 7605 Collins Ave. in North Beach.

A resolution before the commission would authorize the city administration to issue a formal solicitation for the property after five organizations responded to an earlier call for letters of interest. City Manager Eric Carpenter recommended approval. The vote result was not available at publication.

Commissioner Alex Fernandez sponsored the item. Commissioner David Suarez co-sponsored it.

The roughly 3,046-square-foot building sits adjacent to a public park and the North Shore Regional Library, within walking distance of the beach and several schools. The Commission appropriated $6.53 million on Dec. 17, 2025, to acquire the property from its Building Department, directing staff to reimagine it for recreational and public use.

The Commission discussed the concept at its June 24 meeting and later approved the marine science center use for the site. On July 22, it authorized a request for letters of interest. The RFLI was issued July 24, and 49 prospective bidders accessed the posting. Five submitted responses by the Aug. 28 deadline.

Deep Blue Partners, which owns and operates the Shreveport Aquarium, pitched a center that would use the beach itself as an extension of the visitor experience. The firm is also developing a new Fort Lauderdale Aquarium focused on the Florida Reef.

Florida International University's Institute of Environment, with more than 180 faculty in coastal and ocean science, proposed rotating exhibits, a touch pool with local marine life and turtle nest monitoring tied to its existing research programs. The institute said it would leverage partnerships with more than 113 Miami-Dade public schools through its FIUteach network.

Miami Waterkeeper, a Coral Gables-based clean-water group, proposed a neighborhood hub for its Junior Ambassador program, which enrolls 30 to 50 high school students each year in marine science and civic engagement. Surfside-founded Plastic Fisherman, which runs beach cleanups and workshops in more than 90 countries, expressed interest in a future proposal.

BlueLab Preservation Society, the nonprofit behind Reefline, outlined plans for coral reef education, swim lessons and a potential partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on a marine-technology lab. Reefline is partially funded through a $5 million city general obligation bond allocation.

Under the city manager's memo, whoever wins the solicitation would occupy the building as-is and take on all utility, repair and maintenance costs. The city expects no additional financial impact.

The next step would be a formal request for proposals, allowing the commission to evaluate detailed plans and select an operator.