DEEP032726CM_Apr_6_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is an Invitation to Bid (ITB) solicitation document issued by the State of Connecticut, Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) for the procurement of northern pike fingerlings. The solicitation seeks competitive bids for 20,000 northern pike fingerlings measuring 2-3 inches in length sourced from lake-dwelling broodstock populations. The fingerlings must be delivered alive and in good health to four designated Connecticut lakes: Bantam Lake, Winchester Lake, Mansfield Hollow Reservoir, and Pachaug Pond for aquatic resource management and stocking purposes. The solicitation opened on March 27, 2026, at 2:30 PM EDT, with bids due on April 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM EDT. The preferred delivery window is June 1-14, 2026, with weekend deliveries permitted and holiday deliveries prohibited. No bidders' conference or site visit has been scheduled. Prospective bidders must contact Chanel Macklin at DEEP, 79 Elm Street, Hartford, Connecticut 06106, by telephone at 860-424-3317 or email at chanel.macklin@ct.gov with any questions.

Bids will be awarded on a Free On Board (FOB) Destination basis to the responsive and responsible bidder demonstrating full compliance with all specifications and DEEP's standard bid terms and conditions; payment terms are vendor-specified. The solicitation does not specify an estimated total contract value or budget range, leaving pricing determinations to vendor proposals. No set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or vendor type restrictions are identified, indicating the procurement is open to all qualified vendors meeting technical and logistical requirements. Bidders must demonstrate extensive experience in interstate transport of large live fish loads, obtain all necessary state and federal permits, provide comprehensive health certification documentation including viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) testing from a certified pathology laboratory submitted at least 10 days prior to departure, coordinate with DEEP Fisheries biologists at least two weeks prior to loading, and ensure drivers possess knowledge of pH, dissolved oxygen, and water temperature requirements for juvenile northern pike. Dead or dying fish upon delivery will be counted and deducted from final payment. No incumbent contractors or current vendors are identified in the documentation.