NPSS1 PMAA 2027_0044 - Troutlodge Eyed Rainbow Trout Eggs.pdf

Notice of Proposed Sole Source Scope of Work and Sole Source Justification

NPSS1 PMAA 2027*0044

Troutlodge Eyed Rainbow Trout Eggs

Scope of Goods Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) requires the purchase of approximately 1.8 million eyed (viable) Rainbow Trout eggs per year. This quantity will consist of eggs from both the Kamloop and Jumper strains of the species. These eggs are intended to be reared at state hatcheries managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Schedule and Term of Award A Purchase Order will be issued as soon as practical. The Sole Source Procurement end date is June 30, 2030.

Budget CPW has allocated approximately $205,000 for the required goods over the four-year Sole Source procurement period.

Sole Source Justification The vast majority of Rainbow Trout eggs CPW hatcheries raise into fish are obtained during the winter and early spring months from within the state hatchery system, by trading with neighboring state wildlife agencies, or come from federal hatcheries within Colorado or elsewhere. However, none of these sources can supply eggs year-round, and CPW hatcheries have a variety of timing requirements that necessitate bringing in approximately 1.7-1.8 million eggs annually from April through September. These eggs must, by necessity, be purchased from a private grower. Because private growers are for-profit, they have developed unique strains of Rainbow Trout that produce eggs at times of the year the species would otherwise not produce them, allowing the businesses to supply eggs on demand even when state and federal hatcheries cannot.

For at least the last ten years, 7-9 CPW hatcheries have been ordering eyed Rainbow Trout eggs from Troutlodge. The specific strains of trout provided by Troutlodge, the Kamloop and Jumper strains, are proprietary to the company and have been selectively bred over many generations. The hatchery performance of these strains is a known quantity for CPW. Disease resistance, ideal rearing densities, growth rates, and feed conversion are critical factors CPW hatcheries consider when planning production cycles. Furthermore, CPW aquatic biologists have observed and approve of the strains' performance once released into the wild.

The disease resistance, ideal rearing density, growth rate, and feed conversion of other Rainbow Trout strains will differ and, as such, would require significant adjustments to hatchery rearing cycles. This would amount to more than an inconvenience - CPW hatcheries have spent the last 10+ years maximizing production capabilities based on the growth and timing of the Kamloop and Jumper strains. Using any other strain of trout would quite literally be undoing over a decade of work on the part of hatchery staff.

Contact and Submittal Submit any questions or any submittal item via email with the solicitation number NPSS1 PAA 2027*0044 in the subject line to:

Jeanette Stroud Department of Natural Resources, Purchasing Office Email: Jeanette.Stroud@state.co.us

Submittal Items This Notice of Proposed Sole Source (NPSS1) has been posted to invite vendors who may be able to offer the goods noted in the Scope of Goods to respond and confirm their capabilities. If it is determined that more than one vendor can provide the goods needed, the purchase will be formally solicited.

In order to demonstrate your ability to fulfill the need, please send an email with a brief one-page cover letter (as an attachment), signed by the sole proprietor, individual or someone authorized to bind your firm which includes: Vendor Name, Vendor Address, including City, State, and zip code, phone number, and email address. In your letter describe how your firm, considering the ability of Troutlodge and the goods they are offering, could supply these goods.

Important: Please be aware that this is not a solicitation for a proposal, quotation, or pricing. This is simply a notification that the Department of Natural Resources Purchasing Office intends to issue a sole source contract award as outlined above.

This is an opportunity for other entities to challenge the sole source status of the contract award. If a challenge is received, unless proved to be unfounded, a solicitation will be issued. Entities that are not prepared to go forward and respond to a solicitation for this work are not encouraged to submit a challenge.

mailto:Jeanette.Stroud@state.co.us