16-0008 Transportation of live, irradated Medfly pupae

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is seeking a transportation contractor for Invitation for Bid (IFB) #16-0008 to provide specialized transport services for live, irradiated Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Medfly) pupae from the Fruit Fly Rearing Facility in Waimanalo, Hawaii to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The contractor must execute daily transportation services seven days per week, utilizing a refrigerated vehicle that maintains a consistent 60°F temperature and arranging direct non-stop flights. Specific delivery requirements include pupae pickup by 3:00 PM in Hawaii and delivery to LAX by 6:30 AM the following day, with typical daily shipments ranging from 8-12 boxes weighing approximately 50 pounds each. The initial contract term is from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017, with one optional one-year renewal period available. Key bidding deadlines included an email question submission date of April 13, 2016, and a sealed bid submission deadline of May 6, 2016 at 2:00 PM, as extended by Addendum 01.

The procurement includes specific set-aside requirements, mandating 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation. Insurance requirements are comprehensive, including $1,000,000 per occurrence for general liability, automobile liability, and workers' compensation coverage. Significant financial penalties are built into the contract, with liquidated damages of $600 per box for failed deliveries and $300 per box for late deliveries attributed to contractor fault. Subcontracting is strictly limited to $50,000 or 25% of the total contract value, whichever is less, unless the subcontract is awarded through competitive bidding. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the detailed pricing structure requires bidders to submit both a daily pickup charge and a per-box unit charge, with no guaranteed minimum volume. The procurement is open to qualified transportation providers capable of meeting the precise technical and logistical specifications for temperature-controlled, time-sensitive biological material transport between Hawaii and California.