Batwing Bush Hog & Tires

The Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources (KDFWR), operating under the Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) on November 21, 2019, for the procurement of a 15-foot batwing bush hog and pneumatic tires to be used for vegetation management at Lake Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. The primary deliverable consists of one John Deere E15 Batwing Bush Hog or approved equivalent, along with one set of four pneumatic tires, with delivery included in the bid price. The equipment must be compatible with KDFWR's existing John Deere 5100E tractor currently housed at Beaver Creek WMA, and all equipment must be new and current year model, delivered with manufacturer's operator manuals. Vendors submitting alternate brands or specifications must provide descriptive literature for equivalency approval, and failure to submit adequate supporting documentation may result in a non-responsive determination. Responses were due December 9, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. ET, with vendor questions required by December 2, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The award was determined using a best value ranking approach weighted at 90 points for total cost and 10 points for delivery timeline, with the lowest-priced compliant bid receiving maximum points and others scored proportionally. Proposed pricing was required to remain valid for a minimum of 60 calendar days after the bid due date, and submissions were required as Group All awards with all line items bid or face rejection as non-responsive.

The RFQ included several compliance and preference provisions applicable to bidders. Kentucky resident bidders received reciprocal preference, while qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and qualified nonprofit agencies serving individuals with severe disabilities received preference equal to 20 or 15 percent of maximum points. All bidders were required to submit a notarized Annual Affidavit confirming compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws, state tax registration requirements, sales and use tax compliance, and restrictions on boycotts of jurisdictions maintaining open trade with Kentucky. Submissions could be made electronically through the Commonwealth's eProcurement system or as paper copies to the Office of Procurement Services in Frankfort, with electronic submission preferred. Vendors were required to include F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed pricing in their proposals. The Commonwealth reserved the right to cancel the RFQ if responses exceeded available funding, though no specific budget range or award value was disclosed in the solicitation documents.