Boat Drone Sensor Suite

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, on behalf of the Division of Water, issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2300000109-2 for a Boat Drone Sensor Suite to serve Elliott County. The procurement seeks one unit of a YSI Inc. Brand EXO2 Sonde-based water quality monitoring system specifically designed to interface with existing drone boat equipment. The complete system includes an EXO2 Sonde with 100-meter depth capability, multiple specialized sensors for conductivity, optical dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total algae detection, and nitrate measurement, a central wiper system for biofouling reduction, an EXO Handheld Display with GPS functionality, mounting hardware, calibration standard solutions, and field cables. The bid requires all components to meet specified YSI part numbers with no acceptable alternates permitted, and delivery must be included to the Division of Water in Frankfort, Kentucky at 300 Sower Boulevard, 3rd Floor. Award will be made on a best value basis using a ranking approach with price weighted at 90 points and delivery time weighted at 10 points, for a total of 100 points, with the lowest bidder receiving maximum points and subsequent bids scored proportionally. Delivery must be stated in specific working days; vague delivery terms render bids non-responsive, and a one percent per day penalty applies to invoices for each day delivery is missed. The original bid closing date of September 1, 2022, was extended through Addendum No. 1 to September 13, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. ET, with written vendor questions due by August 25, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. ET. A minimum twelve-month warranty at no additional cost is required as part of the bid specifications.

Kentucky resident bidders may receive reciprocal preference if the nonresident bidder's state extends similar preference. Qualified bidders receive additional point bonuses, including Kentucky Correctional Industries (20 percent preference), Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities (15 percent preference). All bidders must be registered in the Commonwealth eProcurement System prior to submission, with vendors advised to allow 24 to 48 hours for registration completion, and all bids must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky eProcurement system. Vendors must bid all line items on a Group All basis or their bids will be deemed non-responsive. Prices must exclude federal excise taxes and Kentucky sales or use taxes and are quoted F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed, with the vendor responsible for all shipping costs, and all proposed pricing shall remain valid for a minimum of sixty calendar days after the bid due date. Prior vendor performance within the last 12 months may be considered for award determination. No specific contract value or budget range is disclosed in the available solicitation documents.