Clear liquid fertilizer

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Contracts and Procurement Department is soliciting bids for a blanket purchase order of clear liquid fertilizer through Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. IW202715. The procurement seeks 1,850 total tons of 29-0-0-35 clear liquid fertilizer with 0.05% zinc chelate ammonia nitrate, to be delivered to multiple TDCJ farm locations including Clemens Unit, Ellis Unit, Ferguson Unit, Pack Unit, Ramsey Unit, Buffalo Ranch, and other facilities. The fertilizer is specifically designated for crop use and will be ordered on an as-needed basis throughout the contract period. Bids are due on December 10, 2024, at 3:00 PM, with electronic submission preferred via BIDS@TDCJ.TEXAS.GOV. The contract will be effective through August 31, 2025, with emergency delivery provisions requiring at least one truckload within 72 hours of notification when requested. Pricing must be expressed as a constant dollar amount relative to the weekly manufacturer's price list, including all profit, overhead, freight charges, and fees. Evaluation criteria will include price, past vendor performance, product quality, and other best value factors, with the commodity code for this project being 335-40.

The procurement includes mandatory Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) subcontracting requirements in accordance with Texas Government Code 2161.252. Bidders must complete and submit a State of Texas HUB Subcontracting Plan (HSP) with their bid response, with the state setting a 21.1% HUB participation goal for commodities contracts. Vendors can utilize either Method A (using only Texas certified HUB vendors) or Method B (using both HUB and non-HUB vendors) to meet subcontracting requirements. The TDCJ reserves the right to accept or receive orders plus or minus 10% of the required amount and does not guarantee minimum order quantities. Acceptable products include Gavilon brand product no. 441-029-0-0-305 or TDCJ-approved equivalents. Vendors must provide monthly compliance reporting and agree to standard state purchasing regulations. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the fertilizer procurement suggests a significant contract value for agricultural support across multiple TDCJ facilities in Region #5.