Commercial Asian Carp Fishers on the Ohio River

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2100000681 on May 19, 2021, seeking to establish a Master Agreement with commercial fishermen to net and remove Asian carp from designated Ohio River pools, specifically the Newburgh, Cannelton, and McAlpine pools and their contiguous tributaries, with potential expansion downriver as invasive carp populations are reduced. Qualified applicants must hold a valid current commercial fishing license, current boat registration from their state of residence, and demonstrate a minimum of three years of commercial fishing experience with at least two years holding a valid commercial fishing license. Applicants must provide all labor, materials, and equipment, including a minimum of 1,000 yards of trammel/gill netting in specified mesh sizes and a plate aluminum workboat of at least 22 feet with a minimum 75 horsepower outboard motor, and must demonstrate proficiency with gill netting and side-scan sonar technology. The contract is performance-based and continues until available federal grant funding is exhausted, with no specified end date. Compensation is fixed at $1,000 per day for eight hours of active fishing removal work (equivalent to $125 per hour), with prorated compensation for partial days and weekly payment processing. Written questions were due by May 26, 2021, at 10:00 AM ET, and the bid closing date was June 2, 2021, at 1:30 PM ET, with all responses required to be submitted electronically through the Kentucky eProcurement system. Awards will be made on a best value basis to a single vendor who must bid all line items to remain responsive, with proposed pricing remaining valid for a minimum of 60 calendar days after the bid due date.

Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference in the award determination process. Qualified bidders, including Kentucky Correctional Industries and nonprofit agencies serving individuals with disabilities, may receive preference points. All bidders must submit a notarized Annual Affidavit certifying compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws, tax obligations, and other statutory requirements, along with supporting documentation including experience records, required licenses, boat registration documentation, and equipment specifications. The Commonwealth may consider past vendor performance within the last 12 months when making award determinations, and vendors with a history of poor performance may be found non-responsible and ineligible for award. While no specific award value or budget range is disclosed, the contract is federally funded through grants and continues based on available funding. Fishermen demonstrating the largest annual Asian carp harvests may receive scheduling priority, and either party may cancel the contract at any time. The initial contract period is one year from the date of award, with the option to extend for four additional one-year periods by mutual written consent of all parties, and the Commonwealth reserves the right to renegotiate terms and conditions prior to any renewal period.