Crop Fertilizer for RCC Farm

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, on behalf of the Department of Corrections, is soliciting bids for crop fertilizer and related services to supply the Correctional Industries Farm at RCC in Lagrange, Kentucky (3001 W Highway 146). This Request for Bid (RFB 758 2600000437) is a re-solicitation following the closing of RFB 758 2600000392 on February 27, 2026 without award. The procurement includes eight line items: 22 tons of 46-0-0 Urea Granular Bulk; 5 tons of 46-0-0 Urea with 25% NUE-CHARGE (slow-release nitrogen); 0.5 tons of 18-46-0 DAP (Diammonium Phosphate); 1 ton of 0-0-60 Muriate of Potash; 900 tons of Agricultural Lime; 1 ton of 90% Sulfur; 0.5 tons of Blue Micro-Balancer; and fertilizer spreading services covering 350 acres. All fertilizer products fall under commodity code 335 (Fertilizers and Soil Conditioners), and vendors must include shipping and delivery charges in unit pricing, with delivery to the farm and billing directed to Kentucky Correctional Industries at 1041 Leestown Road, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. Written vendor questions are due March 12, 2026 by 10:00 AM ET, with bids closing on March 23, 2026 at 1:30 PM ET, followed by a bid reading at 3:30 PM ET via conference line. Award will be determined using a best value ranking approach with Price weighted at 90 points and Delivery weighted at 10 points (total 100 points), where the lowest-priced bid receives maximum points and subsequent bids are scored proportionally; delivery time must be stated in specific working days, and vague terms such as "as required" or "prompt" render bids non-responsive. The initial contract period is one year from the date of award, with four optional two-year renewal periods available subject to written approval by all parties, and all bidders must submit responses electronically through the Kentucky eProcurement System after registering in the Vendor Self Service System at least 24-48 hours prior to submission. All vendors must comply with Kentucky tax registration requirements, maintain Commercial General Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate with Additional Insured Endorsements, provide proof of insurance prior to award, and submit all required affidavits. Price increases are not permitted during the first twelve months; thereafter, increases may be requested with industry-wide price justification and thirty days' written notice, with a one percent per day deduction from invoices applied for each day delivery dates are missed.

Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference equal to the preference given by nonresident bidders' home states, with tied bids favoring resident bidders, and qualified bidders receive additional scoring preferences upon submission of required affidavits. Kentucky Correctional Industries receives a 20 percent preference, while Kentucky Industries for the Blind and qualifying nonprofit corporations under KRS Chapter 163 and qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities each receive 15 percent preference. Resident bidder status requires entities to be authorized to transact business in Kentucky and to have maintained Kentucky corporate income tax filings, unemployment insurance fund payments, and workers' compensation insurance for one year prior to and through the contract advertisement date. Qualified bidder status applies to nonprofit corporations furthering purposes under KRS Chapter 163 or qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities that must employ individuals with severe disabilities for at least seventy-five percent of direct labor hours on applicable products or services and maintain good standing with the Secretary of State. The solicitation does not identify an incumbent vendor or specify a particular award value or budget; however, the contract scope encompasses approximately 930 tons of fertilizer products and spreading services for 350 acres, with all pricing to be inclusive of delivery charges under F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed terms.