Deer Processing Qualified Vendors List (SDA 530-0011)

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is soliciting qualified vendors through an Invitation for Bid (IFB) to provide deer processing services as part of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) winter targeted removal operations on a blanket purchase agreement basis. The procurement seeks licensed and inspected meat processors to receive, process, tag, and store whole, field-dressed deer with an expected meat yield of approximately 35 percent of dressed body weight. Qualified vendors must process deer within three weeks of delivery, maintain secure storage of processed meat for no more than six weeks pending departmental pickup, and dispose of all carcasses at sanitary landfills or waste transfer stations regulated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources while bearing all associated permit fees and expenses. The Department will award contracts to all responsive and responsible bidders, establishing a Qualified Vendors List, with pricing submitted on a firm, fixed-price basis per deer and evaluated alongside the Department's estimated transportation costs of $0.655 per mile (round trip) plus employee delivery time at $15.00 per hour. Bidders must submit responses electronically via MissouriBUYS (powered by MOVERS) or by US mail no later than December 19, 2025, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with no pre-bid conference scheduled. The contract period begins upon award and continues for one year with options to renew for two additional one-year periods, with approximately 3,240 deer anticipated for processing across eight MDC regions during the winter 2024-2025 targeted removal period.

Respondents must comply with all Missouri business compliance requirements, including tax clearance certification, Secretary of State registration, E-Verify enrollment, and Anti-Discrimination Against Israel Act certification prior to award. The solicitation does not specify set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, small businesses, or other designated categories, nor does it identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors in the attached documentation. No specific budget range or award value is provided in the solicitation materials; however, processing volumes vary significantly by region, with the Northwest region processing the highest volume at 853 deer, followed by the Northeast at 581 deer, the Ozark region at 554 deer, and remaining regions ranging from zero to 453 deer, which may inform vendor capacity planning. Vendors should note the operational contact information for each of the eight CWD operational centers has been provided to facilitate coordination and communication throughout the contract period. The Department will not pay state or federal taxes unless required by law, and all contractors must maintain compliance with applicable meat processing regulations and disease management protocols established by the MDC.