Fumigation for Forestry Nurseries

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Division of Forestry seeks qualified vendors to provide fumigation services for two state-operated forestry nurseries through Request for Bid (RFB) 758 1900000042. The procurement encompasses 24 acres of soil fumigation work across the John P. Rhody Nursery in Gilbertsville, Kentucky (up to 12 acres) and Morgan County Nursery in West Liberty, Kentucky (up to 12 acres total). Vendors must provide three commodity lines: Commodity Line 1 requires application of Tri-Brom 80 (80.0% methyl bromide with 19.9% chloropicrin) at 240 pounds per acre across 20 total acres using continuous tarping methodology with 1 mil plastic film; Commodity Line 2 requires application of Dominus Biofumigant (96.3% Allyl isothiocyanate) at 30 gallons per acre for 3 acres; and Commodity Line 3 requires identical Dominus application at 40 gallons per acre for 1 acre. All fumigation work is scheduled for late August through late September annually. Vendors must supply all equipment, materials, supplies, certified applicators, trained handlers, and required personal protective equipment in compliance with EPA, OSHA, USDA, and Commonwealth of Kentucky regulations. Bidders must train two to four nursery personnel as handlers at each location and develop fumigation plans in coordination with nursery managers. Vendors are responsible for monitoring and tarp repair during the first 24 hours post-application, with a guarantee to retreat any underperforming acres at no additional cost. Evaluation will be based on a best value ranking approach using price (100 points) and delivery (pass/fail criteria), with the lowest bidder receiving maximum points. Written questions were due by July 23, 2018, at 4:30 PM ET, and sealed hard copy bids were due August 1, 2018, at 1:30 PM ET at the Finance Office of Procurement Services in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference equal to the preference given by nonresident bidders' states of origin, while qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries receive an additional twenty percent preference and nonprofits serving individuals with disabilities receive a fifteen percent preference. All vendors must comply with Kentucky campaign finance laws, sales and use tax registration requirements, and maintain good standing regarding state taxes and fees. Foreign entities must provide a Certificate of Authority prior to award. Vendors must submit completed Revenue Form 10A100, a signed solicitation face page, bid information on a per-acre basis for each line item, required affidavits including annual compliance certifications, and supporting documentation for any resident or qualified bidder status claims. The contract will be awarded as a group for all line items, with an initial one-year period from the date of award and four optional one-year renewal periods at the Commonwealth's discretion. Pricing must exclude federal excise tax and Kentucky sales or use tax, and prices will remain firm for the first twelve months with increases permitted thereafter only upon written request with documented industry-wide justification and thirty days' notice. No specific budget or award value is stated in the solicitation documents.