Hatchery Fish Feed - Term Contract

The State of Ohio, specifically the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife, is seeking a term contract for fish feed to supply six state fish hatcheries located in Castalia, London, St. Marys, Hebron, Senecaville, and Kincaid. The procurement is for various types of fish feed, including starter/fry feeds (10,000 lbs annually), salmon slow sinking feed (70,000 lbs annually), trout sinking feed (8,000 lbs annually), trout floating feed (90,000 lbs annually), catfish sinking feed (18,000 lbs annually), and broodfish feed (4,000 lbs annually). The contract requires feed to be no older than 90 days after milling, with moisture content under 10% and at least 50% protein from high-quality fish meal. Evaluation criteria include lowest lot total pricing, with the contract awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The initial contract term runs from award through June 30, 2026, with up to 48 months of potential renewals. A non-mandatory pre-bid conference is scheduled for January 21, 2025, at 10 AM ET, with proposals due by February 7, 2025. Deliveries must be made within 21 days of order receipt, and feeds must meet specific protein, fat, and digestible energy requirements detailed in the specifications.

The state has incorporated several set-aside and preference provisions for this contract, including Buy American (5%), Buy Ohio (2%), and Veteran-Friendly Business (2%) preferences. The procurement encourages the use of Ohio-certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Encouraging Diversity, Growth and Equity (EDGE) businesses as vendors. Contractors must complete an Affirmation and Disclosure Form certifying compliance with Executive Orders regarding offshore services and data storage, and provide detailed information about service and data storage locations. While no specific incumbent vendors are mentioned, the contract includes provisions for economic price adjustments after the initial term, with pricing required per pound and freight costs waived for orders over 15,000 lbs. Contractors must also complete an OPERS Independent Contractor Form and comply with standard state terms and conditions, including maintaining appropriate insurance coverage and adhering to state procurement regulations. Though a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the comprehensive feed requirements and multiple hatchery locations suggest a substantial annual procurement commitment.