Hay and Straw for Kentucky Horse Park

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet is soliciting vendors through Request for Bid (RFB 758 2600000423-1) to establish a Master Agreement for the provision of hay and straw to the Kentucky Horse Park located in Lexington. The procurement requires bids for two groups of commodities totaling approximately 129 tons: Group 1 includes 5 tons of baled straw in 40-60 lb. bales, and Group 2 comprises 80 tons of baled hay consisting of orchard grass/alfalfa mixtures (20 tons), timothy grass/alfalfa mixtures (20 tons), timothy grass/orchard grass mixtures (80 tons), and western straight alfalfa (4 tons), with all materials meeting USDA Hay Quality Designation Guidelines and specified quality standards including cleanliness and proper bale weight. Vendors may bid on one or both groups, with all deliveries required on a F.O.B. destination basis within seven calendar days of order placement, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., with vendors responsible for providing labor, equipment, and hay elevator access for unloading and placement. The evaluation criteria allocates 90 points to price (lowest bidder receives maximum points with proportional scoring for other bidders) and 10 points to delivery (awarded only for completion times faster than the required seven working days). Written questions must be submitted by March 5, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. ET, with bids due March 17, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. ET via mandatory electronic submission through the Commonwealth's eProcurement system; the initial contract period is one year from award with optional renewal for four additional two-year periods. Vendors must be registered in the eProcurement system, provide Kentucky Tax Registration Form 10A100, demonstrate Commercial General Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Automobile Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence combined single limit, with prices remaining firm for the first twelve months excluding federal excise taxes and Kentucky sales or use taxes.

The procurement includes reciprocal preference for Kentucky resident bidders as defined under KRS 45A.490-494, and qualified bidder preferences of 20 percent and 15 percent respectively for Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and certain nonprofits serving individuals with disabilities, with bidders claiming such status required to submit completed affidavits sworn before a notary public and subject to verification through supporting documentation per KRS 45A.110 and 45A.115. All bidders must comply with Kentucky campaign finance laws and submit required affidavits confirming such compliance, with the Commonwealth reserving the right to request supporting documentation and disqualify non-compliant bidders. Vendors are encouraged to coordinate advance site visits with receiving personnel at 4089 Ironworks Parkway to determine optimal delivery methods, though no formal bidders' conferences or mandatory site visits are scheduled. No incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure integration requirements are referenced in the solicitation documents. While specific budget ranges are not disclosed, the solicitation quantifies demand at approximately 129 tons of hay and straw commodities, with award values dependent on submitted pricing and quantities ordered under the Master Agreement framework during the contract period.