Herbicides, Pesticides, Fungicides, and Application Services

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2100000462 on March 2, 2021, for herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, and application services to support Kentucky Correctional Industries' farm operations. The solicitation encompasses eighteen commodity line items, including seventeen chemical products (Atrazine 4L, Capreno, Corvus, Diflexx Duo, Enlist Duo, Quest, Tempo, Round-Up Power Max, Firezone, Ignite/Liberty, Maravis Ace, Trivence, Harmony Extra, Pasture Guard HO, Barrage, Tordon RTU, and Baythroid XL) to be priced per gallon or ounce, and line item 18 covering application and spraying services for a minimum of 2,300 acres annually at the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex Farm Operation in Fredonia, Kentucky. The application services include twice-yearly scheduled spraying plus as-needed applications across approximately 500 acres of corn, 400 acres of soybean, and 500 acres of wheat, with pricing required on a per-acre basis. The bid closing date was March 19, 2021, at 1:30 PM ET, with written vendor questions due March 9, 2021, at 10:00 AM ET. The contract award will be made on a best value basis using two measurable evaluation criteria: price (90 points) and delivery time (10 points), with the lowest-price bidder receiving maximum points and subsequent bidders scored proportionally. Bidders must submit all line items to be deemed responsive, with delivery times stated in specific working days and late delivery penalties assessed at one percent per day. All pricing must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky eProcurement system and remain valid for a minimum of sixty calendar days after the bid due date, with F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed terms required.

Kentucky resident bidder reciprocal preference applies pursuant to KRS 45A.490-494, and Kentucky Correctional Industries receives a twenty percent preference of maximum points awarded, effectively restricting competitive advantage to in-state vendors and state-operated enterprises. The initial contract period is one year from the award date, with four optional one-year renewal periods available with written approval from all parties, and price increases are prohibited during the first twelve months unless justified by industry-wide changes with thirty days' notice. All bidders must execute the Annual Affidavit and Other Affidavits, certifying compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws, tax registration requirements, state tax compliance, ethics prohibitions, and boycott restrictions as detailed in Attachment B. Bidders proposing alternate brands or specifications must submit descriptive literature demonstrating product equivalency, or the contract will specify the exact brands listed in the solicitation. The specific budget or award value for this procurement is not disclosed in the solicitation documents; however, the estimated total procurement includes 906 gallons of Round-Up Power Max, 2,632 ounces of Trivence, and 3,885 acres of application services across the specified contract period. Delivery is required to Correctional Industries Farm at Western Kentucky Correctional Complex, 374 New Bethel Church Road, Fredonia, Kentucky 42411, with billing directed to Kentucky Correctional Industries at 1041 Leestown Road, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.