IFB for EID Stick Readers

The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) number 554-25-003 for the procurement of 45 Electronic Identification (EID) Stick Readers across Travis County and multiple Austin City jurisdictions. The primary model specified is the Allflex RS420-60CM Stick Reader or an approved equivalent, with detailed technical requirements including a minimum 60 CM length, internal Bluetooth capability, cable-free operation, fiberglass composition, LCD readout, USB data transfer, 100,000 code storage capacity, a 3-hour rechargeable battery life, and an IP67 weatherproof rating. Vendors must submit bids in sealed envelopes to TAHC's Austin office by January 7, 2025, at 2:00 PM CST, with vendor questions due by December 17, 2024, and agency responses to be provided by December 19, 2024. The procurement requires F.O.B. destination pricing with freight prepaid and included in the unit price, and deliveries must be made between 8 AM and 4 PM Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. Addendum 1 clarifies that while bids for alternative products meeting specifications will be considered, a separate solicitation for AWR300 stick readers will be issued in January 2025.

The solicitation includes provisions for Texas resident bidder preferences and encourages participation from various business types, including HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) vendors and businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. While no specific set-asides are explicitly mentioned, the Information and Certifications Form requires vendors to disclose their business organization type, HUB status, and eligibility for various Texas business preferences. Vendors must certify compliance with numerous state requirements, including no debarment status, no deceptive trade practices violations, and adherence to environmental and cybersecurity standards. The procurement includes extensive certification requirements related to conflicts of interest, former state employee disclosures, and compliance with Texas laws regarding business with Iran, Sudan, and foreign terrorist organizations. Though no specific budget range is provided in the documents, the solicitation is for 45 EID Stick Readers, with payment to be made within 30 days of satisfactory delivery under the Texas Prompt Payment Act, and TAHC is exempt from state taxes.