IFB ST259002 South STAR Aquarium Services

The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) ST259002 for residential aquarium services at two South STAR Community Crisis homes located in Costa Mesa, Orange County. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide bi-weekly maintenance for two 100-gallon freshwater aquariums, with services to be performed Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 2:30 PM, excluding state holidays. Key deliverables include routine maintenance, emergency services, aquarium breakdowns, and setup services, with approximately 78 visits anticipated during the contract term. Bidders must be legally constituted to do business in California, maintain current business licenses, and carry liability insurance. The solicitation requires detailed pricing on a provided Cost Worksheet, including hourly rates for services and estimated parts costs with sales tax. Critical dates include a final day for written questions on January 2, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with agency responses due by January 5, 2025, and bid submissions due January 7, 2025, at 3:00 PM. The contract is expected to commence on February 1, 2026, and run through January 31, 2029, with bid evaluation based on total submitted cost.

The solicitation offers certain preferences and set-aside opportunities, including a five percent Small Business (SB) preference for certified small businesses and a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive of up to five percent for contractors utilizing certified DVBE subcontractors, though DVBE participation requirements have been exempted for this specific procurement. Contractors must provide all labor, materials, supplies, chemicals, filter parts, safety materials, and equipment at no additional cost to the state, and maintain workers' compensation and general liability insurance with $1 million coverage limits. The successful vendor will be required to comply with comprehensive confidentiality and information security requirements, and no work can commence until a fully executed agreement is approved and all documentation, including insurance certificates and background checks, is verified by the South STAR Program Director. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the detailed cost worksheet and three-year contract term suggest a moderate-value procurement focused on specialized aquarium maintenance services for developmental services facilities. The contract will support two five-bed community crisis homes serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health conditions.