KCI Crop Harvesting and Hauling

The Kentucky Department of Corrections (DOC) and Kentucky Correctional Industries (KCI) are seeking a contractor for crop harvesting and hauling services at the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex farm in Fredonia, KY. The Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2600000054 solicits services for harvesting and transporting approximately 135,000 to 150,000 bushels of crops, specifically 72,000 bushels of corn across 400 acres and 80,000 bushels of soybeans across 850 acres. Qualified vendors must provide combine harvesters, tractor-trailers, drivers with commercial driver's licenses (CDL), and handle all harvesting and transportation logistics. The bid requires a minimum of five years of agricultural harvesting experience within the United States, which will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis. The procurement follows a Best Value - Ranking Approach, with pricing weighted at 100 points, where the lowest bidder receives the maximum points and subsequent bidders receive proportional scoring. Key dates include a vendor question deadline of August 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, and the bid closing date of August 20, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET, with an initial contract period of one year and potential extensions for four additional one-year periods.

The solicitation includes provisions for Kentucky resident bidder preferences and potential additional preferences for qualified bidders such as Kentucky Industries for the Blind or nonprofit agencies serving individuals with severe disabilities. Vendors must submit a Certificate of Insurance with $1,000,000 per occurrence Commercial General Liability Insurance and comply with various state regulations. Bidders are required to complete three specific affidavits addressing campaign finance laws, resident bidder status, and qualified bidder status. While specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the scope involves harvesting and transporting crops from the correctional complex farm, with approximately 6,000 bushels of corn to be stored in KCI grain bins and the remainder transported to the Lyon County Port in Eddyville, KY. Vendors must be registered in the Commonwealth eProcurement System and submit electronic bids in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, or PDF format. The contract emphasizes comprehensive service provision, operational capabilities, and compliance with state procurement regulations.