KCI Crop Harvesting and Hauling

The Commonwealth of Kentucky's Finance and Administration Cabinet, on behalf of the Kentucky Department of Corrections Division of Correctional Industries (KCI), is issuing a Request for Bid (RFB 758 2600000054) for crop harvesting and hauling services to support farm operations at the Western Kentucky Correctional Complex in Fredonia, Kentucky. The procurement encompasses three distinct service line items: crop transportation of approximately 135,000 to 150,000 bushels (72,000 bushels of corn and 80,000 bushels of soybeans) from field and storage locations at 374 New Bethel Church Road to the Lyon County Port in Eddyville, Kentucky; corn harvesting and storing services covering 400 acres with approximately 6,000 bushels to be stored in KCI grain bins and the remainder loaded onto semi-trucks; and soybean harvesting services covering 850 acres. Qualified vendors must possess a minimum of five years of experience in the relevant services, supply at least two tractor-trailers with commercial driver's license-holding operators for transportation services, provide combine harvesters and all associated equipment including diesel, oil, and parts for harvesting operations, and bear all expenses related to crop hauling and harvesting. The contract will be awarded on a best value basis with price weighted at 100 points and experience evaluated on a pass/fail basis, with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder receiving full points and other bidders scored proportionally. Written questions must be submitted by August 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM ET, with bids due by August 20, 2025, at 1:30 PM ET through the Commonwealth's eProcurement system. The initial contract term is one year from the date of award with four optional one-year renewal periods available, subject to written approval and potential renegotiation of terms and conditions.

Kentucky resident bidders are eligible for reciprocal preference equal to preferences granted by their home states, and qualified bidders receive additional scoring preferences including Kentucky Correctional Industries (20 percent preference), Kentucky Industries for the Blind, nonprofits furthering KRS Chapter 163 purposes, and qualified nonprofit agencies employing individuals with severe disabilities (15 percent preference). All vendors must maintain Commercial General Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, as well as Automobile Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence if delivery or on-site services are provided; must be registered in the Commonwealth's Vendor Self Service System prior to bid submission; and must complete all required affidavits under Kentucky Revised Statutes 45A.110 and 45A.115 certifying compliance with campaign finance laws and other statutory requirements. All proposed pricing must remain valid for a minimum of 60 calendar days after the bid due date, with no price increases permitted during the first 12 months and subsequent increases requiring written justification and industry-wide price change documentation. Quotations shall be submitted on an F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, exclusive of federal excise taxes and Kentucky sales or use taxes, and all bid documents must be submitted in Microsoft Word, Excel, or PDF format only. Keith Srutowski, Commonwealth Buyer, serves as the sole point of contact at 502-564-7007, and billing and shipping information should be directed to Kentucky Correctional Industries at 1041 Leestown Road, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601. No specific contract value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents.