KDFWR - Alfalfa Meal for Fish Hatcheries

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) is soliciting bids for the procurement of alfalfa meal to supply two fish hatcheries: the Peter W. Pfeiffer Fish Hatchery in Frankfort and the Minor Clark Fish Hatchery in Morehead. The alfalfa pellets must meet minimum specifications of 17% protein with 0.5% oil content, packaged in 50-pound paper bags on wooden pallets. The Frankfort facility requires up to 5 tons per delivery, while the Morehead facility requires two deliveries of up to 22 tons each during May through June, with all deliveries to be completed within ten working days of order receipt. The contract will commence March 1, 2025, for an initial one-year period with four optional one-year renewal periods available. Vendors' written questions are due by January 27, 2025, with KDFWR responses provided by January 30, 2025, and the bid closing date is February 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, with bid readings held via conference line at 3:00 PM on the same date. Award determination will utilize a best value ranking approach with pricing weighted at 90 points and delivery time at 10 points, with the lowest-priced, conforming bid receiving maximum points. All quoted prices must be submitted on an F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, with vendors responsible for all shipping costs and delivery logistics; prices shall remain firm for the first twelve months, with increases permitted thereafter only upon written justification and KDFWR approval. Successful bidders must provide proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate) and Automobile Liability Insurance ($1,000,000 combined single limit) prior to award, along with Kentucky Tax Registration documentation where applicable, and must submit responses electronically through the Commonwealth eProcurement system only.

Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference under the Kentucky Reciprocal Preference Law (KRS 45A.490-45A.494), and qualified bidder preferences of 15% points are available to Kentucky Industries for the Blind and specific nonprofit entities meeting criteria under 200 KAR 5:410(3), including nonprofit corporations furthering KRS Chapter 163 or qualified nonprofit agencies employing individuals with severe disabilities. All bidders must complete and submit required affidavits addressing campaign finance compliance, resident bidder status, and qualified bidder qualifications if applicable; these affidavits must be notarized and submitted prior to contract award. Vendors must have an active account in the Commonwealth eProcurement system and maintain compliance with Kentucky business registration, corporate income tax, unemployment insurance, and workers' compensation requirements. The Commonwealth reserves the right to cancel the RFB if bid responses exceed available funding, and the contract includes a 30-day cancellation clause allowing KDFWR to purchase non-delivered items on the open market with cost differences charged to the vendor if delivery commitments are not met. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the solicitation materials; the actual contract value will be determined by the quantity of alfalfa meal ordered over the contract period based on the facility requirements outlined.