KDFWR Fish Food

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) issued a Request for Bid (RFB) on March 20, 2024, for the supply of fish food products to support aquaculture operations in Elliott County. The solicitation encompasses eleven line items of various aquafeed formulations, including Aquafeed Warm Water products at 32% and 36% protein levels, Aquaxcel Fish Marine Starter products at 50% protein in multiple pellet sizes (0.3mm, 0.8mm, 1.5mm, and 2.2mm), Aquafeed 4512 at 45% protein in 4.8mm pellets, and Minnow Meal, with all quantities listed as estimates to be determined. Bidders must submit electronically through the Kentucky eProcurement system with pricing quoted on an F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, excluding Federal Excise Tax and Kentucky Sales or Use Tax, with unit prices remaining valid for a minimum of 60 calendar days following the bid due date. The critical timeline includes written questions due by March 26, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., with KDFWR responses due March 27, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., and the bid closing date set for April 3, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The contract shall be awarded for an initial one-year period with four optional one-year renewal periods plus a potential 90-day extension, with award determination using a best value approach allocating 95 points to price (lowest bidder receiving maximum points) and 5 points to delivery time; vendors must bid all line items to be considered for award. Price increases are prohibited during the first twelve months of the contract; thereafter, increases require written justification based on industry-wide price changes and KDFWR approval, while price decreases must be reflected when industry-wide decreases occur, and late delivery penalties of 1% per day will be deducted from invoices for deliveries exceeding the contracted delivery date.

The solicitation provides reciprocal preference to Kentucky resident bidders and additional preference points to qualified bidders, including Kentucky Correctional Industries, with resident bidder status requiring one-year prior authorization to transact business in Kentucky, filed corporate income taxes, unemployment insurance fund payments, and an active workers' compensation policy. Qualified bidder status requires attestation that the entity and all subcontractors meet the definition under 200 KAR 5:410(3), encompassing nonprofit corporations furthering Kentucky Chapter 163 purposes or qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities that employ such individuals for at least seventy-five percent of direct labor hours. All bidders must complete and submit three required affidavits prior to contract award, including attestations regarding Kentucky campaign finance law compliance, resident or qualified bidder status claims, and authorization to conduct business in Kentucky. No specific incumbent vendors, set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, or budget ranges are identified in the solicitation documentation, with all quantities and associated contract values to be determined based on competitive bidding and the quantities ultimately required by KDFWR during the contract period.