KDFWR - Ohio River Basin Invasive Carp Contract Fishing Prog

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is requesting bids for a Master Agreement to establish a contract fishing program for invasive carp removal in the Ohio River Basin, with proposals due September 23, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern Time. KDFWR intends to select multiple qualified commercial fishermen compensated at a daily rate to harvest invasive carp species (Silver, Bighead, Grass, and Black Carp) from designated Ohio River pools and tributaries in Kentucky and restricted Indiana waters.

Bidders must hold a valid current commercial fishing license, valid boat registration, and minimum three years of commercial fishing experience with at least two years holding a valid commercial fishing license. Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in gill netting and side-scan sonar technology, familiarity with invasive carp identification and behavior, and availability of a helper for daily harvests. Participants commit to fish a minimum of four days per week (weather and river conditions permitting) and allow KDFWR observers onboard to record harvest data. All non-target species must be immediately returned to water.

Compensation is $1,200 per day for eight hours of work, or $150 per hour for partial days, with proration available if harvests exceed 6,000 pounds. Participants submit itemized weekly invoices to KDFWR detailing dates, locations, hours, and species harvested; payment follows biweekly. Participants may sell harvested carp at market value but cannot seek federal subsidy payments for the same fish or schedule fishing under federally subsidized programs on the same day.

The initial contract term is one year from award with four optional one-year renewal periods and potential 90-day extension. Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference against nonresident bidders. Qualified bidders—including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and nonprofits serving individuals with severe disabilities—receive preference equal to fifteen to twenty percent of maximum points. All bids must be submitted electronically through Kentucky's Vendor Self Service system; paper bids are not acceptable. Commercial General Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate is required. Questions were due September 8, 2026. Proposed pricing must remain valid for 60 calendar days after the bid due date.