KDFWR-Professional Aerial Herbicide Application Franklin Co

The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is requesting proposals for professional aerial herbicide application services in Franklin County, with proposals due August 20, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. EDT. Written vendor questions were due August 14, 2026, with KDFWR responses provided by August 17, 2026.

The scope is aerial application of 41% concentrate aquatic-safe glyphosate at 4 quarts per acre combined with LI-700 surfactant at 3.2 ounces per acre across up to 300 acres in northeastern Franklin County. Contractors must complete spraying operations within five days of receiving notice that site conditions are suitable, with the treatment window between October 15 and December 15, 2025. Final acreage to be treated will be determined no later than October 10, 2026. KDFWR will supply all herbicide and surfactant materials through the Franklin County Conservation District. Bidders must examine treatment areas, determine their own logistics, and obtain KDFWR approval of all ingress/egress routes and landing zones prior to spraying.

Bidders must hold a current Kentucky Herbicide/Pesticide applicators license and possess a minimum of three years of experience in aerial forestry herbicide application, with documentation of at least three professional projects of 100 or more acres or projects exceeding 700 acres. Commercial General Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate is required, along with Automobile Liability Insurance of $1,000,000 combined single limit if applicable and Professional Liability Insurance where applicable.

The contract term is anticipated to run from October 10, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with two optional one-year renewal periods available upon mutual agreement. Pricing is on a firm fixed unit-price basis; Kentucky is exempt from federal excise tax, state sales tax, and use tax.

Technical proposals are evaluated on 600 maximum points (Executive Summary 100 points, Qualifications and Experience 400 points, References 100 points), and cost proposals on 200 points, for 800 total maximum points. Proposals scoring below 50 percent of maximum technical points do not advance to cost evaluation. KDFWR reserves the right to negotiate with the highest-ranked vendor and, if unsuccessful, proceed to the next-ranked vendor.