Mulch for Finance Facilities

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, Department for Facilities and Support Services, Office of Building and Mechanical Services is issuing a Request for Bid (RFB) for the procurement of mulch products to support landscaping and grounds maintenance at state facilities. The solicitation encompasses seven distinct line items: 600 bales of pine straw square bales, 65 bags of pine bark fines/soil conditioner, 4,800 bags of pine bark mulch (small-sized particles), 130 bags of pine bark mulch (medium-sized particles), 1,800 bags of western red-cedar bark mulch, 1 bag of all-bark cypress mulch, and 130 bags of natural hardwood mulch. All products must meet specific technical specifications regarding particle size, color, moisture content, and packaging requirements as detailed in the solicitation document. Delivery is required to two designated locations in Frankfort, Kentucky: the Landscape Garage at 999 Chenault Road or Berry Hill Green House at 700 Louisville Road, with all freight charges on an F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis. Bids will be evaluated on a best value basis using two measurable criteria: price (weighted at 90 points) and delivery time (weighted at 10 points), with the lowest-priced bid and fastest delivery time each receiving maximum points. Bidders must submit written questions by March 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time, with the Commonwealth providing responses by March 5, 2026; bids must be submitted electronically through the Commonwealth's eProcurement system by the closing date of March 13, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The contract will have an initial one-year term beginning upon award and expiring March 31, 2027, with options for four additional one-year renewal periods subject to written approval by all parties, and pricing must remain firm for the first twelve months with any increases thereafter requiring written justification and Commonwealth approval.

All bidders must be registered in the Commonwealth's Vendor Self Service System prior to bid submission and must submit required affidavits, tax registration documentation, and compliance certifications alongside their bids. Vendors are required to provide proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Automobile Liability Insurance if delivery services are performed directly by the vendor. Bidders must submit bids on all line items to be eligible for contract award, which will be made to all line items as a package. A one percent per-day deduction applies to invoices for each day delivery deadlines are missed, creating a financial incentive for timely performance. The RFB document does not indicate any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, women-owned businesses, or minority-owned businesses, nor does it reference any incumbent vendors or current contractors. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available solicitation materials, with pricing to be determined based on the competitive bidding process and the best value evaluation criteria.