Adult Pen-reared Rooster Pheasants to Nebraska Release Sites

The State of Nebraska, specifically the Department of Administrative Services, Materiel Division, State Purchasing Bureau, issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) Number 6744 OF to procure adult pen-reared rooster pheasants for release at 19 specific sites across Nebraska. The primary objective is to supply 16,500 total pheasants in two distinct release periods: approximately 9,110 birds in late October prior to the youth hunting season and 7,390 birds in late November around Thanksgiving weekend. The bid specifications required a qualified vendor to deliver the pheasants to designated release sites, with precise requirements for bird quantity, transportation, and delivery conditions. Bidders were expected to provide a comprehensive per-unit pricing structure, including delivery costs to each site. The bid response deadline was December 19, 2022, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with an anticipated contract term from September 1, 2022, through November 30, 2022. The solicitation emphasized an "all or none" bid approach and specified net 15-day payment terms.

The contract was ultimately awarded to Double Barrel Game Farm & Hatchery, with a total contract value of $370,920 ($204,792.80 for the first release and $166,127.20 for the second release). The pricing was set at $20.00 per bird, with an additional $2.48 per bird for delivery to four of the 19 sites. No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the procurement documents. The ITB indicated that the contract was not exclusive, and the State retained the right to contract for similar goods from other sources. The vendor was required to be registered to do business in Nebraska, and the State reserved the right to use bid information for public purposes. While the initial contract was for one year, the ITB suggested the potential for four additional one-year renewal periods, providing flexibility for future pheasant stocking efforts.