Premium Fish Food for IDNR Fish Hatcheries

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is seeking a premium fish food supplier for its Jake Wolf and Little Grassy Fish Hatcheries. The procurement opportunity involves supplying specialized pelleted fish food for multiple fish species, including Rainbow Trout (90,000), Brown Trout (175,000), Channel Catfish (800,000), and Blue Catfish (80,000). Required food products must include various feed types ranging from starter to fingerling sizes, with specific nutritional specifications, including minimum protein and fat content requirements. Deliveries will be structured with two annual shipments to Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery and three annual shipments to Little Grassy Fish Hatchery. The food must be packaged in 50-pound bags (or 40-pound bags for certain floating feeds), and will require guaranteed viability for twelve months from the manufacture date. The contract opportunity is posted on January 10, 2025, with proposals due by January 17, 2025, and requires strict adherence to nutritional formulations that include essential vitamins A, D, B6, B12, K, and Folic Acid.

The procurement appears open to all qualified vendors who can meet the detailed nutritional and packaging specifications. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned, the standard certifications document indicates potential preferences for vendors demonstrating compliance with state requirements, including debt payment, tax collection, environmental regulations, and ethical conduct. Vendors must certify they are not debarred from state contracts and comply with various state standards, including the Illinois Information Technology Accessibility Act. The standard terms and conditions document suggests potential contract requirements including $1,000,000 per occurrence for General Commercial Liability insurance and specific record retention protocols (3 years for state-funded, 5 years for federally-funded contracts). Although a specific budget range is not provided, the extensive fish population numbers and multiple annual delivery requirements suggest a substantial contract value. Potential bidders must thoroughly review the technical specifications and standard certifications to ensure complete compliance with state procurement requirements.