Professional services– – korea market access for washington raspberries

The Washington Red Raspberry Commission (WRRC) is conducting a competitive solicitation for professional services focused on gaining market access for Washington raspberries in Korea. The procurement (Solicitation No. K6458) seeks a contractor to facilitate negotiations between the WRRC, U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Korean officials to expand raspberry export opportunities. Key deliverables include guiding bilateral negotiations, consulting with stakeholders, hosting site visits for Korean delegations, finalizing market access workplans, and providing technical support to shippers on export requirements. The contractor must meet twice annually with Washington industry members and provide regular progress reports to WRRC. Evaluation will be conducted on a 1,275-point scale, with 750 points for non-cost factors, 500 points for cost factors, and 25 points for compliance with Executive Order 18-03. Critical deadlines include a mandatory pre-bid conference on January 16, 2026, a written question submission deadline of February 13, 2026, and bid submissions due by February 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM Pacific Time. The anticipated contract award date is March 20, 2026, with a contract term of up to 36 months.

The solicitation includes specific set-aside preferences and provisions for disadvantaged businesses, offering additional evaluation points for Washington Small Businesses (50 points) and Washington Department of Veterans' Affairs Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses (25 points). Bidders must be registered in Washington's Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) and comply with numerous statutory requirements, including non-collusion certification, conflict of interest disclosures, and compliance with civil rights and wage theft prevention regulations. The contractor must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including Commercial General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence), Workers' Compensation, and Commercial Automobile Liability. The historical contract value is approximately $241,000 for the three-year contract period. Bidders must provide three business references and demonstrate extensive experience with State Commodity Board Grant (SCBG) funded projects, familiarity with the Washington raspberry industry, and proven experience working with APHIS on bilateral trade issues, particularly with Korea. The WRRC reserves the right to waive informalities, reject any or all bids, or negotiate with the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.