Promotional Goods and Services

The Commonwealth of Kentucky's Finance and Administration Cabinet, on behalf of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, is soliciting proposals for a comprehensive Promotional Goods and Services contract focused on supporting the Kentucky Proud agricultural marketing brand. The Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks a vendor to provide an extensive range of services including consulting and design, order fulfillment, merchandising, warehousing, delivery, customer service, brand management, cost transparency, technical integration, and compliance. The solicitation was released on July 1, 2025, with proposals due by July 24, 2025, at 3:30 PM ET, and the initial contract term will run from the award date through August 31, 2026, with potential for four additional one-year renewals. Evaluation of proposals will be comprehensive, totaling 2,080 points across technical proposal (1,200 points), cost proposal (480 points), and potential oral presentations (up to 400 points). The cost proposal will be evaluated using a scenario involving 10,000 t-shirts, with 5,000 requiring immediate shipment and 5,000 to be warehoused, and vendors must provide detailed unit pricing for various services. Key objectives include promoting locally grown food, farmers' markets, agritourism sites, and other Kentucky agricultural products while maintaining brand consistency and offering responsive customer service.

The RFP does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. The Commonwealth intends to award the contract to a single vendor and reserves the right to negotiate with top-ranked vendors and potentially extend the contract to other state agencies with vendor consent. Insurance requirements include commercial general liability and automobile liability coverage, with specific provisions for certificate submission and additional insured status. While no specific budget range is detailed, the RFP emphasizes that this is not a guaranteed purchase commitment, allowing flexibility in order volumes and potential future expansion. The vendor must demonstrate the capability to integrate with agency systems and provide cost-effective, comprehensive promotional services. Price adjustments will be allowed after the first 12 months, subject to Commonwealth approval and based on industry-wide price changes. The successful vendor will be expected to support the Kentucky Proud brand's marketing efforts through versatile and responsive promotional goods and services.