Pure Channel Catfish; TWRA - UPDATED

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) issued a competitive Invitation to Bid (ITB 32801-13824) for the purchase and delivery of live, pure channel catfish to support fishing events and community fishing lakes across four regional territories (West, Middle, Cumberland Plateau, and East Tennessee). This multi-award procurement seeks a single contract per region with a two-year initial term and one one-year renewal option for a maximum contract period of five years. The deliverable consists of approximately 59,000 pounds of catfish annually, with fish meeting strict specifications including an average weight of one to two pounds per fish with no more than ten percent variance, disease-free status with no visible lesions, and no hybrid species. At least fifty percent of all delivered catfish must be produced by the contracted vendor. Deliveries are required within fourteen days of purchase order receipt and must be completed within thirty days, with up to four deliveries per region requested between March and October, with most deliveries occurring April through June. Pricing shall be submitted as a delivered price per pound on an F.O.B. Destination basis, with all delivery charges and off-loading responsibilities included in the bid price. The contractor is responsible for proper temperature tempering and meeting all delivery specifications, and TWRA will not compensate for dead, diseased, or non-target species fish. Bidders must submit separate bids for each region they wish to serve, and awards will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder per region. All bids must be submitted through the State's EDISON system by March 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM CDT, with written questions and comments due by 2:00 PM on March 6, 2026.

This procurement does not identify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular organization types such as disadvantaged enterprises. Respondents must demonstrate compliance with applicable Tennessee licensing and registration requirements, including registration with the Tennessee Department of Revenue and proof of workers' compensation and employer liability insurance. Bidders must be registered with the State of Tennessee Supplier Portal prior to contract issuance and must provide evidence of their ability to perform, including proof of sales and use tax registration, a signed statement certifying agreement with insurance requirements, and certifications of compliance with the Iran Divestment Act and confirmation of non-debarment from federal or state agencies. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. The procurement budget or anticipated award value is not explicitly stated in the documents; however, the contract covers regional delivery of catfish with no purchase amount guaranteed due to potential budgetary constraints, suggesting that actual costs may vary based on TWRA's operational needs and available funding during the contract term.