Re-bid Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery - Purchase of Trout Fish Feed - 4 year contract

The State of Illinois Department of Natural Resources is seeking a four-year contract for the procurement of trout and catfish fish feed for the Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery, located in Topeka, Illinois. The solicitation (Solicitation Number 26-422DNR-RESCO-B-50084) requires high-quality pelleted fish food in multiple formulations and sizes to support the production of 90,000 Rainbow Trout, 175,000 Brown Trout, 800,000 Channel Catfish, and 80,000 Blue Catfish. Required feed types include crumbled starter feed, extruded sinking salmon feed, and extruded floating feed with specific nutritional specifications for protein, fat, moisture, fiber, phosphorus, ash content, and digestible energy ratios. The feed must be packaged in 30 to 60-pound bags with nutritional content guaranteed for at least twelve months from manufacture. Deliveries will be made approximately twice annually, within five days of order receipt, and F.O.B. Destination. The bid submission deadline is December 1, 2025, with all bids to be submitted electronically through the BidBuy system, and bids must remain firm for 180 days from opening. Evaluation criteria will focus on responsibility, responsiveness, and price, with award made to the lowest priced compliant bidder meeting all specified criteria.

The procurement allows for potential Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Veterans Small Business Program participation. Vendors must complete various state-mandated disclosures, including vendor disclosure forms, and meet specific registration requirements such as Illinois Board of Elections enrollment, Secretary of State business registration, and Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) Number registration for companies with 15 or more employees. Vendors must also provide general commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate and worker's compensation insurance. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the contract has an initial term ending December 31, 2029, with a maximum total term not to exceed ten years. Bidders must provide documentation showing feed formulation specifications, including label or tag with feed analysis and digestible energy values. The contract is contingent upon appropriation of funds by the Illinois General Assembly, and the State reserves the right to terminate the contract for convenience with thirty days' notice or immediately for cause. A mandatory $15 Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative fee applies to contracts valued at $1,000 or more.