RFB 08112020 HAY harvest simon kenton WMA

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources and the Finance and Administration Cabinet's Division of Real Properties, issued Request for Bids (RFB) 785 2100000050 for hay harvesting services at Simon Kenton Wildlife Management Area located in Mason County, Kentucky. This procurement solicits bids for cutting, baling, raking, and removing hay from approximately 150 acres of designated harvest areas. The successful bidder must complete all harvesting operations between August 1, 2020, and March 31, 2021, with hay moved to a designated storage area by October 31, 2020, and all bales removed from the property by March 31, 2021. Key qualifications and requirements include the bidder's responsibility to examine harvest areas, determine logistics for hay removal, obtain Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources approval for all ingress and egress routes, and protect existing infrastructure including telephone lines, ditches, bridges, roads, pipelines, and fences. The bidder must maintain a representative on-site during all haying operations to receive notices and instructions from the agency. Award was based on a highest lump sum payment to the responsible and responsive bidder whose offer was most advantageous to the procuring agency, with bid amount comprising 100% of the evaluation criteria. Bids were due on August 11, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, submitted to the Division of Real Properties at 403 Wapping Street, Frankfort, Kentucky, with inquiries directed to Holly Thompson at 502-564-2243.

The solicitation documents do not identify any set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to specific categories of organizations such as disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses. No incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified in the procurement materials. Bidders are required to assume full responsibility for maintenance of roads and bridges used during operations, returning paved roads to their original condition at the bidder's sole expense, and are liable for damage to county-owned and maintained roads. Any hay bales not removed by the March 31, 2021 deadline will be forfeited to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and the contractor will be charged a $5.00 per bale removal fee. Bidders must execute affidavits regarding non-collusion, conflict of interest, campaign finance compliance, and tax compliance, and disclose any prior violations of specified Kentucky statutes within five years. The procurement documents do not specify a budget range or award value; rather, the award determination will be based on the highest lump sum payment offer submitted by qualified bidders for all hay products harvested from the 150-acre area.