RFQ-R5-0625-02, Live Catfish

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking a qualified vendor to provide live Channel Catfish for its Fishing in the City Program through Request for Quotation RFQ-R5-0625-02. The procurement involves delivering 3,900 total pounds of live channel catfish across multiple regional park locations, including Chris Carr Park Lake, Rancho Jurupa Regional Park Lake, Lake Cahuilla Veterans Regional Park, and Cucamonga-Guasti Regional Park Lake. Delivery is scheduled between January 16, 2025, and February 12, 2025, with contractors required to deliver within 30 days after order receipt. Strict vendor qualifications mandate that the contractor must be a registered California aquaculturist who rears fish exclusively in California waters and ensures all fish are free of aquatic invasive species and meet specific health requirements. The solicitation requires vendors to submit quotes by December 27, 2024, at 2:00 PM, with quote opening at 3:00 PM the same day, and mandates F.O.B. Destination, Freight Prepaid terms with all shipping charges incorporated into the product pricing.

The contract opportunity includes several set-aside and preference provisions benefiting small and diverse businesses. California certified small businesses can receive a 5% preference, and non-small businesses can claim the preference by demonstrating at least 25% small business subcontractor participation. Additionally, a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) incentive ranging from 3-5% is available based on participation levels. Vendors must complete multiple mandatory forms, including the Darfur Contracting Act Certification (DFW 1080), Payee Data Record (STD 204), Bidder Declaration (DFW 1082), and a new Generative AI Reporting form (STD 1000). While no specific incumbent vendor is mentioned, the contract appears to be part of an ongoing program to provide recreational fishing opportunities. Although no explicit budget range is provided, the procurement involves 3,900 pounds of live catfish, suggesting a moderate-value contract for a specialized aquaculture service.