RFQ-R5-0625-04, Live Catfish (May - September 2025)

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ-R5-0625-04) for the procurement of live Channel Catfish to support the Fishing in the City Program across multiple Southern California counties. The solicitation seeks a total of 16,800 pounds of live channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), specifically 14,300 pounds for Region 5 and 2,500 pounds for Region 6, to be delivered to various lakes in Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties during May through September 2025. Bidders must be State of California Registered Aquaculturists who rear fish exclusively in California waters and cannot import fish from outside the state. The procurement requires strict compliance with health and transportation requirements, with contractors subject to quality inspections and prohibited from misrepresenting any aspects of the fish. The bid response is due by 2:00 PM on 4/30/2025, with quotes remaining valid for 60 days, and the anticipated delivery date is 06/01/2025.

The contract includes a 5% preference for California certified small businesses and imposes specific qualifications for potential contractors. Eligible bidders must complete several mandatory certification forms, including the Payee Data Record (STD 204), Darfur Contracting Act Certification (DFW1080ext), and Bidder Declaration (DFW1082ext). The opportunity also requires vendors to submit a CalRecycle 74 Postconsumer Recycled-Content Certification, demonstrating compliance with the State Agency Buy Recycled Campaign. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the procurement encompasses a comprehensive statewide program targeting multiple counties. The state reserves the right to modify delivery details while maintaining the total contracted poundage, providing flexibility in implementation. Potential contractors must carefully review all documentation and ensure full compliance with state procurement regulations, technical specifications, and certification requirements to be considered for the contract.