RFQ-R5-0626-02, Catfish

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has issued Request for Quotation RFQ-R5-0626-02 for procuring 17,500 pounds of live channel catfish to be used for stocking urban lakes across Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. The procurement spans a delivery period from September 2025 to April 2026, with specific quantities designated for various lake locations and delivery dates ranging from September 5, 2025, to April 24, 2026. Bidders must be State of California Registered Aquaculturists who rear fish exclusively in California waters, with strict requirements for fish health, transportation, and delivery standards. The solicitation mandates that quotes remain valid for a minimum of 60 days and must be submitted by August 29, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with quote opening scheduled for 3:00 PM on the same day. Vendors must complete multiple compliance documents, including the Darfur Contracting Act Certification, Generative AI Disclosure, and Commercially Useful Function Certification, and the CDFW reserves the right to inspect and reject shipments that do not meet specified requirements.

The procurement includes a 5% preference for California certified small businesses and allows non-small businesses to qualify by demonstrating at least 25% small business subcontractor participation. Bidders must complete several mandatory forms, including the Bidder Declaration (DFW 1082), which requires disclosure of vendor details, California certification status, and potential subcontractor information. Additional compliance documents include the Postconsumer-Content Certification, which mandates reporting on recycled-content materials, and the Payee Data Record (STD 204) for tax and payment information. While the total contract value is not explicitly stated, the solicitation requires vendors to provide unit pricing for the channel catfish. The procurement emphasizes diversity and inclusion through its certification requirements, with particular attention to minority-owned businesses, small businesses, and disabled veteran business enterprises. Vendors must also comply with the state's generative AI disclosure requirements, demonstrating transparency in technological capabilities and potential biases in their operational systems.