Ribbons, Rosettes, and Banners

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, on behalf of the Kentucky State Fair Board, issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2100000432 for ribbons, rosettes, and banners to support the Kentucky State Fair and North American International Livestock Expo (NAILE). This master agreement procurement encompasses 25 line items totaling approximately 29,095 units, including flat ribbons (29,095 units), various rosette configurations in multiple sizes and colors (approximately 4,227 units), banners ranging from 9 inches by 12 inches to 18 inches by 30 inches (379 units), exhibitor number cards (24,160 units), arm band numbers, satin banners, and double eyelet ribbons (32,500 units), along with associated printing and setup charges. All deliveries must be made to the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center at 937 Phillips Lane, Louisville, Kentucky 40209, within 60 calendar days after receipt of order, with a one percent per day penalty applied to invoices for late deliveries. The solicitation required vendors' written questions by February 18, 2021 at 10:00 AM ET, with bid closing at February 26, 2021 at 1:30 PM ET. Evaluation will utilize a best value ranking methodology allocating 90 points to price and 10 points to delivery performance, with the lowest-priced bidder receiving maximum points and other bidders scored proportionally; bidders proposing faster delivery than the 60-day standard receive proportional bonus points. The resulting contract will be awarded for an initial one-year period with four optional one-year renewal periods subject to written agreement by both parties, and pricing must remain firm for 60 calendar days after the bid due date, with price increases prohibited during the first 12 months.

Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference equal to any preference given by nonresident bidders' states of residence, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries and Kentucky Industries for the Blind receive preference points of 20 and 15 percent respectively. Vendors claiming resident bidder or qualified bidder status must submit separate affidavits demonstrating compliance with residency requirements, business authorization in Kentucky, prior-year corporate income tax filing, unemployment insurance contributions, and workers' compensation insurance maintenance. All bidders must complete required documentation including Revenue Form 10A100 (Kentucky Tax Registration), Certificate of Authority for foreign entities, annual affidavits executed under penalty of perjury, and Equal Employment Opportunity forms if applicable; the annual affidavit establishes compliance with campaign finance laws, disclosure requirements, tax registration, and trade restrictions dating back ten years. Electronic bid submission through the Commonwealth eProcurement system is mandatory; vendors must register in the system prior to bid submission (allowing 24-48 hours for completion) and submit pricing only on the designated Attachment D Bid Price Sheet at F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed terms, exclusive of federal excise taxes and Kentucky sales or use taxes. The previous contract for similar items, awarded to Stineman Management Corp., established baseline pricing ranging from $0.20 to $70.04 per unit across commodity line items, providing a reference for potential award values.