River north - apple tree seedlings

The Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Corrections Agribusinesses is conducting a Quick Quote (unsealed bid) procurement for apple tree seedlings for the River North Orchard located in Botetourt County. The solicitation (BPM066532) seeks specific quantities of pre-grade 2-year budded apple tree varieties, including 450 Fuji, 300 Gala, 1,400 Ginger Gold, 800 Royal Red Honeycrisp, and 300 CrimsonCrisp. Vendors must be located within 450 miles of the Bland Correctional Center Agribusiness facility in Bland, VA. The bid responses are due by February 10, 2025, at 2:00 PM, with all trees required for single pickup no later than March 17, 2025. The evaluation will be conducted on a Grand Total basis, with the award going to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The agency will conduct a comprehensive inspection of all trees at pickup, with any products not meeting specifications required to be replaced at the vendor's expense. Pricing must be provided per unit for each apple tree variety, with a comprehensive grand total calculation.

The procurement is specifically set aside for small businesses, with vendor transaction fees structured at 1% (capped at $500 for DSBSD-certified small businesses and $1,500 for non-certified businesses). Vendors must maintain specified insurance coverage, including workers' compensation, employer's liability, commercial general liability, and automobile liability if applicable. Payment terms are net 30 days after receipt of merchandise and/or invoice. The solicitation documents indicate Adams County Nursery as a potential vendor, though this appears to be a proprietary, brand-name only procurement. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the procurement involves multiple apple tree varieties totaling 3,250 seedlings. The contract appears to be a single-source procurement with strict geographic and quality requirements, designed to support the Virginia Department of Corrections Agribusinesses' River North Orchard initiative.