Seed Acquisition

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture, specifically the Forestry - East TN Nursery located in Delano, Tennessee, is seeking a comprehensive seed acquisition contract for the 2026-2027 crop year. The procurement covers 52 different seed lines, including tree and plant seeds such as Chinkapin, Baldcypress, Hickory, Oak, Pine, Plum, and Sumac, with quantities ranging from 1 to 5,000 pounds per seed type. The bid event is open from August 11, 2025, to August 20, 2025, with a final delivery deadline of August 27, 2025. Vendors must submit bids through the Edison system and register with the Department of Revenue for sales and use tax. The seeds will be collected from multiple states including Alabama, Virginia, North Carolina, Illinois, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Georgia, Mississippi, and Arkansas, with two primary delivery periods: Attachment A seeds due by December 15, 2025, and Attachment B seeds due by February 15, 2026. Bidders must comply with strict quality requirements, including USDA Woody Plant Seed Manual standards, specific packaging guidelines, and precise collection, storage, and transportation protocols.

The contract does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. Vendors must maintain workers' compensation, commercial general liability, and automobile liability insurance with specific coverage minimums. No incumbent vendors are mentioned in the documentation. The procurement process allows for potential award of a single contract for all line items to the lowest responsive bidder or separate contracts for individual line items. While a specific contract value is not detailed, the state reserves the right to negotiate pricing and does not guarantee minimum purchase quantities. Delivery is specified as FOB destination to the East Tennessee Nursery, with seed acceptance contingent on meeting detailed criteria including seed size, moisture content, viability, and collection zone restrictions. Bidders must submit accurate information through the State's Supplier Portal and be prepared to provide documentation supporting their bid's compliance with state requirements.