Seed Acquisition

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is requesting quotes for native tree and plant seeds under an Invitation to Bid through the EDISON procurement system, with responses due July 23, 2026. The contract is effective July 13, 2026 and extends for 12 months, with the State retaining an option to extend for up to 180 days.

The scope comprises 51 distinct seed varieties totaling approximately 33,000 pounds, including multiple oak species (white, red, pin, and water oak), hickory varieties (shagbark, mockernut, and shellbark), black walnut seeds (6,000 pounds as the largest single line item), and specialty seeds such as baldcypress, dogwood, redbud, and pecan. All seeds must be delivered to the Forestry - East Tennessee Nursery at 9063 Highway 411, Delano, Tennessee 37325 by July 28, 2026. Seeds must meet USDA Agricultural Handbook 727 quality standards for cleanliness, size consistency, moisture content, and viability; be stored at 36–45 degrees Fahrenheit; and be packaged in sealed, labeled containers not exceeding 100 pounds each. Bidders must submit unit pricing for each of the 51 line items in U.S. dollars, with freight arranged by the supplier on a "Best Option Available" basis and pricing set FOB destination.

Bidders must be registered with the Tennessee Supplier Portal and the Tennessee Department of Revenue prior to contract award. Contractors must maintain workers' compensation and employer liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000; commercial general liability with combined single limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate; and automobile liability with $1,000,000 per occurrence limits. Bidders must certify compliance with Tennessee Code Annotated Section 12-12-111 (Iran Divestment Act), provide current tax registration documentation, and complete mandatory compliance questions regarding debarment and criminal history. Invoices must be submitted within 30 days of delivery and include contract number, purchase order number, and itemized descriptions. The procurement contact is Laura Dowdy (laura.dowdy@tn.gov); Stephen Seibert is available for general questions at 615-253-2187. Questions are due before the response deadline; the EDISON system logs users out after 30 minutes of inactivity.