Seedling Bed Former

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, Division of Forestry, issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2100000674 on May 14, 2021, to procure one seedling bed former equipment unit for delivery to the John P. Rhody Nursery in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. The procurement seeks a FOBRO Rotary Cultivator 1250 or approved equal capable of performing rototilling and bed formation with a 125-centimeter (4-foot) working width, featuring two large adjustable hollow discs (50 cm), a rotary cultivator on the front, and a leveling milling drum on the back. The equipment must be compatible with a 45 horsepower tractor or greater and operate via three-point hitch and power take-off (PTO) connection, with desired delivery prior to June 30, 2021. Bidders proposing alternate brands or specifications must submit descriptive literature for equality verification, with failure to provide sufficient documentation potentially resulting in bid rejection. The bid closing date was May 26, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. ET, with written questions due by May 19, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. ET submitted electronically to Evelyn Osborne at evelyn.osborne@ky.gov. Award will be made on a Best Value basis using weighted evaluation criteria: Price (90 points) and Delivery (10 points), with contract award anticipated following the bid closing date. All bid responses must be submitted electronically through the Kentucky eProcurement system, and vendors must be registered in the Vendor Self Service System prior to submission.

Kentucky resident bidders and qualified bidders, including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities meeting seventy-five percent direct labor hour thresholds, may receive preference points pursuant to applicable Kentucky statutes and regulations. All bidders must submit required documentation including Revenue Form 10A100 (Kentucky Tax Registration Application), Certificate of Authority for foreign entities, required affidavits, and Equal Employment Opportunity forms if applicable prior to award. Vendors must certify compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws, sales and use tax registration status, state tax compliance, and lobbying prohibitions through the mandatory Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors, which must be notarized and have a maximum effective period of one year. Pricing must exclude Federal Excise Tax and Kentucky Sales or Use Tax and shall be quoted F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed, with all proposed pricing remaining valid for a minimum of 60 calendar days after the bid due date. The contract specifications and budget range were not disclosed in the procurement documents, though delivery is to be included in the bid offer. The resulting contract may be canceled by the Commonwealth with 30 days' written notice.