Seedling Lifter

The Commonwealth of Kentucky's Division of Forestry is issuing a Request for Bids (RFB 758 2500000516) for the procurement of one seedling lifter unit to be delivered to the Morgan County Nursery in West Liberty, Kentucky by June 30, 2025. The solicitation seeks the SMZ PL ECO 3 High Clearance Lifter or an approved equivalent, with specific technical requirements including three shaker bars, a 3-point mount, crop guide plates, a Hardox blade with movable components, hydraulically adjustable rear wheels, manual adjustable front running wheels, PTO drive, rear lighting, and a robust gearbox with opening dimensions of approximately 150 centimeters in width and 115 centimeters in height. Bidders proposing alternate brands or specifications must submit descriptive literature for equivalency verification, and failure to provide sufficient documentation may render bids non-responsive. The evaluation will be conducted on a 100-point scoring basis, with Price weighted at 90 points and Delivery weighted at 10 points; the lowest responsive bidder receives maximum price points with other bidders scored proportionally, and delivery ahead of the June 30, 2025 deadline earns additional points while late deliveries incur a 1 percent daily deduction. Written questions must be submitted by March 5, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET, with bids closing on March 12, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. ET through the Kentucky Vendor Self Service (VSS) system; bidders must be registered at least 24 to 48 hours before submission, and a bid reading will be available via conference call at 3:30 p.m. ET on the closing date. Pricing must be quoted F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed, exclusive of federal excise and Kentucky sales taxes, with delivery included in the unit cost.

Reciprocal preference applies to Kentucky resident bidders as defined under KRS 45A.490-494, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries receive preferences equal to 20 percent or 15 percent of maximum points, respectively. No specific incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation, and there is no indication of existing infrastructure or technology requiring integration. All bidders are required to submit an executed Annual Affidavit attesting to compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws, proof of Commercial General Liability Insurance with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and Automobile Liability Insurance if delivery services are performed by the contractor. Foreign entities must provide a Certificate of Authority, and bidders claiming Kentucky resident or qualified bidder status may be required to provide supporting documentation. The specific award value or budget range is not disclosed in the available solicitation documents; however, the award will be made on a best value basis to a single responsive vendor who must bid all line items and comply with all terms and conditions outlined in the RFB documents.