Soybean for Fish Hatcheries

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2200000454 on February 8, 2022, seeking qualified vendors to supply soybean meal for fish hatchery operations. The procurement requires vendors to provide 1.00 ton of soybean meal with 44-48% protein content, packaged in 50-pound paper bags on wooden pallets, with deliveries scheduled from March through September to two hatchery locations: Minor Clark Fish Hatchery in Morehead, Kentucky, and Peter W. Pfeiffer Fish Hatchery in Frankfort, Kentucky. All deliveries must be completed within 14 working days after order receipt during normal state business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM Eastern Time, excluding state holidays), with vendors responsible for unloading and moving product to storage facilities using appropriate equipment such as a floor jack, automatic loader, or forklift to accommodate the 4-foot high dock. The solicitation established a master agreement with an initial one-year term beginning April 12, 2022, with options for four additional one-year renewal periods subject to written approval and potential renegotiation of terms. Vendors' written questions were due by February 16, 2022, at 10:00 AM ET, with bid closing on February 23, 2022, at 1:30 PM ET, and all bid responses required submission electronically through the Kentucky eProcurement system with vendors registered in the Vendor Self Service System at least 24-48 hours prior to submission. Award determination utilized a best value ranking approach with measurable criteria: price (90 points) and delivery (10 points), for a total of 100 points, with the lowest bidder receiving maximum price points and other bidders scored proportionally, and one percent per day deducted from invoices for late deliveries.

Kentucky resident bidders receive reciprocal preference in accordance with state law, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and certain nonprofit agencies serving individuals with severe disabilities receive preference equal to a percentage of maximum points. All bidders must comply with Kentucky campaign finance laws, provide proof of sales and use tax registration with the Kentucky Department of Revenue, demonstrate non-delinquency on state taxes and fees, and certify non-violation of prohibitions outlined in state statutes during the previous ten years; foreign entities must provide a Certificate of Authority from the Secretary of State before award. Quotations shall be submitted F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed, with vendors responsible for all shipping costs, and prices must be exclusive of federal excise tax and Kentucky sales or use tax, with price increases prohibited during the first twelve months and any increases thereafter requiring sixty days' notice with justification based on industry-wide price changes. The solicitation documents do not specify an explicit award value or budget range; however, the contract establishes pricing terms whereby the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all specifications will be selected for the one-year initial term with potential renewal options.