Trout and Salmon Food

The State of South Dakota Office of Procurement Management is seeking bids for an annual contract to supply fish food for state fish hatcheries, specifically targeting trout and salmon feed. The procurement is structured as an Invitation for Bid (IFB), which indicates a focus on lowest price for clearly defined specifications. The detailed specifications for the fish food are comprehensive, requiring precise nutritional profiles including specific protein and lipid percentages, pellet sizes ranging from 1.5 to 6.5 mm, and specialized characteristics such as probiotic/immunostimulant inclusion and astaxanthin content. The solicitation requires vendors to provide feed meeting exact nutritional standards for different fish life stages, with pellet size tolerances of +/- 0.5mm and specific floating/sinking properties. Key procurement dates include a posting date of May 16, 2025, with bids due by June 12, 2025. Vendors must carefully review the attached specification document (25IFB14976.pdf) to ensure complete compliance with the technical requirements for trout and salmon aquaculture feed.

The procurement appears to be open to all qualified vendors, with the South Dakota Vendor Manual suggesting potential preferences for state-based businesses. While no specific set-aside designations are explicitly mentioned in the provided documents, the vendor manual indicates considerations for minority business enterprises and non-discrimination provisions. The state's procurement guidelines emphasize open competition and fair bidding practices. Although specific budget ranges are not detailed in the provided documentation, the solicitation suggests this is an annual contract with potential for significant volume given the statewide fish hatchery system. Vendors should be prepared to demonstrate manufacturing capabilities, nutritional expertise, and the ability to consistently produce fish feed meeting the highly specific technical specifications outlined in the bid documents. Interested vendors must carefully review the SDVendorManual_20240822.pdf for comprehensive guidance on bidding procedures, tax implications, and contract performance expectations.