Wildflower Seeds

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, through the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, issued a Request for Bid (RFB 758) on September 20, 2021, for the establishment of a master agreement to supply wildflower seeds across twenty distinct species. The procurement seeks 16 ounces each of the following species: Heath Aster, Swamp Milkweed, Common Milkweed, Butterfly Milkweed, Showy Tickseed, New England Aster, Lance Leaved Coreopsis, Illinois Bundleflower, Purple Coneflower, Joe Pye, Boneset, False Sunflower, Blazing Star, Lemon Balm, Smooth Beardtongue, American Mountain Mint, Greyheaded Coneflower, Blackeyed Susan, White Wingstem, and Bergamot. All pricing must include delivery charges F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources at #1 Sportsman's Lane, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, with vendors required to specify delivery timeframes in working days or risk non-responsiveness and a one percent daily deduction from invoices for late delivery. The initial contract period is one year from the award date with options to extend for four additional one-year periods subject to written approval and potential renegotiation. Vendors must submit written questions by September 27, 2021, at 10:00 AM ET, with electronic bids due by October 4, 2021, at 1:30 PM ET through the Commonwealth's eProcurement system after registering with the Vendor Self Service portal. Award will be determined using a best value approach allocating 90 points to price (with the lowest bidder receiving maximum points and others scored proportionally) and 10 points to delivery time, and all line items are required for a responsive bid. Vendors must complete and submit the bid information form in accordance with the terms and conditions outlined in the RFB attachments.

The procurement includes preferences for Kentucky resident bidders eligible for reciprocal preference equal to the preference given by nonresident bidders' home states, and qualified bidders including Kentucky Correctional Industries, Kentucky Industries for the Blind, and qualified nonprofit agencies for individuals with severe disabilities receive a preference equal to fifteen to twenty percent of maximum points. Vendors claiming resident or qualified bidder status must provide supporting documentation, including proof of authorization to transact business in Kentucky, corporate income tax filings for one year prior to advertisement, current Kentucky unemployment insurance fund payments, and active workers' compensation policies for resident status; qualified nonprofit agencies must demonstrate they employ individuals with severe disabilities for at least seventy-five percent of direct labor hours. All vendors must submit a notarized Annual Affidavit affirming compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws, sales and use tax registration requirements, trade restrictions, and confirming they are not delinquent on state taxes or fees. Price adjustments are prohibited during the first twelve months, with any subsequent increases requiring written justification based on industry-wide price changes submitted at least thirty days in advance, and all proposed pricing must remain valid for a minimum of sixty calendar days after the bid due date. No specific award value or budget range is identified in the solicitation, and no incumbent vendor information or site visits are specified; the Commonwealth reserves the right to cancel the RFB if all responses exceed available funding.