Wildlife: Open-End Contract for Farm Raised Fathead Minnows

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR), specifically the Wildlife Resources Section, is seeking an open-end contract for farm-raised fathead minnows to be delivered to the Palestine State Fish Hatchery in Elizabeth, WV. The procurement solicits two specific sizes of minnows: 1,500 pounds of minnows sized 600-850 fish per pound, and 3,000 pounds of minnows sized 250-400 fish per pound. Key deliverable requirements include disease-free certification documents, delivery within 14 calendar days for standard orders and 7 days for emergency orders, with a minimum order quantity of 400 pounds per delivery. The solicitation (ARFQ DNR2500000008) requires vendors to provide unit pricing per pound, with the minnows available during specific seasonal windows: April through July for the larger size and April through October for the smaller size. Technical questions are due by February 4, 2025, at 9:00 a.m., with bid responses required by February 11, 2025, at 1:30 p.m. EST. The initial contract term is one year, with three optional one-year renewal periods, and the contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive bidder meeting all specified requirements.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Vendors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 and automobile liability insurance of $500,000 to be considered responsive. Bids can be submitted electronically through wvOASIS or in sealed envelopes to the DNR Property & Procurement Office in South Charleston, WV. While no specific budget range or potential award value is detailed in the documents, the procurement involves approximately 4,500 total pounds of fathead minnows. Delivery is specified on an F.O.B. destination basis to the Palestine Hatchery, located at 27 Paddlefish Lane in Elizabeth, WV. No pre-bid conference is planned, and the procurement is specific to Webster County within the state of West Virginia. The solicitation emphasizes the importance of meeting precise minnow size specifications and providing comprehensive delivery capabilities.