P26-0126A  Cotton Plugs

The California Department of Food and Agriculture has issued an informal competitive Request for Quote, solicitation P26-0126A, for the procurement of cotton plugs used in exotic fruit fly detection traps. The required plugs must be 100 percent cotton, measuring 2 inches in length by 1/2 inch in diameter and weighing 1.5 grams. To ensure structural integrity, the shape must be maintained by braided rayon threads with no openings. The agency specifies that no substitutions are accepted, citing Richmond #200512 as a descriptive brand-name example. This procurement is conducted on an all-or-none award basis and requires vendors to provide samples for performance testing. Evaluation criteria include a minimum passing score of 95 percent, with specific tests for the plugs' ability to fit in a bait hanger and their capacity to absorb 5 ml of liquid lure. Bids must include FOB destination pricing and adhere to California state procurement terms. The solicitation was posted on September 9, 2026, with a response deadline of September 18, 2026.