RFP recap....Alaska Ag's MMM&S facility

(Photo credit: ADN)

The newly published RFP (Request for Proposal) released today, October 28th, 2016 bears a recap.

The notice linked below, is actually the second such RFP issued concerning the plant this year. When the first one was published, a tremendous amount of speculation ensued. Perhaps a coalition lead by members of the Alaska Farm Bureau, maybe. Or maybe someone who had a lengthy history of livestock production here. Or someone else, who was not well known-no one knew who, or how many would respond.

In the end, just one person responded, with a newly formed company. The man attended one of the BAC meetings, and to say his reception to his speech was chilly, is an understatement. He made some broad boasts, asserted dubious (at best) facts, and ended up insulting the entire industry by the time he was done. In the end, his proposal was turned down. Since that matter is private, one can only speculate, but it made the rounds (and Facebook groups) and was thoroughly discussed and dissected and he was (basically) publicly eviscerated. This author's hunch is that despite his pie-in-the-sky claims, he did not have enough ready capital (read: cash on hand) for daily operations-but again, just speculation. All that is known for certain is that Rean Brooks, and his company, are not in the running this time around either. 

The link below will take you to the actual notice for the plant:

https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=183370

Given that the state is highly unlikely to hire experienced, qualified people and get them trained within six weeks....and it's highly unlikely anyone is going to hand over $700,000 for the plant by the December 15th deadline-what happens then?

Department of Corrections personnel are not trained, do not have the necessary certifications, and still don't even provide their own transportation for the inmates. The Division of Ag does not have the manpower either, and neither does the Department of Natural Resources. So where will that leave all the small producers, the family homesteads, the small businesses that depend upon the plant being open for their livelihood?

You know the answer to that........