06425 Household Appliance RFI.docx

Request for Information (RFI) Household Appliances

April 17, 2025

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)

Household Appliances

ANNOUNCEMENT

The State of Washington is in the process of developing specifications for Household Appliances and is requesting input from the business community. The current statewide contract title Household Appliances is due to expire on January 31, 2026.

BACKGROUND

This statewide contract will provide for the as needed purchase of household appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, ovens, washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, and microwaves. by State Agencies and qualifying organizations who have signed the Contracts Usage Agreement (CUA). A list of CUA members is available at CUA Members.

Please respond to the questions below to the best of your ability. The responses provided through this RFI will be used only as information to assist DES understanding the commodity’s, vendor capabilities, and products.

Enterprise Services intends to include reserve award(s) for qualified Washington Small Business and/or Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses.

Current contract sales averages $3.5 million annually.

QUESTIONS

1. Scope and Categories.

· From the list below, which manufacturers do you cover?

· Are there any other manufacturers we should consider?

· Can you provide proof you are an authorized dealer or distributor for the manufacturers you offer?

2. Locations. What areas of Washington State can you service? Please list either, statewide, a specific region(s) or county(ies).

Regions are broken out as follows:

a. Olympic Region: Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Mason, Kitsap

b. Northwest Region: San Juan, Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Snohomish, King, Pierce

c. Southwest Region: Thurston, Pacific, Lewis, Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Skamania, Clark

d. South Central Region: Yakima, Klickitat, Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Columbia, Garfield, Asotin

e. North Central Region: Okanogan, Chelan, Kittitas, Grant, Douglas

f. Eastern Region: Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman

3. Industry Changes.

· Are there any major changes in the industry in the last five years?

· What major changes to the industry do you anticipate in the next five years?

4. Products.

· Do offer ADA compliant appliances? If so, please describe.

· Do you offer new dent and scratch appliances? If so, do these come with warranty?

· What warranty is offered for all appliances?

5. Pricing. What are the main pricing factors and components for this commodity (transportation, labor rates, distance, cost of material, etc.)?

6. Delivery.

· Does your company deliver, install and remove appliances? If yes, do you use subcontractors?

· Are there areas you can’t deliver and/or install?

· What is your delivery timeline for in stock items and non-stock or special orders?

· For items that are crated and shipped, can you provide a delivery tracking number?

· How do you handle delivery disruptions?

7. Website Options. Do you have the ability to customize an ordering website that includes updated pricing, sustainability options, and information specific to the contract? If no, please describe your website options.

8. Sustainability.

· In the industry are their appliances that contain mercury (such as appliance switches) and/or Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)? If yes, what are the types of appliances?

· Are you able to supply products with no mercury or HFC?

· Are you able to provide packaging that contains no Polystyrene (Styrofoam)?

9. Insurance. What types of insurance coverages are common in this industry? Can your company provide the following insurance - General Liability: $2M/$4M aggregate, Commercial Auto: $1M minimum, Workman’s Comp, $1M Employers Liability, Professional Liability (errors & omissions) $1M per occurrence, and $2M aggregate. If the answer is no, please explain what you cannot provide.

10. Added Value. Identify areas of value-added service that you provide relating to the purchasing, delivery and installation of Household Appliances?

11. Barriers/Feedback. Identify any barriers for your business to bid on this opportunity or any feedback we should consider in the development of this solicitation.

RFI PROCESS

Responses to this RFI should be submitted electronically to the RFI Coordinator listed below no later than April 30, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Later responses may be accepted.

A response to this RFI is not a mandatory requirement for participation in any subsequent solicitations released by the State of Washington. The results of this RFI may be used in development of future solicitations. All business community communications concerning this RFI must be directed to the RFI Coordinator.

Kathy Paterson RFI Coordinator Dept. of Enterprise Services PO Box 41411 Olympia, WA 98504-1411 360.407.2213 DESContractsTeamFir@des.wa.gov

PUBLIC RECORDS

All documents (written and electronic) submitted to Enterprise Services as part of this RFI are public records. Unless statutorily exempt from disclosure, such records are subject to disclosure if requested. See RCW 42.56, Public Records Act. Enterprise Services strongly discourages businesses from unnecessarily submitting sensitive information (e.g., information that businesses might categorize as ‘confidential,’ ‘proprietary,’ ‘sensitive,’ ‘trade secret,’ etc.). For the purposes of this RFI no information considered confidential or proprietary should be included.

NO OBLIGATION TO CONTRACT

Release of this RFI in no way obligates the state of Washington to award a contract.

TO SUMMARIZE

The state of Washington appreciates your thoughts and input and would also welcome any additional thoughts and comments related to this commodity.

Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Page 1 of 3 (Rev 2/12/2024)

Washington State Department of Enterprise Services (DES) Page 3 of 3 Rev. 08/14/2024 image1.jpeg