B-49854 Vendor Questions and Answers - JPMC Medical and Laboratory Gases~1.pdf

Illinois Department of Central Management Services

JPMC Medical and Laboratory Gases

26-416CMS-BOSS4-B-49854

Questions and Answers #1

Date: 01/21/26

Q1 Our company recently negotiated, late 2025, a contract for Argon gas with specific delivery instructions with the Illinois Department of Agriculture, will this new contract supersede that agreement?

A1 This JPMC will not supersede the recently negotiated contract for Argon delivery to the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Q2 Regarding item #87 on this bid, what is the concentration of chlorine?

A2 The product is 10PPM Chlorine (Cl), Balance Nitrogen (N2). This response applies to lines 17, 87, and 143. It is the same product for each of the 3 regions, Northern, Central, and Southern.

Q3 There are 8 attachments on the bid page. Do they all have to be filled out and submitted?

A3 Please see Section A.1 in the IFB Vendor Instructions and Requirements document, for attachments that should be submitted with your bid.

Q4 I would prefer to send in electronically. Do I email you all the attachments directly?

A4 In the IFB Vendor Instructions and Requirements document, Section A.1. indicates:

“Bidders are required to submit their response to the State’s solicitation through BidBuy. Any information sent to the State outside of BidBuy, for example by US Mail, FedEx, UPS, e-mail, or hand delivery, will neither be accepted nor considered. Bidder submissions will only be considered if they are received through BidBuy and on or before the time and date indicated as the “Bid Opening Date” on the BidBuy posting. Any required attachments must be submitted via BidBuy.”

Q5 I may have missed it, but is there a list of products that are going to be bid on one of the attachments?

A5 The list of items can be found in BidBuy within the “Items” tab.

Q6 Will you only be going with one supplier for all products for all sites or will it be broken up based on lowest pricing?

A6 In the IFB Vendor Instructions and Requirements document, sections C.8. Identifies the award parameters as follows:

C.8.1. The State intends to award this solicitation by region to the responsive and responsible bidder who submits the lowest total net price per region.

A map of the regions and locations of primary state agencies can be found in Contract sections

5.12. and 5.13 respectively. This list is not inclusive as additional locations can be added per Section 1.2.5 of the Contract.

C.8.3. In the event no single bidder provides a bid for each line item within a region, the State reserves the right to award by line item within that region.

Q7 Does the pricing have to be held firm for the 5-year bid?

A7 In the Contract Section 2.3.1. provides the Economic Adjustment Information:

2.3.1.1. The prices in this Contract must remain firm for the first year after the execution date of the Contract. Thereafter, one upward price adjustment may be applied no more frequently than once during any given six (6) month period.