Bidder Questions.xlsx
XLSX spreadsheet 15 KB Posted
- Attached to
- MSI JANITORIAL SOAP PELLETS
- Solicitation number
- RFP 472 210000001181 2
- Issued by
- Kalamazoo County, Michigan
About this file
This is a Bidder Questions document for the State of Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) regarding a soap base supply contract. The solicitation addresses delivery quantities, packaging specifications, and pricing structures for soap base products. The State has clarified that while historically orders were received in truckload quantities only, it is now willing to consider alternative delivery options based on pricing proposals due to storage constraints at a newly relocated facility. Current truckloads consist of 40 bags per skid totaling 2,000 pounds, with a full shipment defined as 39,600 pounds or 19.8 skids. The State has previously accepted both Gaylord and super-sack containers but currently prefers to receive orders in 50-pound paper sacks to accommodate its operational needs.
Regarding pricing, MDOC has rejected bidder requests for quarterly pricing adjustments tied to petroleum feedstock volatility, which is standard industry practice. The State requires all bids to include pricing for the base contract term to enable equal bid comparison as specified in the RFP. However, MDOC indicated willingness to review alternative pricing structures if vendors submit them as separate supplemental documents alongside their standard RFP responses. The State clarified that historical purchase history data in the SIGMA VSS system referenced finished product bars of soap from commodity code pulls rather than soap base, addressing bidder concerns about inaccurate contract history.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Soap Base RFP- 210000001181 final.docx | DOCX document |
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Text version
Sheet1
| Question # | Document and Section | Page # | Bidder Question | State of Michigan Response |
| 1 | Schedule A- Section 6 Delivery and SIGMA VSS | 40-46 | Can we assume this will be received in truckload quantities only? Also, your information indicates that we have shipped this product recently. This is an incorrect statement. We have not enjoyed this contract in 20 years! | Historically we have received orders in truckload quantities only. The State will consider options for deliveries based on pricing. Since the State moved this factory to a new location, storage has become an issue and may not be able to accommodate truckload quantities, but this depends on how the product is packaged (please see response to Question 2 below). Contractor may provide options for delivery quantities with associated pricing separately in their bid responses. The information referenced about shipping product is from the SIGMA VSS section on purchase history. This is generated from the commodity code which is generic. It pulls all orders based on that commodity code and in this case MSI purchased finished product bars of soap. That is what this information in SIGMA VSS is referencing. |
| 2 | Schedule A- Section 6.6. Packaging and Palletizing | 45-46 | What type of container is acceptable for this product? Gaylords, super-sacks? | The State has received orders in both Gaylords, and Supersacks previously. The State has recently begun receiving orders and would prefer to continue receiving orders in 50lb sacks (paper) for soap base. Current truck loads consist of 40 bags per skid (2,000 lbs.). 39,600 lbs. is considered a full shipment (truckload) or 19.8 skids. |
| 3 | Schedule A- Section 4 Pricing | 36-39 | Given what has gone on over the past year, producers are reluctant to guarantee pricing for extended periods of time. Specifically, on this commodity, quarterly pricing is the industry standard due to petroleum feed stock volatility. Are there provision allowing a vendor to adjust pricing, within the contract, to reflect market changes? | This pricing format has not been MDOC's experience with this industry. In order to compare bids equally, MDOC needs pricing based on the RFP requirements and must be for the base term. If a bidder would like to propose a separate pricing structure other than as listed in this RFP, bidders should submit it as a seperate document in addition to responding to the model in the RFP. The State will review it and may consider alternatives to the current pricing structure. |
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