FY27-30 IDOR Cigarette Tax Stamps IFB Questions and Answers Bid Amendment 4.pdf

This document is a Bid Amendment 4 containing vendor questions and agency responses for the Illinois Department of Revenue's FY27-30 Cigarette Tax Stamps Invitation for Bid (IFB 27-492DOR-ACCOU-B-50964). The solicitation seeks bids for a four-year contract to print and deliver serialized and heat-applied cigarette tax stamps from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2030. The Department estimates annual requirements of 350-450 cases per year, totaling approximately 270 million stamps annually or 1,080,000,000 stamps over the four-year term. Stamps must be produced using heat-applied gravure process at a minimum operating rate of 60 cartons per minute, packaged in rolls of 30,000 stamps with 25 rolls per case totaling 750,000 stamps per case, and include five-layer impressions with safety tint lettering, distinctive colors, unique security features, and serial numbering. Bidders must submit ten sample stamp designs and three laminated hard-copy paper samples with watermarks postmarked no later than March 2, 2026, along with a confidential security statement and emergency contingency plan.

The amendment clarifies that paper samples submitted with bids must be laminated, though watermarks and security features can be demonstrated on cancelled Illinois stamp samples. The unit of measure for pricing is TS (Thousand), and vendors must submit pricing on a per-thousand-stamps basis with F.O.B. destination and freight prepaid, including manufacturing, original drawings, engravings, heat application guns, 25 functional readers, and delivery costs. References are not required for vendor qualification; however, bidders must certify they are independent printing contractors not affiliated with any Illinois licensed cigarette distributor and must comply with prevailing wage requirements. The successful vendor must supply and maintain 25 functional readers throughout the contract term and perform all work within its own premises with no subcontracting permitted. The State will award the contract to the lowest priced responsive and responsible bidder, with bids remaining firm for 180 days from opening. A $15 administrative fee applies to any awarded contract valued at $1,000 or more under the Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative.