IFB #0226 - Rib Knit Fabric Bidders Questions and Answers.pdf

Division of Correctional Industries, 550 Broadway, Albany, NY 12204-2802 │ (800) 436-6321│ www.corcraft.ny.gov

PURCHASING MEMORANDUM

Invitation for Bids

DATE: August 26, 2026

PLEASE ADDRESS INQUIRIES TO:

Renate Sanders, Contract Management Specialist I Telephone: (518) 408-4220 E-Mail: Corcraft.ProcurementServices@doccs.ny.gov

IFB NO.: #0226

COMMODITY: Knit Fabric - Rib Knit (Flat & Tubular, Sweatshirt Fleece, and Twill (Shirting &

Suiting)

BID OPENING: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 **REVISED DATE**

CONTRACT PERIOD: On or about October 1, 2026 (pending OSC approval) through

September 30, 2029, with renewal options

SUBJECT: Q&A Submission

TO: All Prospective Bidders

Q1) Bid opening date (page 1, Invitation for Bids Cover Page) We are requesting a two (2) week extension to the current bid opening date of September 2, 2026. The IFB requires submission of finished, dyed fabric samples (3 linear yards per item/color) along with ASTM certification, AATCC Certificate of Conformity, and color test reports confirming Pantone match. Producing compliant rolls, finishing and dyeing the fabric to the specified colors, completing third-party ASTM/AATCC testing, and shipping samples to arrive by the bid opening date requires additional lead time beyond what remains under the current schedule.

A1) Bid opening date has been changed to Tuesday, September 15, 2026 at 2:00PM EST.

Samples will be due Tuesday, September 15, 2026 by close of business (COB) mailto:Corcraft.ProcurementServices@doccs.ny.gov

Q2) Method of Award (page 25) The clause reads: "Award shall be made by GRAND TOTAL BID FOR MINIMUM ORDER FOR EACH LOT to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder."

The Bid Price Pages (pages 6–9) compute each item total as unit price multiplied by estimated annual quantity (e.g., Item #1 at 84,000 yds), and the Grand Total for each Lot as the sum of those item totals. The award clause instead refers to the grand total for minimum order.

Please confirm which figure governs evaluation: the Grand Total computed on estimated annual quantities as the price pages are constructed, or a grand total computed on the stated minimum order quantities. The two produce different rankings.

A1) Bid total price shall be determined by multiplying the Minimum Order (yards) with the Unit Price per yard.

Q3) Method of Award (page 25), award by lot Please confirm that Lot I and Lot II are awarded independently, and that a bidder may submit a bid on one lot only without being deemed non-responsive.

A3) Lot I and Lot II can be awarded independently, and the bidder may submit a bid on one lot with this IFB #0226 without being deemed non-responsive (General Information, Conditional Bid, IFB #0226, page 15)

Q4) Domestic Finishing Requirement (page 25), award by lot The NOTE reads: "All Greige Goods (LOT I – II) MUST be domestic finish only, and each delivery will be required to identify finishing mill."

Please clarify:

a. What qualifies as "domestic" — finishing operations physically performed within the United States only, or do operations in a USMCA country (Mexico or Canada) qualify?

b. Does the requirement apply to finishing operations only, allowing greige goods woven or knitted outside the United States and finished domestically? The Bid Price Pages (pages 6–9) request "MANUFACTURER / Address, Point of Manufacture (Mill)" and "FINISHING MILL / Address, Point of Finishing (Finisher)" as separate entries, which suggests a two-mill structure is contemplated. Please confirm.

c. Which specific operations must be performed domestically — dyeing, finishing, or both?

A4) a. "Domestic" is strictly defined as physically performed within the borders of the United States only.

b. Greige goods may be woven or knitted outside the United States, but 100% of the dyeing and finishing operations must be performed domestically within a U.S. facility. The Bid Price Pages accommodate this two-mill structure, and the physical addresses of both the manufacturing mill and the domestic finishing mill must be fully disclosed.

c. Both operations, dyeing and finishing

Q5) Item numbering conflict between Detailed Specifications and Bid Price Pages (pages 4–5 vs. pages 8–9) The Detailed Specifications on page 4 head Lot II as "LOT II: TWILL (Shirting & Suiting) (Items #4-5)" and page 5 specifies "Lot II – Item #4: Twill Shirting."

The Bid Price Pages on pages 8 and 9 head Lot II as "(Item # 3 - 4)" and enumerate "3.

TWILL, SHIRTING" and "4. TWILL, SUITING."

Please confirm which numbering governs. This affects sample labeling under the Sample Submission Deadline clause (page 38, "three (3) linear yards of each item offered") and identification on the Manufacturer's Certificate (page 46).

A5) Lot II: Twill (Shirting & Suiting) should be read as Items #3-4. Please refer to Item #3 Twill Shirting, and Item #4 Twill Suiting.

Q6) Physical specifications for Twill Suiting (pages 4–5) Page 5 publishes a physical properties table for Twill Shirting. We do not find a corresponding physical properties table for Twill Suiting anywhere in the Detailed Specifications, though page 9 requires a bid price for it.

Please confirm that Twill Suiting is held to the identical specification published for Twill Shirting on page 5 — 65%/35% polyester/cotton ±5%, 61" cutable width minimum, 5.5–6.0 oz/sq. yd., 2/1 right or left hand twill, warp 112 / fill 50 threads per inch minimum, breaking strength warp 160 lbs. / fill 90 lbs. minimum, and 3% maximum warp/fill shrinkage.

Suiting fabric is customarily specified at a heavier weight than shirting. If a different weight or construction is intended for Suiting, please publish that specification by addendum, as it materially affects pricing.

A6) Please see the Physical Properties Table for Twill Suiting below.

Lot II – Item #4: Twill Suiting

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

CHARACTERISTICS REQUIREMENT TEST METHOD

Fiber Content 65%/35% polyester/cotton +/-

5% ASTM D629 or Latest

Width 61” cutable width minimum ASTM D3774 or Latest

Weight 7.5 – 8.0 oz/sq. yd. ASTM D3776 A & C or Latest

Weave 2/1 right or left hand twill Visual observation

Threads/Inch Warp 80 minimum Fill 40 minimum

ASTM D3775 or Latest

Breaking Strength Warp 189 lbs. minimum Fill 115 lbs. minimum

ASTM D5034 or Latest, Grab Method-Part 3.1

Shrinkage 3% Warp/Fill (Max.)

Measure after 3 Wash cycles In Terg-O-tometer.

Medium: Distilled water Agitation: 150RPM

Water Temp: 140° F Washing time: 15 min.

Drying method: Screen 105° C ± 2°

Swatch Size: 15” x15” Bench Marks: 10” length/width or AATCC 135 or Latest

Q7) Twill weight range (page 5, Twill Shirting, "Weight") The requirement is stated as "5.5 – 6.0 oz/sq. yd." per ASTM D3776 A & C. Please confirm whether this range is absolute at the point of testing, or whether a commercial tolerance is applied to it, as tolerances are expressly stated for fiber content (±5%), yield (±5%), and fabric count (±2) elsewhere in the specifications.

A7) The tolerance is built into the specification. 5.5 – 6.0 oz/sq. yd. No further tolerance is allowed.

Q8) Rib Knit — flat versus tubular (page 1 title, page 3 Lot I scope, page 6 Bid Price Page) The IFB title on page 1 and the running header on every page read "Rib Knit (Flat & Tubular)." The Lot I scope on page 3 describes only "Tubular Rib Knit Fabric," Item #1 on page 3 specifies "Rib Knit Fabric, Tubular" at 18" tubular, and the Bid Price Page on page 6 prices only "RIB KNIT FABRIC, 18" Tubular."

Please confirm that no flat rib knit item is being solicited under this IFB.

A8) No flat rib knit item is being solicited under IFB #0226.

Q9) Contract inventory requirement, Clinton Correctional Facility (page 4, Lot II scope) Page 4 requires the contractor to maintain inventory available for immediate delivery totaling 80,000 yds of Suiting and 60,000 yds of Shirting (140,000 yds combined), and states: "Clinton Correctional Facility, Division of Industries, will purchase this inventory prior to the expiration date of the contract."

Please clarify:

a. When must the full inventory be in place — at contract start on or about October 1, 2026, or may it be built over a stated ramp period?

b. Where is the inventory held — at the contractor's facility, or delivered to and stored at Clinton?

c. Is Clinton's purchase of the inventory prior to contract expiration a binding obligation of the State, or a statement of intent?

d. Is the 140,000 yd inventory counted within the estimated annual quantities on pages 8–9, or in addition to them?

A9)

a. Full inventory must be in place at the start of the contract.

b. Inventory is to be held at the Contractor’s facility

c. Clinton’s purchase of the inventory is a binding obligation (Detailed Specifications, Lot II: Twill (Shirting & Suiting) Scope, page 4)

d. The 140,000 yar inventory is counted within the estimated annual quantities

Q9) Guaranteed delivery — 45 days versus 30 days (pages 6, 7, 8 versus page 9) The Checklist for All Bidders on pages 6, 7 and 8 asks: "Can You Meet the 45-Day Guaranteed Delivery for All Remaining Orders?" The same checklist on page 9 (Twill Suiting) asks: "Can You Meet the 30-Day Guaranteed Delivery for All Remaining Orders?"

Please confirm that a 30-day guaranteed delivery is intended for Twill Suiting only and 45 days applies to all other items. Given the liquidated damages provision on page 29 — one hundred dollars per day per truckload following a seven-calendar day grace period — the distinction is material to pricing.

A9) All items 1-4 should read “45-Day Delivery.”

Q10) Samples — quantity per item versus per color (page 38, Sample Submission Deadline) The clause requires "three (3) linear yards of each item offered, along with certification with the fiber content."

Several items are offered in multiple colors: Twill Shirting in Jungle Green and Bright White, and Twill Suiting in Jungle Green, Bright White and Incense (Tan). Please confirm whether three linear yards are required per item or per item and color combination.

A10) 3 yards per item only as Certificate of Conformity and Color Test Reports are required

Q11) Samples — timing and proof of delivery (page 38 and Bid Price Pages, pages 6–9) Page 38 requires samples received by close of business Wednesday, September 2, 2026 — the same day bids are due at 2:00 PM EST. The Bid Price Pages permit a bidder to check "Will be sent to arrive COB on 09/02/26."

Please confirm that carrier delivery to 550 Broadway by close of business on September 2, 2026 satisfies the requirement when the sample box is shipped separately from the bid envelope, and state what proof of delivery DOCCS will accept.

A11) The sample(s) shall be sent to Renate Sanders, Contract Management Specialist I, NYS Department of Corrections & Community Supervision, Division of Industries, 550 Broadway, Albany NY 12204-2802 by close of business (COB) Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Q12) Color standards (page 4 and page 5, Color Testing) Both Color Testing clauses require a color test report demonstrating adherence to the listed Pantone with a commercial factor of 1.25 or less. Will Corcraft furnish physical color standards or approved swatches for Jungle Green 19-5914-TC, Bright White 11-0601-TC and Incense (Tan) 16-1010-TC on request, so that laboratory results are measured against the State's reference rather than a commercial Pantone card?

A12) Corcraft will not furnish physical color standards or swatches. Bidders must utilize the standard commercial Pantone references explicitly listed in the specification sheet.

Q13) Price adjustment index applied to knit goods (page 26, PRICE ADJUSTMENT) The adjustment clause applies PPI Series WPU0337, described in the clause as "Textile products and apparel - Greige broad woven fabrics," to "all items listed in this Invitation for Bids."

Lot I Items #1 and #2 are knit constructions — tubular rib knit and 3-end sweatshirt fleece — not broad woven fabrics. Please confirm that WPU0337 is intended to govern price adjustment for the Lot I knit items, or advise whether a knit-goods index will be substituted for those items.

A13) Price adjustment clause should read “The prices shall be adjusted on the basis of the “Producer Price Index (PPI),” Series ID: Commodities Data (WPU03 (Not Seasonally Adjusted) Textile products and apparel) as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is available for viewing at www.bls.gov.”

Q14) Price adjustment cap symmetry (page 26, PRICE ADJUSTMENT) The clause states: "The price increase shall not exceed 5% for each 6-month period." No corresponding limit is stated on decreases. Please confirm whether the 5% limit applies to downward adjustments as well.

A14) The statement “The price increase shall not exceed 5% for each 6-month period.", applies to increases only.

All other terms and conditions of Invitation for Bids #0226 remain the same.

This Purchasing Memorandum is to be signed, submitted, and made a part of your bid.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Designated Contact listed on top of this memorandum.

VENDOR: ________________________________________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________________________________

SIGNATURE OF BIDDER: __________________________________________

DATE: ______________________________

http://www.bls.gov/