IFB - 3000012570- Questions.pdf

This is an Addendum to an Invitation for Bid (IFB) issued by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for sodium hydroxide supply to its cogeneration facility's water treatment system. The procurement seeks approximately 47,000 gallons annually of a 49-51 percent sodium hydroxide solution meeting specific technical requirements, with approximately 98 percent delivered via tanker truck in 3,000-4,000 gallon batches and the remaining 2 percent in 55-gallon drums. The delivery location is 575 West Cameron Avenue, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, with delivery expected within three days of order on a Free-On-Board Destination basis. The IFB opening date and bid submission deadline is January 5, 2026, at 1:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. A site visit was offered on December 19th at 11:00 AM for interested vendors. The initial contract term is three years with two optional one-year renewal periods. The addendum clarifies that empty drums currently on site will be picked up at the time of delivery, not returned later the same day after product utilization.

The addendum addresses vendor inquiries regarding incumbent information, current pricing, storage tank capacity (6,000 gallons), and delivery procedures. Responses to questions about the incumbent and current pricing direct vendors to submit formal requests through appropriate channels. Vendors must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience selling and servicing sodium hydroxide products and provide customer references and independent laboratory test results confirming specification compliance. The solicitation includes HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) participation information, though specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged businesses are not explicitly outlined. Award will be made to the lowest responsive bidder meeting all specifications, and the university reserves the right to make separate awards to different vendors or reject all bids entirely. No specific budget range or incumbent information is provided in the addendum.