T0374 25DPP01074 Bid Amendment 2 10.7.24.docx

PHILIP D. MURPHY

Governor State of New Jersey

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

DIVISION OF PURCHASE AND PROPERTY

PROCUREMENT BUREAU

33 WEST STATE STREET

P. O. BOX 230

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08625-0230

ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO

State Treasurer

TAHESHA L. WAY

Lt. Governor

AMY F. DAVIS, ESQ.

Acting Director https://www.njstart.gov

October 7, 2024

To: All Interested Bidders

Re: Bid Solicitation # 25DPP01074 Bar Soap, Facial and Body, Individually Wrapped or Boxed for New Jersey Distribution and Support Services (DSS)

Quote Submission Due Date: October 25, 2024 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Bid Amendment #2

The following constitutes Bid Amendment #2 to the above referenced Bid Solicitation:

This Bid Amendment includes:

· Answers to questions from the Electronic Question and Answer Period that concluded on September 30, 2024.

It is the sole responsibility of the Bidder to be knowledgeable of all of the additions, deletions, clarifications, and modifications to the Bid Solicitation and/or the New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions relative to this Bid Solicitation as set forth in all Bid Amendments.

All other instructions, terms, and conditions of the Bid Solicitation shall remain the same.

Bid Solicitation #25DPP01074 Bar Soap, Facial and Body, Individually Wrapped or Boxed for New Jersey Distribution and Support Services

Answers to Questions

Where applicable, each question references the appropriate Bid Solicitation section.

Note: The reference to ‘DSS’ herein refers to the State of New Jersey, Department of the Treasury, Distribution and Support Services, the main State Using Agency for this procurement.

Section Reference Question (Bolded) and Answer

Answer: It is recommended that users utilize Microsoft Edge to view PDFs. Certain PDF forms cannot be opened in the Chrome or Firefox built in PDF viewers that are enabled by default. If using Chrome or Firefox it is recommended that the file is downloaded instead by clicking the download button in the upper right-hand corner of the browser after an error message is received. An alternative option is to disable the built in PDF viewers in Chrome or Firefox.

Answer: Please be advised that all Quotes shall be submitted electronically through NJSTART.

Answer: Yes. Prior to the Quote Opening Deadline, a Bidder should review the documents comprising the submitted Quote to ensure that all of the required documents have been completed and attached. Oftentimes a Quote is deemed non-responsive because a Bidder fails to attach a required form or attaches a blank form. To review a submitted a Quote, a Bidder should log into NJSTART and review each document attached to the Quote submission. Instructions on how to review a submitted Quote can be found in the Quick Reference Guide entitled How to Review a Submitted Quote, which is available on the NJSTART Vendor Support Page under Vendor Reference Guides.

Answer: As stated in Bid Solicitation Section 2.2, Exceptions to the State of NJ Standard Terms and Conditions (SSTC): “Questions regarding the State of New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions and exceptions to mandatory requirements MUST be posed during the Electronic Question and Answer period and shall contain the Bidder’s suggested changes and the reason(s) for the suggested change(s).” Moreover, as stated in Bid Solicitation Section 3.11, Bidder proposed terms or conditions that conflict with those contained in the State of New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions may render a Quote non-responsive.

Answer: Price adjustments may be considered following contract award. Price increases may be requested pursuant to New Jersey State standard Terms & condition Section 6.1 which states "in an exceptional situation the State may consider a price adjustment. Requests for price adjustments must include justification and documentation."

Answer: The intent is that DSS will order more than 1 case of soap during the term of the contract.

DSS has provided an estimated order quantity over the three (3) year term of the contract in Bid Solicitation Section 4.7, as follows:

“DSS anticipates the following estimated order quantities over the three (3) year term of the Contract:

The estimated quantity listed above is based on prior DSS purchases and is to be used for informational purposes only. The estimated quantity shall not be construed as either the maximum or minimum amount which the State shall be obligated to order during the term of the Contract.”

Bid Solicitation Section 4.7 further identifies minimum order quantities, as follows:

“DSS has defined a minimum order quantity per shipment as follows:

Important Note:

Bidders/Contractors shall not alter this minimum order quantity in any way as part of its Quote submission. Any such deviation to this minimum order quantity will result in the rejection of the Quote in its entirety.

Based on extenuating or unforeseen circumstances, such as an emergency crisis, global pandemic or Industry-wide stock shortages, DSS may adjust this minimum order quantity. Any adjustment made to this ordering quantity will be relayed to the Contractor and the Division’s Procurement Specialist assigned the T0374 Contract.”

Answer: The cover page of the Bid Solicitation was updated to reflect the correct Quote Submission Due Date of October 25, 2024, as outlined in Bid Amendment #1 that was posted in NJSTART on September 18, 2024.

Answer: The State cannot adequately answer this question. It is up to the Bidder to know what type of machinery, facilities and services it requires for the production and distribution of the soap required as part of the Bid Solicitation.

Bid Solicitation Section 1.1 states, in pertinent part: “The purpose of this Bid Solicitation is to solicit Quotes for individually wrapped or boxed facial and body bar soap.”

Please refer to Bid Solicitation Section 4 (Scope of Work) for Bid Solicitation specifications and requirements.

Bidders are advised to thoroughly read all sections of the Bid Solicitation and all attachments and amendments posted under the Attachments tab in NJSTART.

Answer: Please see the answer to Question number 7 above.

Answer: The Contractor from the last bidding cycle was ACCSES NJ.

Please refer to Bid Solicitation Section 1.2, which states, in pertinent part:

“In November 2019, the following Contract for bar soap for DSS was established:

Brand/Model: Fresh Scent/ NJS3W/ New World Number of Bars per Case: 144 bars per case

Bid Solicitation 1.2 further states: “Bidders should not rely upon or use data or information from the Contract referenced above when preparing a response to this Bid Solicitation as this Bid Solicitation addresses the State’s current requirements.”

Note: This question has been paraphrased in the interest of readability and clarity.

Question 1: What products are being requested under this solicitation?

Answer: Individually wrapped or boxed facial and body bar soap. Bid Solicitation Section 1.1 states, in pertinent part: “The purpose of this Bid Solicitation is to solicit Quotes for individually wrapped or boxed facial and body bar soap.”

Please refer to Bid Solicitation Section 4 (Scope of Work) for Bid Solicitation specifications and requirements.

Bidders are advised to thoroughly read all sections of the Bid Solicitation and all attachments and amendments posted under the Attachments tab in NJSTART.

Question 2: What locations are requesting these products?

Answer: DSS. Bid Solicitation Section 4.2 (Delivery Requirements) states, in pertinent part: ” The Contractor must provide contracted item and the delivery of the contracted item directly to Distribution and Support Services (DSS) at the following address:

Department of the Treasury

Distribution & Support Services

1620 Stuyvesant Avenue

West Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0234”

Please refer to Bid Solicitation Section 4.2 for complete delivery requirements.

Question 3: Are the products needed on a monthly basis?

Answer 3: Please see the answer to Question number 6 above.

Answer: The chart listed in Bid Solicitation Section 4.1 states, in pertinent part: “Fragrance: Soap must contain a mild, pleasant fragrance / scent.”

Question: Are any specific ingredients restricted other than antibacterial?

Answer: Please refer to the chart listed in Bid Solicitation Section 4.1, specifically ‘Ingredient Categories’.

Please refer to Bid Solicitation Section 4.1 for complete technical and packaging specifications as well as approved products.

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