T1781 Bid Amendment 3 QA 4.12.2021.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

SHEILA Y. OLIVER

Lt. Governor

MAURICE A. GRIFFIN

Acting Director https://www.njstart.gov

April 12, 2021

To: All Interested Vendors {Bidders}

Re: Bid Solicitation # 21DPP00623 T1781 Various Men & Women's Clothing and Footwear For Use In DOC Canteen/Commissary Locations

REVISED Quote Submission Due Date: May 28, 2021 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Bid Amendment #3

The following constitutes Bid Amendment #3 to the above referenced Bid Solicitation:

· This Bid Amendment includes answers to the questions submitted in the initial question and answer time period;

· The Electronic Question and Answer Period has been reopened and the due date for questions is May 7, 2021. Please note that for all additions, deletions, clarifications and modifications to the Bid Solicitation, please refer to the Revised Bid Solicitation titled “T1781 21DPP00623 Bid Solicitation Revised 4.12.2021”.

· Revisions to the Bid Solicitation Checklist.

· Revisions to Exhibit A. Please note that for all additions and modifications to Exhibit A, please refer to the Revised Exhibit A attachment titled “T1781 Exhibit A Revised”;

· Revisions to the Bid Solicitation. Please note that for all additions, deletions, clarifications and modifications to the Bid Solicitation, please refer to the Revised Bid Solicitation titled “T1781 21DPP00623 Bid Solicitation Revised 4.12.2021”.

It is the sole responsibility of the Vendor {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 #21DPP00623 T1781 Various Men & Women's Clothing For Use In DOC Canteen/Commissary Locations

Answers to Questions

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

Section Reference Question (Bolded) and Answer

Answer: It is recommended that users utilize Internet Explorer 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: Yes. Prior to the Quote Opening Deadline, a Vendor {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 Vendor {Bidder} fails to attach a required form or attaches a blank form. To review a submitted a Quote a Vendor {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 1.3.1.1, Exceptions to the NJ Standard Terms and Conditions (SSTC): Questions regarding the SSTC proposed exceptions to mandatory requirements, including the Special and Standard Terms and Conditions in Sections 5 and 9 of this Bid Solicitation must be posed during this Electronic Question and Answer period and shall contain the Vendors {Bidders} suggested changes and the reason(s) for the suggested changes. Additionally, as stated in Section 4.1, General: Quotes including Vendor {Bidder} proposed terms and conditions may be accepted, but Vendor {Bidder} proposed terms or conditions that conflict with those contained in the Bid Solicitation, as defined in Section 2.0 of this Bid Solicitation, or that diminish the States rights under any Blanket P.O. resulting from the Bid Solicitation, may render a Quote non-responsive.

Answer: If your firms small business status is listed as Expired or Revoked by the DORES Small Business Registration and MWBE Certification Services Unit at the date the Quote is received and opened, the Quote submitted by your firm will be considered nonresponsive and will not be evaluated and considered for a Blanket P.O. award.

Answer: By clicking on the below link, you will be directed to the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Small Business Registration and M/WBE Certification Services Unit. Here you can login to your account or apply for certification:

https://www.nj.gov/njbusiness/contracting/sbsa/

Yes, you can apply online. Here is the link to the online application:

https://www.njportal.com/DOR/SBERegistry

Answer: This information has been added to Exhibit A. Please refer to revised Exhibit A titled “T1781 Exhibit A Revised” in the Attachments Tab to review the previous award information.

Answer: Yes, Vendors {Bidders} may bid on one, some or all of the price line items. Vendors {Bidders} are not required to bid on all individual price line items in order to be considered for an award as indicated in Bid Solicitation Section 1.1.

Answer: Section 3.3 Minimum Order Amount of the Bid Solicitation states: “The Vendor {Contractor} must comply with the following minimum order requirements for each category.”

Answer: This information is included in the revised Exhibit A.

Please refer to revised Exhibit A titled “T1781 Exhibit A Revised” in the Attachments Tab to review the previous award information.

Please be advised that pursuant to Bid Solicitation Section 3.3, the State will order any quantity necessary to meet its requirements. No guarantee is made by the State to purchase any amount of product from any Vendor {Contractor}. The State guarantees neither minimum, nor average, nor maximum quantities per order, nor total quantity during the Blanket P.O. term, including any extension(s) thereof pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Bid Solicitation.

Please see the revised Bid Solicitation titled “T1781 21DPP00623 Bid Solicitation Revised 4.12.2021”

The state has listed known manufacturers/brands that meet the States needs for all of the categories and then has listed specific brands such as Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, Reebok, etc. Are bidders only allowed to bid on the brands listed after the known manufacturers/brands that meet the State’s needs, or are other brands acceptable?

Answer: Vendors {Bidders} may offer any brand as long as it meets the specifications in Section 3.0 of the Bid Solicitation. Section 3.0 states in pertinent part, “Each category includes a brief description and specific brands identified by the DOC that have been previously purchased or brands that meet the needs of the prison population… Vendors {Bidders} may offer any brand that meets the requirements of the category.”

The brands listed under each Category in Section 3.0 are known manufacturers/brands that meet the needs of the State.

Answer: With respect to products made in or outside of the USA, awards will be made as per Bid Solicitation Section 1.1, Section 6.7 and Section 7.2, which states, “The State intends to make Blanket P.O. awards to all responsive Vendors {Bidders} for each brand offered per category/price line that meets the category definition and requirements of the Bid Solicitation, including N.J.S.A. 34:6-158 et seq. which requires that a Blanket P.O. for Apparel Production outside of the U.S. will only be awarded if there is no responsive Quote received for Apparel Production within the U.S. and the Commissioner of Labor or designee determines that it is not possible for the State to obtain Apparel produced in the United States which meets the necessary requirements of the State.”

Furthermore, ordering preference will be made to items made in the USA as stated in Section 3.12, which states in pertinent part, “When Using Agencies are purchasing items under the awarded Blanket P.O.s, Using Agencies shall first utilize the brands that have been identified as Made in the USA as awarded under Price Lines 1 through 10. If the brands awarded under Price Lines 1 through 10 cannot meet the requirements at the time of order, then the brands identified as Made Outside the USA, awarded under Price Lines 11 through 20, may be utilized.”

Answer: Yes, Andrew Scott is a known brand that meets the needs for Crew Neck T-Shirts and Athletic/Sleeveless Undershirts.

Please see the revised Bid Solicitation titled “T1781 21DPP00623 Bid Solicitation Revised 4.12.21”

Answer: Vendors {Bidders} may offer any brand as long as it meets the specifications laid out in Section 3.0 of the Bid Solicitation. Section 3.0 states in part, “Each category includes a brief description and specific brands identified by the DOC that have been previously purchased or brands that meet the needs of the prison population. Vendors {Bidders} may offer any brand that meets the requirements of the category.”

Is this solicitation only for category 5 and 8 or the entire solicitation?

Answer:

This Bid Solicitation and price sheet contain ten (10) Categories and twenty (20) price lines identified below:

Made in the USA

Made Outside the USA

Category 5 and Category 8 have been designated as partial Small Business set aside as per Section 4.4.1.4 of the Bid Solicitation. Section 4.4.1.4 states in part, “The Vendor {Bidder} must be registered as a qualifying small business with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Small Business Registration and M/WBE Certification Services Unit by the date the Quote is received and opened.”

Answer: The minimum order amounts are outlined in Section 3.3 of the Bid Solicitation. Section 3.3 states: “The Vendor {Contractor} must comply with the following minimum order requirements for each category.”

Answer: This information is included in the revised Exhibit A.

Please refer to revised Exhibit A titled “T1781 Exhibit A Revised” in the Attachments Tab to review the previous award information.

Please refer to revised Exhibit A titled “T1781 Exhibit A Revised” in the Attachments Tab to review the contract term for each Blanket P.O. under T1781.

Please refer to revised Exhibit A titled “T1781 Exhibit A Revised” in the Attachments Tab to review the previous award information.

Answer: Yes, the revised Bid Opening date is May 28, 2021.

Yes, these documents are mandatory submissions and must be submitted as part of your Quote as per Section 4.4.3 Submittals.

What if the Specification Conformance certification and Price Lists are NOT submitted with the Quote?

If these documents are not submitted with your Quote, your Quote will be deemed non-responsive and you will not be eligible for an award.

Bid Solicitation Revisions

Section Reference Revision

Purpose and Intent The language in Bid Solicitation Section 1.1 has been revised.

Please see revisions to the Bid Solicitation titled “T1781 Revised Bid Solicitation 4.12.2021”

Notable Changes since the last Bid Solicitation The language in Bid Solicitation Section 1.2.1 has been revised.

Scope of Work – Requirements of the Vendor {Contractor} The language in Bid Solicitation Section 3.0 has been revised.

Blanket P.O. Method of Operation

The language in Bid Solicitation Section 3.12 has been revised.

Submittals

The language in Bid Solicitation Section 4.4.3 has been revised.

State-Supplied Price Sheet The language in Bid Solicitation Section 4.4.5.2 has been revised.

Evaluation Criteria The language in Bid Solicitation Section 6.7 has been revised.

Final Blanket P.O. Award The language in Bid Solicitation Section 7.2 has been revised.

New Jersey Is an Equal Opportunity Employer • Printed on Recycled and Recyclable Paper image1.png