16MAPROMS1 | Conference Space | Catering Services | Hotel Accommodations

This state and local contracting opportunity, identified as 16MAPROMS1, is a procurement issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (ESE) along with other state agencies including Early Education and Care, Children's Trust Fund, and the Executive Office of Education. The purpose of this bid is to establish purchase order agreements with multiple vendors that can provide catering services, conference space, and hotel room accommodations. Bidders can bid on one or more of these categories and must indicate the counties they can service. The initial contract term is four years with no renewal options, and the estimated contract value is $1,300,000. Bidders will be evaluated on factors such as pricing, years of experience, qualifications, references, menu variety, conference room availability and capacity, AV availability, internet connectivity, room rates, licenses, prompt pay discounts, and supplier diversity participation. Pricing will carry significant weight in the evaluation, and bidders must submit their responses via the COMMBUYS website by the ongoing bid opening date of December 1, 2018.

This procurement has set-aside requirements for the Supplier Diversity Program, and bidders must commit a specific percentage of their sales from the contract to be spent with certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Enterprises (SDVOBEs). The Commonwealth may award single or multiple vendors, and reserves the right to require bidders to modify aspects of their bids or conduct interviews prior to award. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed, and the procurement is covered under the World Trade Organization (WTO) agreement.