A26-1907 FIRE PROTECTION BUNKER GEAR

The City of Baton Rouge and Parish of East Baton Rouge jointly issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for an annual contract to supply fire protection bunker gear, with an estimated quantity of 175 units each for three line items: coats, pants with belt and suspenders, and hoods. All garments must comply with NFPA 1971, 2018 Edition standards, be manufactured in the United States, and be new and current stock with a one-year written warranty included. Bidders must specify delivery timeframes in days after receipt of order, with F.O.B. destination delivery required to various locations within East Baton Rouge Parish. Pricing must be quoted as unit prices for each item and remain firm for at least 60 days, with payment terms of Net 30 days based on monthly invoices submitted in arrears with no advance payments permitted. The online bidding portal at www.centralbidding.com is the sole acceptable submission method, with all written inquiries due by 5:00 p.m. CST on April 28, 2026, and sealed bids due by 11:00 a.m. CST on May 4, 2026. The contract will be firm for one year with potential extension options into a second and third year by letter agreement executed before contract expiration.

The solicitation includes a strong emphasis on utilization of certified Small, Minority, and Women-owned businesses (MBE/SBE/WBE), with all proposers required to submit a good-faith subcontracting plan demonstrating their commitment to these designations. Contractors submitting bids of $25,000 or more must provide GSA non-suspension and non-debarment certification. The City-Parish is exempt from state and local sales taxes, which should be reflected in pricing submissions. No specific incumbent vendor or budget range was identified in the solicitation materials. The purchasing authority reserves the right to award items separately, grouped together, or on an all-or-none basis, and retains the discretion to reject all proposals if deemed in its best interest.