Anthracite Coal

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specifically the Department of General Services, is soliciting bids for an Anthracite Coal procurement contract covering three state facilities: the Reading State Office Building, Eckley Miners' Village Historical & Museum Commission, and the PA Anthracite Heritage Museum Historical & Museum Commission. The contract seeks the procurement of specific anthracite coal types (Rice 7/16 and Buckwheat 1) with precise technical specifications including required Btu content, sulfur content, ash content, moisture content, and volatile matter. Annual coal requirements range from 30 to 100 tons per facility, with a total procurement under 500 tons. The bid is an Established Price contract with an initial one-year term and potential renewal for up to four additional one-year periods. Bids must be submitted electronically through the PA Supplier Portal by June 23, 2015, with evaluation conducted on a single award basis to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Contractors must provide certified data confirming coal properties, allow for potential site visits, and meet stringent delivery and weighing requirements.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly detailed in the provided documentation. The contract appears open to standard commercial coal suppliers capable of meeting the technical specifications. While no incumbent vendors were identified, the solicitation includes provisions for contractors to demonstrate product conformance, including providing certified product data and allowing potential site inspections. The Commonwealth reserves the right to refuse shipments that do not meet specified requirements and can independently verify coal weight and quality. Although precise budget ranges were not specified, the procurement suggests a relatively modest annual spend given the sub-500 ton total requirement. Pricing will be evaluated on a line-item basis, with the contract incorporating submitted bid prices and the Commonwealth maintaining flexibility to pursue alternative procurement methods if deemed in its best interest.