Athletic Supplies

The State of Delaware, specifically the New Castle County Vo-Tech School District, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for comprehensive athletic supplies under Contract No. 2608. The procurement seeks vendors capable of providing all equipment, materials, and labor necessary to supply athletic goods across thirteen sports disciplines, including football, field hockey, soccer, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, track and field, baseball, softball, lacrosse, and golf, serving four schools within the district. Deliverables encompass fall, winter, and spring sports equipment ranging from protective gear (mouthpieces, kneepads, girdles, protective pads) to sport-specific items (NFHS-approved footballs, volleyball nets, goals, scoreboards, and training aids), with vendors required to provide detailed unit pricing for all itemized products per school and combined totals. The RFP was released on March 31, 2026, with written questions due by April 2, 2026, and proposals due on April 22, 2026, at 3:00 PM local time. The mandatory pre-bid meeting has been waived. Evaluation will be scored on three criteria: pricing of items on the specification sheet (70 points), discount percentage on unlisted items (20 points), and rewards program value (10 points). All prices must be submitted on F.O.B. destination basis with freight prepaid and include all charges for the contract period. The initial contract term runs fourteen months from April 28, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with three optional one-year renewal periods available through negotiation, and the State reserves the right to extend on a month-to-month basis for up to three months following the full contract term.

The procurement does not contain explicit set-aside restrictions, though the State indicates the contract may be awarded to minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, or service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, with optional Office of Supplier Diversity certification available. Vendors must meet mandatory insurance requirements including Workers' Compensation, Commercial General Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence/$3,000,000 aggregate, and Automotive Liability Insurance. Submission requirements include four paper copies and one electronic copy of the proposal via flash drive or USB, with original signatures required on the master copy. The State reserves the right to award to multiple vendors and may conduct best and final offer negotiations. Monthly usage reports and quarterly subcontracting/diversity supplier reports are required throughout the contract period. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the RFP documentation, and no incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. Contract award is expected within 90 days of bid opening.