Audiology Supplies

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Finance and Administration Cabinet, on behalf of the Cabinet for Health & Family Services, is issuing Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2400000282 for Audiology Supplies to establish a master agreement contract for pediatric audiology supplies serving patients aged 0-21 years across eleven clinic locations throughout Kentucky operated by the Office of Children with Special Health Care Needs (OCSHCN). The procurement encompasses approximately 600+ line items of audiology supplies including earmolds, tubing, hearing aid accessories, cleaning and maintenance equipment, diagnostic tools, electrodes, impression materials, protective equipment, educational materials, and specialized audiology instruments, with certain items designated as brand-specific (such as Welch Allyn Diagnostic equipment and 3M Double Stick Contour Tape) and others permitted as agency-approved equals. Vendors must submit complete bids for all line items on the provided Bid Price Sheet (Attachment C) and include actual unit pricing that incorporates all freight costs on a F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, with deliveries required throughout the year to replenish supplies at the eleven designated clinic sites located in Barbourville, Bowling Green, Elizabethtown, Hazard, Lexington, Louisville, Morehead, Owensboro, Paducah, Prestonsburg, and Somerset. The contract shall be awarded for an initial one-year period with the option to renew for four additional one-year periods at the Commonwealth's discretion, subject to written approval from all parties and potential renegotiation of terms. Evaluation criteria include a best value approach allocating 90 points to price (with the lowest bidder receiving maximum points) and 10 points for delivery performance measured in working days, with all pricing submissions remaining valid for a minimum of sixty calendar days after the bid due date. Vendor written questions are due by December 11, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET, bids are due by December 28, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. ET with bid readings held the same day at 3:30 p.m. ET via conference line, and price increases are prohibited during the first twelve months; thereafter, increases may only be requested if justified by industry-wide price changes with supporting documentation.

Reciprocal preference will be applied to Kentucky resident bidders, and preferential consideration equal to 20 percent of maximum points will be awarded to Kentucky Correctional Industries, with 15 percent preferences extended to qualified bidders including Kentucky Industries for the Blind and nonprofit agencies serving individuals with severe disabilities that employ such individuals for not less than seventy-five percent of direct labor hours. All vendors seeking contract award must execute a notarized Annual Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors confirming compliance with Kentucky campaign finance laws under KRS 45A.110 and 45A.115, and vendors claiming Qualified Bidder or Resident Bidder status must provide supporting documentation including evidence of authorization to transact business in Kentucky, prior year corporate income tax filings, unemployment insurance fund payments, and active workers' compensation policies. The solicitation document does not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors, nor does it disclose a specific contract award value or budget range; however, the breadth of line items and geographic distribution across eleven clinic locations suggests a substantial annual procurement. All proposed pricing must exclude federal excise taxes and Kentucky sales or use taxes, and the Commonwealth reserves the right to reduce contract prices to reflect industry-wide decreases during the contract period. Vendors must comply with all Terms and Conditions outlined in Attachment A and submit a completed Bid Information checklist with their responses.