Beads, glass sphere type III, 80% round retro-reflective

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, Purchasing Department, issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for the procurement of 17,000 pounds of glass sphere Type III, 80% round retro-reflective beads to be used for reflectorizing traffic and airfield marking paints at Palm Beach International Airport runways. The beads must meet Federal Specification #TT-B-1325D with specific technical requirements including transparency, a minimum of 80 percent true spheres by weight, an index of refraction between 1.90 and 1.93, and specified gradation across multiple U.S. sieve sizes. Quotations were due by 4:00 p.m. Palm Beach County Local Time on June 24, 2016, with faxed or emailed responses acceptable. Bidders must provide a Certificate of Analysis from the glass bead manufacturer evidencing federal certification, written authorization from the manufacturer if not the manufacturer themselves, descriptive literature matching the product offered, a non-discrimination policy compliant with Palm Beach County Resolution R-2014-1421, and evidence of qualification including financial resources and satisfactory performance records. All pricing must be firm and fixed on a per-pound basis with prices remaining firm for 90 days from the date of opening. Delivery must occur within ten calendar days of receipt of the term contract delivery order, Monday through Friday between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., with F.O.B. destination required and all shipping, delivery, freight, and handling costs included in the quoted price. The award will be made on an all-or-none basis to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with the contract issued for an initial twelve-month term or until the estimated amount is expended, with an option to renew for four additional twelve-month periods subject to mutual written agreement and appropriation of funds.

The solicitation includes local preference provisions allowing a 5 percent discount to responsive, responsible quoters with a permanent place of business in Palm Beach County or the Glades, contingent upon submission of a valid Business Tax Receipt and completed Certification of Business Location. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were identified in the solicitation documents. The County reserves the right to increase or decrease total quantities as necessary and may submit items to an independent testing laboratory at the bidder's expense to verify specification compliance. No incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified in the available documentation. While a specific budget or award value was not explicitly stated, the solicitation indicates an estimated amount based on 17,000 pounds of glass beads at firm, fixed prices quoted per pound, with the contract value dependent on the awarded bidder's pricing.