Bottled Water & Bagged Ice (Disaster)

The City of Fort Myers is soliciting bids for an emergency bottled water and bagged ice contract through ITB 0021-24-ITB, designed to support disaster preparedness and response efforts. The procurement seeks qualified vendors to provide various bottled water sizes including 16-20 oz, 1-gallon, and 5-gallon bottles in purified and spring water varieties, as well as bagged ice in 5#, 7#, 10#, and 40# sizes. Vendors must have been in business under their current company name for at least three consecutive years and demonstrate the ability to respond within 24 hours of a service call with 24/7 availability. The contract term is five years, beginning on the award date, with potential options for city staff pickup or direct delivery within city limits. Evaluation criteria will likely include local preference points (up to 5 points), with vendors located in Fort Myers receiving the maximum 5 points, Lee County vendors receiving 3 points, and non-local vendors receiving 0 points. The proposal submission deadline is May 2, 2024, with bids to be submitted through the OpenGov electronic bidding system.

The solicitation includes robust minority business enterprise (MBE) requirements, with a 15% MBE participation goal and detailed documentation requirements for demonstrating good faith efforts in engaging minority-owned businesses. Contractors must complete multiple federal and state compliance forms, including DBE utilization plans, non-collusion declarations, and affidavits certifying employment eligibility through E-Verify. The City mandates that prime contractors take specific affirmative steps to promote participation of small and minority businesses, including maintaining solicitation lists, actively soliciting minority businesses, and dividing project requirements to maximize their involvement. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the contract is designed to provide flexible emergency procurement capabilities with estimated, but not guaranteed, quantities. Vendors must be prepared to provide comprehensive documentation of their local capabilities, minority business engagement, and compliance with federal procurement regulations, with potential penalties for misrepresentation or non-compliance.