Brass Zippers

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Contracts and Procurement Department is soliciting bids for Invitation for Bids (IFB) No. IW190168 to establish a Blanket Purchase Order (BPO) for brass zippers to be used at the Hughes Unit Garment Factory. The procurement seeks specific brass zippers with single auto-locking sliders, die cast zinc with a golden brass finish, 9/16" black tape width, and separating/left-hand insert configurations. Required zipper lengths include 23" (+/- 1") (12,000 units), 28" (8,000 units), 24" (20,000 units), and 26" (20,000 units), with reference brands including YKK (RGOL-56 DA8 G) and Wawak (BZ-5-28, BZ-5-24, BZ-5-26). The bid opening is scheduled for January 23, 2025, at 3:00 P.M., with vendor questions due by January 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM (CST). The initial contract term will run from the award date through August 31, 2025, with four optional one-year renewal periods available through August 31, 2029. Delivery terms are F.O.B. destination, prepaid and allowed, to the TDCJ Hughes Unit Garment Factory in Gatesville, TX, with orders to be placed on an "as needed" basis, approximately twice per year with an average order size of 20,000 zippers.

No specific set-aside designations or restrictions on bidder types are mentioned in the solicitation documents. The procurement requires vendors to have Texas Identification Numbers (T.I.N.S.) and Federal Employer Identification Numbers (EIN), with electronic bid submissions preferred via BIDS@TDCJ.TEXAS.GOV (limited to 10 MB attachments) and hard copy submissions also accepted. Vendors must comply with strict security requirements for deliveries to correctional facilities, including mandatory security escorts and vehicle searches. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the estimated annual quantity suggests a significant procurement value, with approximately 60,000 zippers to be purchased annually. Evaluation criteria will likely include pricing, product specifications, ability to meet delivery requirements, and compliance with the detailed terms and conditions outlined in the solicitation documents. Bidders must be prepared to provide agency-approved equivalent products if exact reference brands are unavailable and demonstrate the capability to meet the precise technical specifications for zipper construction and performance.