Car Seat (DGS-OTA)

The California Department of General Services Procurement Division, on behalf of the California Department of Public Health, is seeking to procure 1,496 convertible car seats through Invitation for Bid (IFB) #0000001123. The solicitation requires car seats with specific technical specifications, including a minimum weight capacity of 5 pounds or less for rear-facing use, a maximum harness limit of at least 65 pounds, and an upper weight limit of at least 40 pounds for rear-facing position. Reference brands include the Evenflo SureRide DLX and Britax USA Marathon ClickTight Convertible Car Seats, though alternative brands meeting the detailed specifications may be proposed. The procurement timeline includes a question submission deadline of April 26, 2016, with bids due on May 3, 2016, at 2:00 PM PST. Delivery of the car seats is required in May and June 2016, with final shipments no later than June 15, 2016, to multiple distribution locations throughout California. Pricing must be F.O.B. Destination, Freight Prepaid, with all costs included except sales tax, and the Department of General Services retains discretion to award the contract immediately upon director approval.

The solicitation includes specific preferences and set-aside provisions for California-certified small businesses, offering a 5% preference for qualified small businesses or non-small businesses that can demonstrate at least 25% California certified small business subcontractor participation. The Alternative Protest Process under Public Contract Code 12125 is incorporated into the bid terms. While no incumbent vendors are explicitly named, the bid documents provide detailed technical specifications that potential vendors must meet, including requirements for shoulder harness adjustments, removable head and body pillows, and specific weight and size constraints. The procurement is part of agency purchase estimate 15-CPH-2209, with the agency billing code 83118. Potential bidders should note that not all car seats will meet the stringent requirements, as demonstrated by the explicit rejection of the Cosco Mighty Fit DX car seat due to non-compliance with specific technical specifications. The procurement official is Stacey Jaramillo-Solis, who can be contacted at 916-443-9614 for further information about the solicitation.