Cast Iron Fittings

The City of Madison Purchasing Services, acting on behalf of Madison Water Utility, issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ 4816-0-2019-BO) on May 1, 2019, for cast iron pipe fittings. The procurement sought twelve specific line items of cast iron fittings, including 90-degree and 45-degree bends, offset double hubs, reducers, and solid sleeves ranging from 4 to 20 inches in diameter, with a total of 50 units across all items. Materials must strictly conform to AWWA C110-Latest Edition specifications for Class 250 mechanical joint pipe fittings, with specific requirements for cement lining and tarring. Acceptable manufacturers were limited to U.S. Pipe & Foundry, Tyler Union, and Griffin Pipe Products. The solicitation required delivery FOB to Madison Water Utility at 110 South Paterson Street in Madison, Wisconsin, with 24-hour delivery notice. Key deadlines included a May 6, 2019 deadline for submitting questions, with answers provided by May 10, 2019, and a final quotation submission deadline of May 15, 2019, at 1:00 PM CST. The city would evaluate bids based on multiple criteria, including cost, quality, compatibility, warranty, delivery, past performance, and service reputation.

The RFQ incorporated a local vendor preference purchasing policy, which granted scoring preference to local suppliers registered by the bid due date. The procurement demonstrated this preference in action, as evidenced by the award to First Supply LLC, a local vendor, despite not submitting the lowest overall pricing. Three bidders submitted proposals: First Supply LLC (local vendor) at $14,447.32, Core & Main at $13,647.00, and ETNA (another local vendor) at $11,816.09. Bidders were required to indicate delivery timeframes and confirm price firmness for one year from the bid date. The city reserved the right to award the contract to the most advantageous bidder and maintained the option to purchase on the open market and back-charge if delivery commitments were not met. Pricing requirements included all shipping charges, with no payment due until the total shipment was received. Quotation submission methods included email (bids@cityofmadison.com), mail, or fax to the Purchasing Services office.