Caustic Soda

The City of Phoenix Water Services Department is seeking sealed offers through an Invitation for Bid (IFB-26-0163) for caustic soda procurement under a five-year contract commencing on or about April 1, 2026. The solicitation covers three specific line items: Caustic Soda 20% (Truckload Delivery) with 50,000 estimated annual dry pounds, Caustic Soda 25% (Small Bulk) with 40,000 estimated annual dry pounds, and Caustic Soda 25% (Truckload Delivery) with 650,000 estimated annual dry pounds. Key qualifications for bidders include a minimum of five years in operation, maintaining National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) certification, compliance with DOT, EPA, and OSHA requirements, and capability to deliver products to all City of Phoenix locations. A non-mandatory pre-offer conference is scheduled for January 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. via Webex, with written inquiries due by January 23, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Sealed bids must be received through the City's Procurement Portal by February 3, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Bidders must submit Safety Data Sheets, NSF certification proof, third-party certified quality analysis, and references.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations, though the City of Phoenix has general Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) requirements under 49 CFR Part 26. Contractors must provide certificates of insurance within 14 calendar days of award notification, including $2,000,000 general aggregate Commercial General Liability and $1,000,000 per occurrence Automobile Liability. Pricing must be submitted on a per-unit (dry pound) basis, with pricing firm and fixed for the initial contract year. Subsequent annual price increases are permitted with 60 days' written notice and supporting documentation, subject to City approval. The City reserves the right to reject any or all offers, award by individual line items or combinations, and potentially award multiple contracts. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the substantial annual quantities suggest a significant procurement value for caustic soda over the five-year contract period.