Chemical Agent Detectors

The Commonwealth of Kentucky Department of Military Affairs, on behalf of Casey County, issued Request for Bid (RFB) 758 2000000001 on July 10, 2019, for the procurement of eighteen ChemPro 100i Chemical Agent Detector units or approved equivalents. Each detector unit must be complete with standard accessory kits including test tubes, power supplies, carry pouches, filter sets, alkaline battery packs, manuals, and hard carry cases, and must utilize open-loop ion mobility spectrometry technology capable of detecting VX and sarin nerve agents and sulfur mustard blistering agents while providing visual displays and auditory alarms. Beyond equipment delivery, the successful vendor must conduct on-site training in nine CSEPP counties (Clark, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Jackson, Jessamine, Laurel, Powell, and Rockcastle) with three-hour evening sessions. The procurement also includes a second line item for trade-in credit on eighteen existing MSA HAZMATCAD units currently held by the Department of Military Affairs since June 2009. Vendors submitting alternate brands or specifications must provide descriptive literature for equality verification. The solicitation was evaluated on a best value basis using three measurable criteria: Total Price for New Units (100 points), Highest Trade-In Price per Unit (100 points), and Delivery (10 points), for a total of 210 possible points. Written vendor questions were due by July 16, 2019, at 4:30 p.m. ET, and sealed, hard copy bids were due by July 24, 2019, at 1:30 p.m. ET at the Office of Procurement Services in Frankfort, Kentucky.

Vendors claiming Kentucky resident bidder status were required to submit an annual affidavit certifying compliance with Kentucky statutory requirements regarding campaign finance laws, sales and use tax registration, state tax obligations, boycott prohibitions, and ethics restrictions, while nonresident bidders were required to provide their certificate of authority from the Secretary of State. Qualified bidders, including Kentucky Correctional Industries and Kentucky Industries for the Blind, were eligible for preference points equal to 20 percent and 15 percent of maximum points respectively. All pricing was required to be quoted F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed, excluding federal excise tax and Kentucky sales or use tax, with payment expected within 30 working days of invoice receipt. The solicitation did not specify an initial contract period, renewal clause, or estimated quantities, indicating the Commonwealth would purchase only what was needed by its agencies during the contract term. No specific award value or budget range was disclosed in the procurement documents.