Citric Acid and Soda Ash

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection is requesting quotes for citric acid anhydrous and sodium carbonate anhydrous (soda ash) under an RFQ with quotes due April 28, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. local time. A tie-bid preference favors in-state bidders or vendors offering commodities produced or manufactured in Maine.

The scope calls for 2,000 pounds each of citric acid anhydrous (CAS 77-92-9) and soda ash (CAS 497-19-8), packaged in 50-pound net bags and shipped to the Maine DEP Response Warehouse at 4 Blossom Lane, Augusta, Maine 04333-0017. Citric acid must meet assay levels of 99–100.5% with specified limits on moisture, arsenic, heavy metals, oxalate, sulfate, and sulphated ash. Soda ash requires minimum sodium carbonate content of 99.6% and sodium oxide of 58.1%, with maximum limits on sodium sulfate, sodium chloride, and water insolubles, plus bulk density of 56.2–65 lbs/ft³. Vendors may submit alternate commodities with complete identification and descriptive literature; failure to provide documentation will be treated as an offer to furnish as specified.

The State reserves the right to increase or decrease quantities by 10%. All transportation charges must be prepaid unless otherwise specified. Awards will be made to the lowest responsible bidder offering best value, considering quality, conformity to specifications, purpose, and delivery date; cash discounts of 20 days or more will be factored into evaluation. The State is exempt from Federal and Maine sales and use taxes; quotes must exclude these amounts. Vendors are prohibited from imposing surcharges on credit or debit card purchases under Maine statute 9-A MRSA 8-303. All questions must be submitted electronically through the Question and Answer link on the Solicitation Details View page.