CONTRACT: Aluminum Sign Blanks

The State of New Hampshire, through its Department of Administrative Services, Bureau of Purchase and Property, has issued Request for Bid (RFB) 2812-24 for aluminum sign blanks. The procurement seeks to establish a statewide contract for aluminum sign blank materials conforming to ASTM B 209 specifications, specifically Alloy 6061-T6 or Alloy 5052-H38, with varied dimensions and thicknesses. The comprehensive product line includes rectangular, square, octagonal, triangular, pentagonal, shield, and round signs ranging from 6" x 12" to 144" x 9", with material thicknesses between 0.08" and 0.091" and corner radius specifications from 1-1/2" to 6". The bid was posted on August 24, 2023, with a closing date of September 13, 2023, at 10:00 AM EST, and questions were due by September 11, 2023, at 4:00 PM. Evaluation criteria primarily focused on lowest bid pricing, with Vulcan Inc. emerging as the low bid responder at $107,185.65, compared to Mandel Metals Inc.'s $114,086.13. The contract term is five years, from February 1, 2024, through January 31, 2029, with potential for two additional one-year extensions.

The procurement does not specify any specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract is open to all eligible vendors meeting New Hampshire registration and compliance requirements. Vendors must maintain comprehensive general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, along with workers' compensation coverage. The estimated annual usage totals 4,695 units across all SKUs, with individual item quantities ranging from 5 to 320 units per year. Pricing is firm and quoted in U.S. dollars on an F.O.B. Destination basis, with biannual price adjustments limited to a maximum of three percent or documented mill price increase. Delivery must occur within sixty calendar days of order placement, and vendors are required to provide quarterly and annual usage reporting. The contract is non-exclusive, allowing the State to retain other contractors and make awards by item or portion. The total potential contract value, based on the bid summary, appears to be approximately $107,185.65 annually, with the possibility of up to five years of procurement.