Cooperative basic school supplies & kits

The Wayne-Finger Lakes Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) and its component school districts in Ontario, Seneca, Yates, Cayuga, and Wayne Counties are conducting a cooperative procurement for basic school supplies and pre-assembled school supply kits for kindergarten through 5th grade. The solicitation, identified as Bid WFL 2026-07, seeks to establish a contract for supplying comprehensive school supply items including scissors, crayons, pencils, folders, notebooks, glue sticks, markers, erasers, headphones, and various zip-lock bags. Bidders must quote prices for 101 kits per grade level, totaling 606 kits, and are required to bid on at least 65% of common school supply items and 100% of school supply kit items to be considered for award. The bid will be opened on July 24, 2025, at 3:00 p.m., with a contract term running from award through June 30, 2026, and potential extensions for up to two additional one-year periods. Evaluation criteria include responsiveness, responsibility, and lowest pricing, with awards planned for the two lowest bidders for common supplies and the lowest bidder for supply kits. Vendors must provide detailed product information, samples, and certifications, ensuring all products meet applicable local, state, and federal regulations.

The procurement allows participation by multiple political subdivisions in New York State, with no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises mentioned in the documentation. The bid is structured in two sections: Section A for specifically listed items and Section B for additional items of unknown type and quantity, with bidders able to offer percentage discounts from catalogs or price lists. Participating districts retain the right to add or remove members during the contract term, providing flexibility in the cooperative purchasing arrangement. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the solicitation indicates a substantial procurement volume with 606 total supply kits across six grade levels. The cooperative procurement is authorized under General Municipal Law Section 119-o, enabling multiple school districts to benefit from consolidated pricing. Vendors are expected to provide high-quality, brand-name equivalent supplies from manufacturers like Crayola, Ticonderoga, Elmer's, and Sharpie, with each kit required to be individually packaged and labeled per grade level. No incumbent vendors are specifically identified in the provided documentation.