Copy Paper

Tacoma School District No. 10 in Pierce County, Washington, is conducting a sealed bid solicitation for the procurement of district-wide copy paper. The District seeks approximately 2,520 cases of copy paper (three truckloads of approximately 840 cases each) with specifications of 8" x 11", 20lb Bond, 92 Brightness paper palletized for delivery. The solicitation requires samples of four reams submitted by February 5, 2026, at 2:00 PM PST via the Bonfire electronic bidding platform, with sealed bids also due on the same date and time. Key deadlines include a vendor questions deadline of January 27, 2026, at 4:00 PM PST with answers posted by January 29, 2026. The District anticipates contract award by February 12, 2026, and pricing must be submitted on an FOB Destination basis with all freight prepaid and taxes excluded. The contract will be awarded to the single lowest-cost responsive and responsible bidder, with evaluation criteria prioritizing cost competitiveness and bidder responsibility. Deliveries will consist of three staggered truckloads to the Purchasing Warehouse at 3321 South Union Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98409 via dock-to-dock delivery, with a preferred lead time of 21 calendar days or less from order date and an acceptable maximum of 60 calendar days. Late delivery penalties will be assessed at one percent of order value for deliveries after 60 days and two percent for deliveries after 67 days, with possible contract termination for deliveries exceeding 71 days.

The solicitation documentation does not reference any specific set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendors. The District explicitly excludes Natural Choice brand and Staples standard brand SKU# 324791, while identifying Comet Multi-Purpose Paper U31473 as an approved acceptable brand alternative. Bidders must provide their Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or Social Security Number and Washington UBI# to receive payment, and pricing is guaranteed for three months from the contract date. The District reserves the right to reject any or all bids and may return defective or damaged paper at no cost with the option to exchange for higher-quality paper at no additional charge. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available solicitation documents; however, bidders must understand that poor performance, including late deliveries, may result in contract termination and that the District has the right to assess penalties and terminate the contract based on delivery performance metrics.