Fabric - poplin & twill

The South Carolina Department of Corrections issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) 5400022577 for a one-time procurement of specialized fabric materials for prison industries apparel production. The solicitation requires the purchase of 240,000 total yards/units of fabric, specifically 130,000 yards of orange poplin, 50,000 yards of orange twill, 20,000 yards of granite green poplin, 20,000 yards of granite green twill, and 20,000 yards of green lake poplin. All fabrics must meet precise technical specifications, including a 65% polyester/35% cotton blend, specific Pantone color requirements (17-1464 TCX for orange, 16-5907 TCX for granite green), and comply with ASTM standards for tensile and tear strength. The fabric must be pre-shrunk with crease-resistant and soil release finishes, with a maximum 1% shade variance. Delivery requirements mandate that all materials be delivered within 120 calendar days of purchase order receipt, with deliveries restricted to Monday through Thursday between 8:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at the Prison Industries Apparel Plant in Bishopville, South Carolina. The original bid opening was scheduled for January 18, 2022, which was amended to January 21, 2022, at 10:00 a.m., with award posting scheduled for January 26, 2022.

The procurement was issued under Procurement Exemption #2 for Prison Industries Raw Material, which specifically prohibits subcontracting and requires vendors to be textile industry suppliers. Vendor registration with the State of South Carolina is mandatory, and suppliers may be required to submit samples within seven days to verify product specifications. The solicitation is non-protestable and does not apply to disadvantaged enterprise set-asides or preferences. The contract was ultimately awarded to Club Tex Inc., located in New York, with a total contract value of $462,600.00, broken down across different fabric types with unit prices ranging from $1.84 to $2.14 per yard or unit. Pricing included $239,200.00 for orange poplin, $107,000.00 for orange twill, $36,800.00 for granite green poplin, $42,800.00 for granite green twill, and $36,800.00 for green lake poplin. The State reserves the right to test materials for compliance and requires replacement of any non-conforming materials within 30 days. Award was to be made to the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with the procurement managed by Ruthie H. Bishop, CPPB, Director of Procurement.