Fuel: Gasoline and Diesel

Pinellas County Schools is seeking suppliers for a fuel procurement contract (ITB #24-AM-008) to provide and deliver gasoline and diesel fuels to various district locations on an as-needed basis. The contract will run from February 9, 2025, to February 8, 2026, with options to renew for two additional one-year periods. The procurement process is a two-phase competitive sealed bid, with unpriced technical proposals due by 3:00 pm on November 27, 2024, and a live reverse auction scheduled for December 13, 2024, at 11:00 am. Suppliers will be evaluated based on their ability to provide four specific fuel types: regular unleaded gasoline, mid-range unleaded gasoline, ultra-low sulfur diesel, and dyed ultra-low sulfur diesel. Pricing will be determined by a fixed differential above or below the daily Oil Price Information Service (OPIS) rack average Tampa Pad 1 terminal cost, with delivery to eight specific locations across Pinellas County including bus compounds and administrative facilities. Bidders must have a local presence at the Port of Tampa and provide written evidence of this qualification.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The district will award the bid to the two lowest responsible bidders for each fuel type, with an estimated contract value of approximately $4,000,000, excluding potential renewal options. Bidders must meet comprehensive insurance requirements, including General Liability, Automotive Liability, and Workers' Compensation Insurance, with specific coverage limits and conditions. The School Board of Pinellas County must be listed as an "Additional Insured" on all policies, with insurance companies required to have a Best's Financial Strength Rating of "A-V" or better. Contractors have a 10-day window to obtain and submit required insurance certificates after contract award. The contract includes provisions for annual price adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index and allows the district to purchase from alternate suppliers if needed. A formal bid protest procedure is in place, requiring protesters to file a notice within 72 hours and submit a formal written protest within 10 days, along with a bond payable to the Pinellas County School District.