Furnishing and delivery of work shoes and work boots

The Township of Toms River, located in Ocean County, New Jersey, is seeking bids for a contract to furnish and deliver work shoes and work boots for approximately 125 employees across multiple municipal departments, including Public Works, Clean Communities, Winding River, Custodial Staff, and Bey Lea Garage. The procurement requires vendors to provide a mobile shoe fitting service with safety work shoes and boots that meet ANSI Z41.1 standards, with an employee allowance of $125 per pair. The contract is set to commence on March 10, 2024, for an initial 24-month period, with an option to extend for an additional 12 months. Electronic bids are due by January 25, 2024, at 10:00 am, with an anticipated award date of February 28, 2024. Vendors must offer a comprehensive selection of work shoes and boots from brands like Caterpillar, Timberland, and Keen, and provide a discount off their current catalog pricing. Evaluation criteria will likely focus on responsiveness, responsibility, and the lowest bid price, with vendors required to demonstrate capability in mobile shoe fitting, backorder management, and style replacement.

The bid does not explicitly outline specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises; however, standard federal and state compliance requirements for equal employment opportunity are mandatory. Vendors must provide comprehensive insurance coverage and adhere to various regulatory standards. While no incumbent vendors are mentioned, the contract appears to establish a new procurement approach for work footwear. The total contract value is not explicitly stated, but with 125 employees receiving a $125 allowance, the potential annual expenditure could range between $15,000 to $20,000, depending on actual purchases and employee needs. The procurement includes specific provisions for shoe mobile services, detailed fitting requirements, and management of employee selections, indicating a comprehensive approach to work shoe procurement that balances employee needs with municipal budget constraints. Interested vendors must be prepared to offer a diverse range of safety footwear styles, manage individual employee fittings, and provide flexible ordering and replacement options.