Gas, carbon dioxide, food grade, purchase of, term contract

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners' Purchasing Department issued Invitation for Bid #23-046/SM on January 17, 2023, to procure food-grade carbon dioxide gas on a purchase and delivery term contract basis, with bid responses due February 23, 2023, at 4:00 p.m. local time. The solicitation is organized into two lots: Lot #1 covers countywide locations excluding the Glades Area with an estimated annual quantity of 240,000 pounds for delivery to Water Treatment Plants #2 and #8, while Lot #2 covers the Glades Area exclusively with an estimated annual quantity of 1,200,000 pounds for delivery to Water Treatment Plant #11. The procured gas must meet AWWA Standard B510-06 or the latest version, be delivered in insulated tank trucks at 0°F under 300 PSI, and be supplied under firm, fixed pricing per pound that remains constant throughout the initial twelve-month contract term and any subsequent renewal periods. Delivery must occur within seven calendar days of receiving a delivery order, with the successful bidder bearing all transportation costs, freight charges, and risk in transit on an F.O.B. destination basis. The county reserves the right to add, delete, or modify delivery locations and to increase or decrease total quantities as needed without minimum order requirements. Successful bidders must provide three references demonstrating experience providing similar goods within the past three years and submit qualification evidence within two working days of request; the initial contract term is twelve months with options to renew for four additional twelve-month periods under mutual written agreement.

A 5% local preference is available for bidders maintaining a permanent place of business in Palm Beach County, and a 5% Glades local preference applies to bidders serving the Glades Area, both requiring execution of a Certification of Business Location and a valid Business Tax Receipt. The solicitation mandates standard insurance requirements including Commercial General Liability, Business Auto Liability, and Workers' Compensation coverage, as well as E-Verify compliance and documentation of Small/Minority/Women Business Enterprise (S/M/WBE) participation if applicable. No incumbent vendors or existing contractor information was identified in the solicitation materials. Payment is contingent upon the county's acceptance and satisfaction with delivered items, with invoices submitted to the Palm Beach County Finance Department. The specific award value or budget range is not disclosed in the available solicitation documents; however, the estimated annual consumption of up to 1,440,000 pounds combined across both lots provides a basis for bidder cost projections.