Ginned Cotton Staple

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Contracts and Procurement Department has issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) number IW211563 for the procurement of ginned cotton staple, specifically seeking 45,000 pounds of high-quality cotton staple for their Smith Unit Mattress Factory in Lamesa, TX. The procurement requires cotton staple in "HD" form with strict quality specifications, including 4 leaf or less trash content, not exceeding 60CLBs, and being completely free from water damage, mold, mildew, or odor. Bid submissions are due by March 12, 2025, at 3:00 PM, with electronic submissions preferred via email to BIDS@TDCJ.TEXAS.GOV. Potential vendors must submit any questions by February 28, 2025, at 10:00 AM (CST), and must be prepared to deliver goods F.O.B. destination, prepaid and allowed. The evaluation criteria will focus on price, quality, delivery terms, and past vendor performance, with the contract to be awarded on a best value basis. Vendors must also comply with specific security requirements for deliveries to correctional facilities, including potential security escort protocols and strict contraband restrictions.

While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises were explicitly mentioned in the documentation, vendors must be prepared to meet rigorous security and quality standards for delivering materials to a correctional facility. The procurement appears to be open to qualified vendors who can meet the technical specifications and security requirements. Pricing details and specific budget ranges were not explicitly stated in the available documentation, though the volume of 45,000 pounds suggests a potentially significant contract value. The procurement is specifically for the TDCJ Smith Unit Mattress Factory, indicating this is a targeted, specialized procurement to support the operational needs of a specific correctional facility. Vendors should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide high-quality ginned cotton staple that meets the precise specifications outlined in the IFB, with a focus on material quality, delivery reliability, and compliance with correctional facility procurement protocols.