Glass Spheres for Waterborne Paint

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Procurement Division, acting on behalf of the Department of Transportation, is soliciting bids for glass spheres used in waterborne paint applications through Invitation to Bid (ITB) Solicitation #24PSX0148. The procurement seeks high-quality glass spheres that will be dropped on traffic paints or sprayed upon waterborne pavement markings at designated application rates to produce retro-reflective pavement markings. This contract will replace the existing Contract 19PSX0060 and requires vendors to meet AASHTO M 247-13 specifications and provide Quality Assurance Material Certificates. The bid period opens on December 13, 2024, at 7:30 AM EST and closes on December 24, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST, with a vendor Q&A period from December 13 to December 18, 2024. Vendors must submit questions by December 17, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible qualified respondent based on comprehensive evaluation criteria including pricing, conformity to specifications, past performance, financial responsibility, delivery terms, administrative costs, and life-cycle costs.

The solicitation includes a mandatory extension provision allowing political subdivisions of the state, schools, and not-for-profit organizations to utilize the contract terms and pricing. All vendors are eligible to respond, with no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on enterprise types mentioned. Delivery terms are Free On Board Destination, with payment terms specified by the vendor. The State of Connecticut is exempt from federal, state, and transportation taxes under Connecticut General Statutes Section 12-412. While no specific estimated total contract value is provided, the solicitation requires vendors to submit references from separate organizations and comply with Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles administrative review requirements if commercial vehicles will be used for delivery. Successful bidders must be prepared to provide performance bonds, samples, and various statutory certifications regarding consulting agreements, nondiscrimination, and campaign contributions. Electronic submission is required through the CTsource system, and vendors must be prepared to undergo potential administrative reviews.