Hi Vis Safety Hats

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Division of Purchases, on behalf of the Office of Safety and Health, issued Request for Bid (RFB) 605 2300000176 on September 22, 2022, for a master agreement contract to supply high visibility safety hats. The solicitation encompasses four line items: 1,800 solid baseball caps with KYTC logo, 500 knit cap toboggans with KYTC logo, 350 boonie style ranger hats with KYTC logo, and 500 mesh baseball caps with KYTC logo. All items must feature lime-yellow fluorescent coloring meeting ANSI 107-2010 standards and incorporate 3M Scotchlite #8910 silver retroreflective material. Bids were due by October 6, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time through the Kentucky eProcurement system, with a tentative award date of October 21, 2022. The initial contract period runs through September 30, 2023, with four optional one-year renewal periods available. No samples are required at bid submission; samples will be requested only from the highest-evaluated bidder within ten calendar days of notification. Evaluation is conducted on a best value basis with 95 points allocated to price (lowest bidder receives maximum points) and 5 points allocated to delivery time, requiring bidders to specify a firm delivery timeline in calendar days after receipt of delivery order rather than generic terms such as "as required" or "prompt."

Reciprocal preferences apply to Kentucky resident bidders and qualified bidders, including Kentucky Correctional Industries (eligible for a 20 percent preference) and qualified nonprofits serving individuals with severe disabilities (eligible for a 15 percent preference). No incumbent vendor information is identified in the solicitation documents. Price increases are prohibited during the first twelve months of the contract; thereafter, one price increase is permitted based on industry-wide changes with thirty days' written notice and supporting justification. All deliveries must be F.O.B. Destination Freight Prepaid to the receiving agency, with one percent per day deducted from invoices for late deliveries. The quantities listed are estimates only and not guaranteed; the Commonwealth is obligated to purchase only quantities needed during the contract term. All bidders must complete the Annual Required Affidavit for Bidders, Offerors and Contractors and comply with Kentucky campaign finance laws, sales and use tax registration requirements, state tax obligations, and boycott prohibitions as a condition of bid submission.