Inmate Bedding

The Louisville Metro Department of Corrections is seeking a comprehensive inmate bedding supplies contract, encompassing eleven distinct categories of products including mattresses, pillows, sheets, towels, storage boxes, suicide watch sleeping bags, and institutional furniture such as benches, cots, bunks, and molded stackable bunks. Potential proposers must submit product samples for mattresses, pillows, sheets, and towels, along with a company profile and three references from jails with average daily populations exceeding 1,000 inmates. The procurement will utilize a competitive negotiation process with specific evaluation criteria: quality of product (50 points), delivery (40 points), and price (10 points). The solicitation timeline includes a question-and-answer period closing on January 7, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., with final proposals due on January 16, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. Proposers must commit to delivering catalog items within ten days of order placement and provide pricing on an FOB Delivered basis with no additional shipping charges, with prices remaining firm for six months after the proposal closing date and the first year of contract execution.

The contract opportunity includes several preference designations and diversity requirements, specifically mandating Good Faith Efforts with diversity goals of 15% for Minority Business Enterprises, 5% for Female Business Enterprises, and 0.5% for Historically Black Enterprises. Additional preferences include a 5% price reduction for minimum wage businesses paying at least $10.10 per hour and a 5% reduction for local vendors established in the Louisville Metropolitan Statistical Area for twelve consecutive months. The contract may be renewed annually for up to five years, with the Metro Government retaining the right to issue separate proposals during the contract term. Vendors must comply with Louisville Metro Ordinances regarding affirmative action in employment and subcontracting, and must complete "ban the box" certification regarding criminal history inquiries in initial employment applications. While no specific total contract value is listed, proposers must be prepared to supply comprehensive institutional bedding and furniture across multiple product categories, with potential for primary, secondary, and tertiary awards based on the evaluation process.