Master Agreement for Fire Hose

The State of Maine Division of Purchases is requesting quotes for a Master Agreement for Fire Hose under an RFQ with quotes due September 6, 2010. A 5% tie-breaker preference applies to in-state bidders and Maine-manufactured products when quotes are otherwise equal.

All quotes must be submitted electronically through the AdvantageME Vendor Self Service portal by 2:00 p.m. local time on the closing date. Questions are accepted through the Q&A link on the Solicitation Details View page up to 48 hours prior to bid closing; responses are posted for all vendors to access. Vendors must monitor the portal continuously throughout the open submission period and review all posted questions and answers before the submission deadline.

Awards will be made to the lowest responsible bidder on a best-value basis considering quality, conformity to specifications, delivery dates, and overall economy. Pricing must include all transportation charges and freight, with costs prepaid by the contractor. Bidders must exclude Federal and Maine State sales and use taxes from pricing and clearly specify cash discounts and delivery terms; discounts under 20 days are not considered in award determinations. The State reserves the right to reject any or all quotes, waive formalities or technicalities, and adjust order quantities by up to 10% unless otherwise specified.

The contractor must furnish items exactly as specified on the Purchase Order, with any deviations subject to rejection. Manufacturers, importers, suppliers, and distributors of hazardous chemicals must provide current material safety data sheets per Maine's Chemical Substance Identification Law. In cases of default, the State reserves the right to procure materials from alternative sources and charge excess costs to the contractor, though the contractor is not liable for delays caused by strikes, fires, acts of God, or other causes beyond reasonable control.