MPA 31 Firearms, Ammunition and Less-Lethal Equipment

The State of Rhode Island, through its Division of Purchases, is establishing a Master Price Agreement (MPA 31) for Firearms, Ammunition, and Less-Lethal Equipment to support state operational needs. This Open Enrollment Vendor Assessment solicitation invites vendors to submit proposals for inclusion on a qualified vendor list, with no guaranteed purchasing activity. Vendors must submit electronic proposals through Ocean State Procures by December 22, 2025, at 3:00 PM EST, with a vendor Q&A period running from November 21, 2025, at 9:15 AM EST through December 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM EST. The initial contract period will span from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028, with potential renewal for two additional 12-month periods contingent on vendor performance and fund availability. Proposals will be evaluated on a Pass/Fail basis, requiring vendors to demonstrate clear capability to provide the requested goods and services. Pricing will be established through individual mini-bids issued by user agencies to qualified vendors, with agencies retaining discretion to select vendors based on relative merit, lowest rates, and availability.

Vendors must comply with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) participation requirements, submitting a completed MBE Participation Acknowledgment Form with their proposal. Insurance requirements include General Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per occurrence and Workers Compensation with $100,000 limits, and vendors must maintain all required state and federal licenses. The State will withhold a 1% contract administrative fee from all purchase orders issued against MPA contracts, as authorized by Rhode Island General Law 37-2-12(b). Proposals submitted without complete responses to the Vendor Certification Questionnaire, Vendor Qualifications Assessment, and MBE Participation Acknowledgment Form may be deemed non-responsive. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the solicitation suggests a comprehensive procurement approach that allows multiple vendors to compete for state agency purchases of firearms, ammunition, and less-lethal equipment through a structured mini-bid process.