MPA 618 OE Institutional Kitchen and Laundry Major Equipment

The State of Rhode Island Division of Purchases is conducting an Open Enrollment (OE) Master Price Agreement (MPA) solicitation to establish a list of qualified vendors for institutional kitchen and laundry major equipment. The procurement (OEV23002683) seeks brand new equipment including refrigerators, ovens, stoves, steamers, washers, dryers, dishwashers, microwaves, and related institutional kitchen and laundry appliances. These goods will be available for purchase by state agencies, quasi-agencies, cities, and towns within Rhode Island. The solicitation is open from April 6, 2023, to April 2, 2025, with an initial three-year contract period beginning approximately March 1, 2023. Vendors will be evaluated on a pass/fail basis and must submit comprehensive proposals through the Ocean State Procures system, including a Vendor Certification Questionnaire, Vendor Qualifications Assessment, and MBE Participation Acknowledgment Form. When specific equipment needs arise, agencies will conduct mini-bids among the qualified vendors, requesting quotes and potentially giving preference to vendors with the lowest rates.

The solicitation includes specific requirements for Minority, Women, and Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE/VBE) participation, mandating that at least one of three quotes for specific projects must come from certified vendors if available on the qualified vendor list. Vendors must maintain specific insurance coverages, including $1 million in general liability, $100,000 in workers compensation, and $1 million in automobile liability coverage. A 1% contract administrative fee will be assessed on all purchase orders to support the state's eProcurement system. While no specific award value or budget range is explicitly stated, the open-ended nature of the solicitation suggests flexibility in potential contract values. The State reserves the right to make single or multiple awards, reject any or all bids, and remove vendors from the qualified list if they are non-responsive to agency requests. Political subdivisions, including municipalities, higher education institutions, municipal/state schools, and quasi-public agencies, are authorized to utilize this agreement, with ordering and billing conducted directly between the vendor and the subdivision.