Multi-Step ITB - Purchase of Polymer Flocculent

Clean Water Services (District) is conducting a multi-step Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the purchase of polymer products to be used at its wastewater treatment facilities. The procurement seeks polymer materials specifically for dewatering anaerobically digested sludges via centrifuges, thickening primary and secondary sludges, and liquids clarification of secondary effluent. Vendors are required to submit their polymer products for comprehensive bench and performance testing at the District's Rock Creek and Durham facilities prior to the bid process. Only vendors whose products successfully pass performance testing will be invited to submit price bids, which are due by 2:00 p.m. PST on June 6, 2022. The District will compensate vendors $3.140 per active pound for trial product supplies used during performance testing. The contract term is initially set for one year, beginning July 1, 2022, with options to renew for up to two additional one-year periods. The District reserves the right to award multiple contracts and may reject bids not meeting specified procedures or cancel the solicitation if deemed in the public interest.

While no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on bidding organizations are mentioned in the documentation, the procurement appears open to qualified polymer product suppliers capable of meeting the District's technical specifications. The competitive process emphasizes product performance over vendor characteristics, with a rigorous testing protocol serving as the primary qualification mechanism. The District indicates potential for multiple contract awards, suggesting flexibility in vendor selection. No incumbent vendors are explicitly identified in the available documentation. The estimated contract value is not directly specified, but the procurement involves polymer products for multiple wastewater treatment facilities, indicating a potentially substantial annual procurement. The multi-step testing and bidding process underscores the District's commitment to securing high-quality polymer products that meet precise technical requirements for sludge processing and wastewater treatment operations.