Prison Commissary Goods

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Statewide Procurement Division issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 304T-26-680A3.3 on March 26, 2026, seeking vendors to supply prison commissary goods for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice and other state customers. This single-round competitive procurement requires the delivery of three line items: 1,200 cases of illustration boards (Crescent 13406-1038 or CPA-approved equals), 1,200 cases of shaving mirrors (Maryland Plastics MPG3030WHT or CPA-approved equals), and 360 cases of cooling towels (Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad or CPA-approved equals). All products must be new, unused, latest model in current production, properly bar-coded for resale and receiving purposes (UPC-A, UPC-E, or Code 39), and include 90-day warranties or manufacturer's standard warranty, whichever is longer. Samples are required for mirrors and cooling towels and must be submitted to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Contracts & Procurement Department in Huntsville by the April 20, 2026 response due date. Pricing must be submitted on a per-unit-of-measure basis as firm, all-inclusive, fixed prices on the mandatory price sheet, with pricing inclusive of statewide delivery on an FOB Destination basis and a 1.5% Texas SmartBuy administrative fee. Questions must be submitted by April 2, 2026, with CPA responses due by April 6, 2026; final bid responses are due April 20, 2026, at 1:30 p.m. Central Time in Austin, Texas 78774. The initial contract term commences upon Notice of Award and automatically expires August 31, 2027, with one optional one-year renewal that the CPA may unilaterally exercise.

The solicitation documents do not indicate any set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or other protected classes, suggesting this is an open competitive procurement available to all qualified vendors. Respondents must satisfy numerous mandatory certifications covering antitrust compliance, equal employment opportunity, child support obligations, conflict of interest disclosures, debarment and suspension status, felony conviction disclosures, franchise tax compliance, and human trafficking prohibitions. Contractors must maintain proof of insurance with minimum coverage requirements including $1 million commercial general liability and $500,000 automobile liability, and must comply with Texas Department of Criminal Justice security procedures for all facility deliveries. Primary delivery locations are Beeville, Huntsville, and Snyder, Texas, with contractors required to deliver products within specified timeframes after order receipt. Price adjustments are permitted only after the initial contract term based on increases in manufacturer list pricing, with contractors required to submit acceptable manufacturer's price lists or alternate cost documentation (PPI, quotes, or invoices) to qualify for increases. The solicitation does not identify any incumbent vendors or specify contract award values or budget ranges, though pricing will be evaluated as a primary factor in determining the lowest responsive bid.