Notice of Intent to Award for ITN 190000000013.

The Michigan Department of Corrections issued an Invitation to Negotiate (ITN 190000000013) for the procurement of NES Boots, specifically Rocky Boots authorized distributorships for use by officer recruits in the MDOC Training Division. The ITN was posted on SIGMA on December 7, 2018, with proposals due on December 14, 2018. The required footwear must meet specific technical specifications including leather uppers, lightweight non-insulated three-season construction suitable for indoor and outdoor conditions, protective non-metal black polish toe, non-marking rubber lug soles for traction, and availability across a wide range of sizes. Two proposals were received from Arrow Safety Device (Selbyville, Delaware) and Uniform Manufacturing Inc. (Scottsdale, Arizona). The evaluation process determined that neither bidder met the mandatory requirements of being responsive and responsible, as neither offered an authorized manufacturer distributorship for Rocky Boots and both submitted prices exceeding the intended source pricing. The procurement was open to all qualified vendors capable of serving as authorized distributors for the specified footwear.

There were no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged or Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses noted in this procurement, though the evaluation noted that neither responding bidder held such certifications. Following the evaluation of the two submitted proposals, the award was recommended to Rocky Brands, DBA Lehigh Outfitters LLC, the sole authorized distributor of Rocky Boots, as they were determined to be the only viable option meeting the State's mandatory requirements and intended source parameters. The State indicated its intention to enter into contract negotiations with the awarded contractor to finalize terms and conditions. No specific contract value or budget range was disclosed in the award documentation. Cathy Carr, identified as the Solicitation Manager, serves as the point of contact for inquiries regarding this procurement.