Notice of Intent to Award-RFP 180000001471 Book Jobber

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) issued Request for Proposal (RFP) 180000001471 for a Library Collection Materials Vendor (Book Jobber) to establish a contract for streamlined book and library materials purchasing services. The procurement sought a single point of contact for library material acquisitions, with the solicitation posted on SIGMA VSS on March 1, 2018, and proposals due by March 21, 2017. Three vendors submitted proposals: Baker & Taylor LLC, The Emery-Pratt Company, and Mackin Book Company. The evaluation process utilized weighted technical criteria including Prior Experience with Libraries (25%), Qualifications (25%), Project Plan (20%), Overall RFP (15%), and Price Proposal (15%). Proposals were comprehensively scored, with The Emery-Pratt Company receiving the highest total score of 95/100, compared to Baker & Taylor's 86/100 and Macklin Book Company's 65/100.

The RFP did not specify explicit set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organizations. The awarded vendor, The Emery-Pratt Company, proposed a competitive pricing structure that includes a 40% discount on trade discounted material, 15% on technical and reference material, and 3% on non-discounted material. Additional service fees include a $5 minimum per box plus shipping fees for drop-shipments. The contract was awarded with a total value of $150,000.00, selected based on the best combination of technical evaluation criteria, specific experience with State Library work, broad publisher base, and competitive pricing. No information was provided about incumbent vendors or existing technology infrastructure requiring integration. The procurement process focused on selecting a vendor that could provide comprehensive, efficient library material purchasing services for the Michigan Department of Education.