PA020-25, Purchase of Sodium Chloride on an Annual Contract

Gwinnett County's Department of Water Resources issued Informal Written Quote (PA020-25) soliciting competitive bids for the purchase of sodium chloride on an annual contract basis. The procuring jurisdiction is Gwinnett County, Georgia (FIPS Code 13135), and the sodium chloride will be utilized to generate sodium hypochlorite for water disinfection and oxidation at two water production facilities: the Lanier Filter Plant (150 million gallons per day capacity) and the Shoal Creek Filter Plant (98 million gallons per day capacity), both located in Buford, Georgia. The estimated annual requirement is approximately 1,000 tons, to be delivered in full truckload quantities within three working days after receipt of order on an F.O.B. Destination basis. The successful bidder must provide sodium chloride in compliance with EPA, American Water Works Association Standard B200, Georgia Department of Health, and NSF/ANSI Standard 60 or Food Chemicals Codex specifications, specifically Morton Salt Culinox 999 or approved equivalent at food grade quality with 99.9% purity; critically, products containing Yellow Prussiate of Soda as an anti-caking agent are not acceptable. The initial contract term is 12 months with four renewal options, and award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible quote. The original submission deadline of June 18, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. was extended via Addendum #2 to Wednesday, June 25, 2025, no later than 2:50 P.M., with the question deadline set for June 11, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. Authorized company representatives must sign all addenda and return them with quote submissions, or bids may be deemed non-responsive.

Responding vendors must meet comprehensive insurance requirements, including commercial general liability with a minimum $2,000,000 general aggregate, automobile liability with $1,000,000 combined single limit, workers' compensation at Georgia statutory limits, and umbrella/excess liability coverage; all insurance companies must carry an A.M. Best rating of A-7 or higher and be authorized to do business in Georgia. Delivery trucks must be self-equipped with discharge bases and all necessary fittings, hoses, and air compressors capable of providing a minimum of 20 psi (up to 25 psi) for unloading into the County's storage tanks, as the County will not provide unloading equipment. All shipments must comply with chemical security requirements, including advance notification of delivery details, driver information, truck registration, seal numbers, and presentation of certificates of analysis and bills of lading at the delivery site. Firms currently on the Gwinnett County ineligible source list are prohibited from submitting offers, quotes, or bids during any period in which they have been debarred, suspended, or placed on the ineligible source list. Pricing must remain firm for the initial 12-month contract term, with bidders required to provide percentage increases or decreases for each of the four renewal options. Notably, all quotes submitted on June 25, 2025, were rejected in their entirety via the Notice of Rejection, with Gwinnett County indicating it may revise specifications and re-solicit the contract in the near future. There is no guaranteed minimum or maximum purchase amount, and the County reserves the right to reject any or all quotes, negotiate terms with the lowest responsive vendor, or split awards based on its determination of best interest.