Paper, Towels and Toilet (Bid-Discount)

Hillsborough County and the City of Tampa are seeking procurement of paper products, specifically 15,360 rolls of 2-ply toilet tissue and 1,160 cases of multi-fold unbleached towels for various government departments. The Invitation to Bid (ITB) No. 25-P-00407 is scheduled for bid opening at 10:00 am on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, with an initial award period of one year and potential renewals for two additional one-year periods. The City reserves the right to unilaterally extend the contract for up to three additional 30-day periods. Bidders must comply with several key requirements, including E-Verify employment eligibility verification, background checks for employees working on City property, and providing detailed invoicing with specific information. Price escalation is permitted after the first year, limited to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Evaluation criteria include a unique 5% bid discount (up to $10,000) for City of Tampa certified Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) bidders during the evaluation process.

The procurement opportunity includes specific set-aside designations for Small Local Business Enterprises (SLBE), with a minimum certified contact list of eight small local businesses eligible to participate. The SLBE provision offers a competitive advantage through the bid discount mechanism, targeting businesses predominantly located in Tampa, Lutz, and Spring Hill, Florida. Vendors must complete and submit several compliance documents, including the DMI-30 Form tracking subcontractor payments and the DMI-40 Letter of Intent, which must be filed within ten workdays after the notice of intent to award. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the procurement appears to be for ongoing supply of paper products across various government departments. The solicitation emphasizes equal opportunity, non-discrimination, and compliance with federal, state, and local laws, with potential usage extending to other governmental agencies within the Hillsborough County Government Purchasing Council.