Personal Hygiene and Grooming Products

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts' Statewide Procurement Division is seeking bids for Personal Hygiene and Grooming Products, specifically for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Prison Commissaries Division. The solicitation (IFB No. 304T-25-652A1.1) covers six product lines: Hair and Scalp Conditioner (Hair Dress), Hair and Scalp Conditioner, Mouth Wash (Alcohol-Free), Antifungal Powder, Shaving Cream, and Lip Balm. Each product line has precise specifications, including packaging requirements, container types, product sizes, and case quantities, with expected purchase volumes ranging from 260 to 13,420 cases. Potential vendors must provide products with compatible bar coding for TDCJ scanners, meet specific ingredient requirements (such as 1-2% Tolnaftate for Antifungal Powder and minimum 10 SPF for Lip Balm), and offer brands equivalent to referenced manufacturers like Blue Magic, Softee, and Blistex. The response is due on May 22, 2025, at 1:30 pm Central Time, with questions accepted until May 7, 2025, and vendors must submit product samples to the TDCJ Commissary Warehouse for evaluation. The contract will be awarded on a best value basis, potentially to multiple vendors, with an initial term through August 31, 2026, and options for three additional annual renewals.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract allows for multiple manufacturers and equivalent brands, suggesting a competitive and inclusive bidding process. Vendors must provide comprehensive insurance coverage, including commercial general liability and automobile liability, and pay a 1.5% Texas SmartBuy administrative fee on all purchases. Deliveries will be made to primary locations in Beeville, Huntsville, and Snyder, Texas, with a required delivery timeframe of 30 days after order receipt. While no specific award value is explicitly stated, the mandatory price sheet indicates significant potential volume across the six product lines, with total case quantities exceeding 19,000. Vendors must use the PeopleSoft Strategic Sourcing platform for bidding and be prepared to provide online ordering capabilities through the Texas SmartBuy system. The procurement is conducted by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and primarily serves the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, with all bids to be submitted in US Dollars.