Prescription Safety Glasses

The State of Minnesota is requesting proposals on an ongoing contract to supply prescription safety glasses, lenses, frames, accessories, and related services to State employees, participants in the State's Cooperative Purchasing Venture program, and potentially other states, with proposals due October 5, 2026, and questions due September 21, 2026. The State reserves the right to award multiple contractors and may pursue NASPO or other alternative contracts if deemed in its best interest.

Responders must establish and maintain a statewide optical dispensary network with geographic coverage across Minnesota and an online order website compliant with WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. Prescription safety glasses manufacturing capability is required, either internal or through established partnerships. The price schedule in Exhibit D mandates a base frame group offering at least five zero-cost frame styles; responders price additional frame groups and optional accessories (photochromatic lenses, UV protection, blue light filtering, anti-reflective coatings, scratch protection) per specified categories. All work and data storage must be performed within U.S. borders.

The estimated annual contract value is $75,000 to $125,000; this is an estimate with no guaranteed minimum or maximum. The contract term runs November 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with an option to extend up to an additional 28 months in State-determined increments. The contract is non-exclusive with no guaranteed usage amounts.

Evaluation is three-phase: Phase 1 screens for responsiveness and pass/fail requirements; Phase 2 scores acceptance of State terms and conditions (50 points), authorized dispensary network (200 points), frames guide (125 points), VPAT accessibility (25 points), and price schedule (600 points), with up to 120 additional preference points for targeted-group, economically-disadvantaged, veteran-owned, or DEED/DHS businesses; Phase 3 selects finalist(s) on best-value basis. Evaluation and selection are anticipated by October 21, 2026.

Responders must carry Professional/Technical Errors and Omissions and Network Security and Liability insurance at $2,000,000 per claim and annual aggregate, plus Commercial General Liability and Workers' Compensation. Data security compliance includes ISO 27001 certification for cloud services and PCI DSS compliance for cardholder data. Responders must certify Workforce and Equal Pay compliance (required for contracts exceeding $100,000), complete mandatory exhibits and attachments, and submit all documentation through the Supplier Portal.