Promotional Items (Higher Education Institutions) - Rebid

The North Carolina Division of Purchase and Contract, within the Department of Administration, is soliciting proposals for a rebid of promotional items for higher education institutions under RFP DPC-2464874070-MT, with proposals due November 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET. Participation requires a collegiate license with at least one North Carolina public higher education institution, and awarded vendors serve only the institutions with which they hold valid collegiate licenses.

The rebid supersedes DPC-2373536849-MT. The contract is added to existing Statewide Term Contract #8014B exclusively for higher education, covering the 17 UNC System universities and 58 community colleges. Vendors may price all UNC universities, all community colleges, all 75 public institutions combined, or individual institutions. Scope spans six categories: apparel, bags and totes, drinkware, writing instruments, award and recognition gifts, and other promotional merchandise. Decoration requirements, product features, and sustainability attributes are defined at order, and decoration services may carry separate fees. Royalty fees are excluded from state pricing and negotiated separately with each institution. Bid Addendum 01 removes mandatory line-item or punch-out catalog implementations; vendors may instead describe their proposed catalog, marketplace, or ordering solution.

Pricing uses a uniform discount percentage across all items within each category on standard, commercially reasonable offerings. Discounts to North Carolina must equal or beat those offered to similarly situated governmental entities, including other state contracts, GSA, NASPO ValuePoint, Veterans Administration, and Department of Defense. Vendors may propose volume discounts, tiered pricing, or rebates at spend thresholds. Proposals must use the updated Cost Proposal Workbook dated November 4, 2026 or October 19, 2026 to be considered responsive.

The state estimates annual spend at $6.085 million based on historical State Agency expenditures, though that amount is not guaranteed and no minimum or maximum order quantities apply. The State reasonably estimates university spend will substantially exceed this figure. The contract commences upon final execution and runs through June 30, 2029, with the State holding the option to renew for up to two one-year terms. Delivery is FOB Destination within North Carolina at no charge, with a 95 percent on-time shipment rate and standard orders delivered within ten business days of final proof approval.

Evaluation criteria, in order of importance, are product and catalog offering, technical approach, project organization, vendor experience, customer service plan, and cost proposal. Collegiate licensing verification, sustainability efforts, and implementation and communication plan are pass/fail. Awarded vendors must register with the North Carolina Secretary of State, complete certifications covering financial stability, lobbying activity, and artificial intelligence usage, and provide three customer references and collegiate licensing documentation within seven business days of request.