Promotional items on-line catalog

The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) is soliciting proposals for RFP 25-005-M to establish a comprehensive promotional items online catalog and ordering system. The procurement seeks an experienced vendor to design, configure, and host a custom web ordering site for apparel and promotional products that will allow CCBC employees to view available items, custom items, and pricing with promotional specials. Key deliverables include a standalone online catalog system that accepts both credit card payments (for purchases under $1,000) and purchase orders, with ground shipping included in pricing. The evaluation criteria are comprehensive, encompassing customer service (25 points), special service capabilities (25 points), product quality (25 points), delivery procedures (25 points), along with additional points for discounts/rebates, experience, references, and financial strength. Proposal submissions are due on January 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, with vendor questions having been required by January 14, 2025. The initial contract term is one year with potential for four additional one-year renewals at CCBC's discretion.

The solicitation explicitly encourages participation from Minority Business Enterprises, demonstrating a commitment to diverse vendor representation. Vendors must provide detailed technical proposals, including screenshots and comprehensive descriptions of their proposed online ordering system. The estimated annual expenditure for promotional items and apparel exceeds $100,000, though this is not a guaranteed purchasing commitment. Subcontracting is permitted for sourcing promotional items, but the primary contractor must manage the entire process. The contractor will be responsible for sourcing all product information and images, with no third-party vendors allowed to sell directly on the site. The pricing structure requires first-year pricing with good faith estimates for years 2-5, with only first-year pricing being evaluated for the initial RFP award. Future potential exists for integration with procurement systems, though the initial implementation will be a standalone solution. The Creative Services Department will provide logos and branding guidelines to the awarded contractor, ensuring consistent brand representation across promotional materials.