Promotional water bags

The Illinois Secretary of State (ILSOS) is seeking bids for promotional water bags through Request for Quote 26-350SOS-EXECO-B-50839, with bids due by January 30, 2026, at 2:00 PM. The procurement involves supplying 15,000 clear, 16-ounce water bags with drinking spouts and silver metal clips, printed with the State Seal and "ILLINOIS SECRETARY OF STATE" text in Pantone color 289C on the front. The water bags must feature specific dimensions of approximately 4.75 inches wide at the bottom and 10.50 inches tall from spout tip to bag bottom, with curved construction tapering to 4 inches wide near the top. All items must be delivered no later than April 15, 2026, via FOB Destination to the Secretary of State's office in Springfield, Illinois, with delivery to a loading dock equipped with a lift gate. Bidders must provide quotes in the specified format with pricing that includes all shipping expenses, and award will be made to the responsive and responsible bidder submitting the lowest total cost. Bidders must maintain General Commercial Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, Auto Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Worker's Compensation Insurance as required by law. Bidders must also comply with all applicable Illinois state certifications and provisions, including prevailing wage requirements if applicable, drug-free workplace certification, and various statutory compliance certifications.

The solicitation does not identify set-aside restrictions specific to business type or size classifications for this promotional goods procurement. However, bidders must comply with Illinois Business Enterprise Program (BEP) and Veterans Business Program (VBP) participation goals, with aspirational targets of not less than 30 percent for minority-owned (MBE), woman-owned (WBE), or disability-owned (PBE) businesses, plus an additional 3 percent goal for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) and veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs). Bidders seeking good faith effort waivers must document all contact attempts with certified vendors and submit a completed U-Plan demonstrating compliance efforts. The previous award for this item totaled $6,840 for the same quantity and specifications, though this price reflected a rush order premium; vendors should reference this historical pricing while noting that the current procurement may yield different costs based on market conditions and delivery timeframes. Items shipped from overseas are accepted as part of this procurement, indicating the opportunity is open to international suppliers. All vendors must be registered with the Commission on Equity and Inclusion if utilizing certified BEP/VBP subcontractors, and contract compliance is mandatory, with failure to meet U-Plan commitments constituting material breach of contract.