PUC25IT076 - MS Surface Laptops 7th Ed.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has issued a Request for Quote (RFQ) for procuring 215 Microsoft Surface Laptop Copilot+ PCs for Business (7th edition), specifically configured with 15" displays, Intel Core Ultra 7 processors, 32 GB RAM, and 512 GB SSD storage. Accompanying each laptop will be a Microsoft Complete for Business Extended Service Agreement providing 4-year coverage, including accidental damage protection, comprehensive parts and labor warranty, and a 3-5 business day response time. The procurement is designed to replace agency laptops with expiring warranties by the end of the current year. Vendors must submit quotes through the OhioBuys platform before 12:00 PM on Friday, June 13, 2025. The solicitation indicates that quotes will be evaluated based on existing State of Ohio contract terms and pricing, suggesting a structured procurement process that leverages pre-established state contract mechanisms.

The RFQ is specifically designated as an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) Set Aside quote request, which implies strict limitations on vendor participation and requires quotes to be based on existing state contract pricing structures such as State Term Schedule (STS) or Master Marketing Agreement (MMA). While the current RFQ shows $0.00 for unit and total costs, this likely indicates that pricing will be determined through existing state contract pricing frameworks. The procurement is being managed by Joel T. McNeal, a Sourcing Planner in the Business Resources - Finance & Services department, located at 180 E Broad Street in Columbus, Ohio. The set-aside designation suggests a deliberate effort to support minority-owned businesses within the state's procurement ecosystem. Although specific award values are not explicitly stated, the procurement's scope of 215 laptops with extended service agreements indicates a substantial technology refresh investment for the agency.