Rain Gear - Pants/Jacket - Contract

The State of Maine Division of Purchases is requesting bids on rain gear (pants and jackets) for the Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, with bids due August 11, 2009 under solicitation RQS176. The contract begins immediately and runs through August 31, 2010, with two optional one-year renewal periods.

The scope calls for Dutch Harbor rain gear or approved equivalent products in an estimated quantity of approximately 50 units across all sizes. The successful bidder must conduct thorough inspections of all garments before shipment and assume responsibility for repairs or replacements of defective items. Delivery must occur within 10 business days of order receipt.

All pricing must be submitted as net costs including prepaid transportation charges and delivered FOB destination, with prices remaining firm throughout the contract duration. The State of Maine requires all vendors to accept the State Procurement Card as a payment method with no surcharge allowed. Vendors are subject to a 1% anti-sweatshop fee applied to the total contract or purchase order value, payable within 30 days of purchase order execution or within 30 days following each calendar quarter for term contracts.

A notarized Code of Conduct anti-sweatshop affidavit is mandatory and must be faxed by the bid deadline. Bidders must certify that they and their suppliers at the point of assembly comply with applicable workplace laws, including wage, health, labor, environmental, and safety regulations, and must provide the complete physical locations of plants where clothing is assembled.

Bids must be submitted through the Vendor Self Serve (VSS) system. The State reserves the right to reject any bids that do not meet specifications, consider approved equivalent products, and cancel contracts with 30 days written notice or immediately if terms and conditions are not met. In-state preference applies where tied bids occur.