Replenish specialty paper

The Illinois Secretary of State (ILSOS) is soliciting bids for the replenishment of specialty paper supplies through Request for Quote 26-350SOS-COMM3-B-50973, with bids due by February 11, 2026. The procurement consists of four line items: 300,000 units of 17.5 x 22.5 white smooth finish Husky Opaque Offset weight 60# paper; 75,000 units of 11 x 17 white R-bond weight 24# paper featuring a centered State Seal watermark (visible only when backlit with the seal measuring 4.75 inches in diameter); 100,000 units of 11 x 17 white recycled long grain weight 20# paper with 30% recycled content; and 100,000 units of 11 x 17 goldenrod uncoated offset weight 20# paper, which vendors may alternatively fulfill using 60# vellum or by cutting and repackaging 23x35 50# stock. All products must be delivered to 319 N. Klein Street, Springfield, Illinois (accessible via the northwest corner of Mason & Rutledge Street) no later than four weeks after order placement, via FOB destination delivery with pallet acceptance; the receiving facility maintains its own forklift equipment. The contract term extends from execution through June 30, 2026, with a maximum total term not to exceed ten years. Awards will be made by line item to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with pricing to include all shipping costs and subject to standard Illinois certifications, prevailing wage requirements, equal opportunity provisions, drug-free workplace compliance, and statutory obligations. Multiple vendor Q&A documents have been released addressing technical specifications and delivery logistics, with the ILSOS noting that only the current incumbent provider may submit bids due to seal artwork unavailability and time constraints, though the successful bidder will receive the graphic file post-award for watermark placement.

The solicitation does not specify set-asides or restrictions limiting responses to particular enterprise designations, though standard Illinois compliance certifications and prevailing wage provisions apply as applicable. The incumbent vendor information is referenced under previous purchase order number 25-350SOS-COMM3-P-77685 in BidBuy, though notably the ILSOS has restricted bidding eligibility to the current provider only due to the proprietary nature of the State Seal artwork and insufficient time for alternative mill quotations prior to bid opening. Vendors must maintain general commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and worker's compensation coverage as required by law. The RFQ confirms this is designated as a one-time purchase requirement, and while the State reserves the right to reject any or all bids and is not obligated to award a contract, no specific budget range or maximum contract value is disclosed in the procurement documents, with the State noting that total maximum amounts will be entered prior to contract execution. Interested vendors should monitor BidBuy for addenda and submit bids to Aaron Reuben at areuben@ilsos.gov by the February 11, 2026 deadline.