REQ for pre-qual of vendors for laboratory gases

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners' Purchasing Department is issuing a Request for Pre-Qualification (RPQ) for the supply and delivery of laboratory gases to establish a qualified vendor list on a term contract basis. The procurement seeks vendors capable of supplying Ultra High Purity (UHP) Grade gases—specifically Argon, Helium, and Nitrogen—meeting minimum purity standards of 99.999%, along with Liquid Argon Dewars and replacement cylinders. All cylinders must be delivered within 48 to 72 hours of receiving a delivery order unless otherwise approved in writing by the Purchasing Director, with current delivery designated to Palm Beach County Water Utilities Laboratory at 13026 Jog Road, Delray Beach, Florida 33446, and provisions for the county to add or delete delivery locations during the contract term. Vendors must provide pricing on a firm fixed-price basis per project quotation, with all costs including supervision, labor, equipment, materials, tools, insurance, shipping, handling, transportation, delivery charges, and fuel included in the quoted price. Qualified vendors must maintain Commercial General Liability Insurance at $500,000 per occurrence, Business Auto Liability Insurance at $500,000 combined single limit, and Workers' Compensation coverage in accordance with Florida Statute Chapter 440. The initial pre-qualification submission deadline was April 12, 2024, at 4:00 p.m., and pre-qualified vendors will remain on the qualified list for sixty months or until estimated funding is expended, with new vendors able to submit applications for pre-qualification at any time after the initial deadline for evaluation and addition to the list. Projects equaling or exceeding the Mandatory Bid Amount of $100,000 will be separately solicited through formal competitive sealed bid processes.

This procurement incorporates Equal Business Opportunity (EBO) program requirements with Small Business Enterprise (SBE), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and Women Business Enterprise (WBE) participation goals on a project-by-project basis for individual projects not exceeding $99,999, with certified firms identified at the time of solicitation opening. Local preference provisions allow a 5% discount for vendors with permanent places of business in Palm Beach County or the Glades. The solicitation incorporates extensive federal compliance requirements including Davis-Bacon Act provisions, debarment certifications, drug-free workplace requirements, and Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment certifications for awards exceeding $100,000. F.O.B. point is destination, with the vendor retaining title and assuming all transportation responsibility and risk. While no specific incumbent vendors or budget ranges are identified in the available documentation, the structure allows for individual project awards up to $99,999 under the term contract, with larger projects requiring separate formal competitive sealed bid solicitations.