Retirement Badges for MSP

The Michigan State Police issued Request for Proposal #220000002678 on July 6, 2022, to procure retirement badges for retiring officers through a competitive sealed bid process. The procurement specifically requires Blackinton model #B2472 retirement badges in two finishes: Rho-Glo silver finish for lower ranks and Hi-Glo gold finish for higher ranks, manufactured with laser-etched specifications and available with either wallet clip or breast pin-and-latch attachment options. The contract encompasses an estimated quantity of 325 units each for silver and gold finishes over a three-year initial term, with possible renewal for up to two additional one-year periods at the State's discretion. All deliveries must occur within 60 calendar days of order receipt, and the badges must include a lifetime warranty with repairs or replacements provided at no cost to the State or recipient. The evaluation criteria allocate 25 points for product quality, 25 points for service and delivery capabilities, 20 points for contract activities, 30 points for vendor background and experience questions, and 5 points for general vendor questionnaire responses, with a minimum threshold of 80 points required to proceed to price evaluation. The original proposal deadline was July 20, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern; however, this deadline was extended to July 27, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. Eastern to accommodate sample submissions via mail to Paula Hurst Thomas at MSP-Purchasing, 7150 Harris Drive, Dimondale, Michigan 48821. Bidder questions were accepted until July 11, 2022, with answers posted by July 13, 2022, and two addenda were issued addressing alternate product submissions and clarifying that only Blackinton badges meet procurement requirements.

No set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises were identified in the available solicitation documents. The mandatory minimum requirement stipulates that the bidder must be the manufacturer or a manufacturer-authorized distributor, with verification to be conducted independently by the State. Blackinton is specified as the preferred manufacturer, though Addendum 2 permits alternate badge products to be submitted if accompanied by sample badges identical to those proposed for contract fulfillment; however, samples must be received prior to the July 27, 2022, deadline and must have the RFP number clearly marked on the exterior of the package, with failure to submit resulting in disqualification. Bidders must maintain Commercial General Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate, Automobile Liability coverage of $1,000,000 per accident, and Workers' Compensation coverage. Pricing must be firm for the entire contract term, with payments made via Electronic Funds Transfer within 45 days of invoice receipt, and service-level agreements impose penalties of $100 per occurrence for the first five delivery failures and $500 for each subsequent failure in a calendar year. The anticipated contract begin date is October 1, 2022, and the solicitation is subject to federal provisions including Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements if applicable, Equal Employment Opportunity compliance, and Byrd Anti-Lobbying Certification for contracts exceeding $100,000. No specific award value or budget range was disclosed in the available documentation.