RFB-26001-1 Office Supplies

Cattaraugus-Allegany Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) is conducting a cooperative bid (RFB-26001-1) for office supplies to be purchased by school districts in Cattaraugus and Allegany Counties, New York. The procurement involves a comprehensive range of office supplies including envelopes, binders, correction products, flash drives, index cards, labels, markers, pens, pencils, Post-it notes, rubber bands, and staplers. The bid requires vendors to submit detailed pricing through an electronic Excel spreadsheet, with specific instructions for product specifications, packaging information, and pricing. Submissions can be made electronically via BidNetDirect.com or through physical sealed envelope submission, with the bid due date set for January 2, 2025, at 3:00 P.M. and a public bid opening scheduled for January 3, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. The contract term will run from February 6, 2025, through February 28, 2026, with BOCES reserving the right to award the bid to the lowest responsible bidder who bids on at least 90% of the items. Evaluation criteria include comprehensive pricing, ability to provide detailed catalog information, and compliance with specified submission requirements.

The procurement does not specify explicit set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Participating school districts include Belfast, Bolivar-Richburg, Cattaraugus-Allegany BOCES, Ellicottville, Friendship, and Hinsdale. Vendors must comply with additional requirements, including providing Material Safety Data Sheets, adhering to sexual harassment prevention policies, and meeting Iran Divestment Act regulations. The bid allows for equivalent or equal brand substitutions and requires vendors to include all freight, packing, and delivery costs within the unit price, with no additional charges permitted. An innovative aspect of the procurement is Appendix D, which allows for flexible catalog pricing for items not covered in the primary pricing schedule, enabling participants to purchase office supplies through a catalog and pricing list mechanism. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the bid suggests a potentially significant procurement value for participating school districts. Vendors must demonstrate the capability to respond to price inquiries within one business day and provide competitive discounts from their current catalog or price lists.