Shoe leather for production of inmate shoes.

The State of Michigan Department of Corrections issued Request for Proposal No. 180000000597 on January 3, 2018, to procure double butt cow leather for footwear production by Michigan State Industries (MSI). The primary deliverable is shoe leather meeting precise technical specifications, including a weight of 3.5 to 4 ounces per square foot, skin sizes between 10 to 14 square feet, black grain sides with drum-dyed flesh sides, uniform tone throughout shipments, and freedom from defects affecting appearance, structural integrity, safety, and serviceability. The State anticipates ordering approximately 20,000 square feet of leather monthly for delivery on the first business day of each month to the MSI Shoe Factory at 717 Wall Street in Ionia, Michigan, with an estimated three-year usage of 720,000 square feet. Bidders must submit physical samples meeting all specifications by the proposal deadline, with samples labeled and sent to the designated procurement office. The evaluation process occurs in three sequential steps: technical evaluation weighted at 100 points (30 percent for the Vendor Questions Worksheet and 70 percent for the Statement of Work, with a minimum 80-point threshold required to advance), sample evaluation on a pass/fail basis using standardized testing methodologies, and price evaluation for compliant proposals. Critical deadlines include January 11, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern for bidder questions, January 26, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern for proposal submission, and an anticipated contract commencement date of April 13, 2018.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises; however, the State reserves the right to evaluate overall economic impact, including Michigan employment and capital investments, and to consider qualified disabled veteran status in award determinations. Pricing must be quoted F.O.B. Destination with all transportation and handling charges included in the unit price, and the State explicitly reserves the right to conduct price negotiations and will not pay separate freight charges. The contract term is three years with two optional one-year renewal periods at the State's discretion, and pricing is firm for the initial three-year base term with adjustments permissible only during option years upon 60 calendar days' notice and supported by documented cost changes. The contractor must maintain commercial general liability insurance with a minimum limit of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 general aggregate, provide a one-year minimum warranty against manufacturer's defects, and allow a 30-calendar-day correction period for deficient deliverables at no cost to the State. No specific award value or budget range is identified in the solicitation documents, though the estimated total usage of 720,000 square feet over three years provides a basis for bidders to calculate potential contract value based on their proposed unit pricing.