Sodium Chloride (Bulk Road Salt)

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of General Services (DGS) is soliciting bids for Sodium Chloride (Bulk Road Salt) through Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 6100045558, targeting multiple counties including Beaver County. The procurement is designed to supply road salt for winter maintenance activities across 18 Pennsylvania counties, with a total estimated requirement of 309,592 tons for the 2018-2019 winter season. The contract will commence on or after August 1, 2018, and expire on July 31, 2019, with two optional one-year renewal terms. Bidders must own or provide a guarantee from an approved source listed in PennDOT Publication 35, Bulletin 15, and must meet specific sodium chloride specifications including chemical composition, moisture content, and particle size distribution requirements. The procurement will utilize a reverse auction process, with a live online auction scheduled for June 7, 2018, at 10:00 AM EST, and a final bid sheet submission deadline of June 11, 2018, at 4:30 PM EST. Evaluation will be conducted to identify the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with award made either through the reverse auction or initial bid submission.

The contract includes provisions for COSTARS (Cooperative State and Local Government Purchasing Program) members, with vendors required to pay an administrative fee ranging from $166 to $1,500 depending on business classification. The solicitation includes several set-aside and preference provisions, such as the Reciprocal Limitations Act, which provides preference to Pennsylvania-based bidders and manufacturers. Bidders must complete an Iran Free Procurement Certification for contracts valued at $1,000,000 or more, demonstrating they are not engaged in investment activities in Iran. Small businesses and small diverse businesses may qualify for reduced administrative fees, provided they submit an active Small Business Contracting Program certificate. The contract includes provisions for emergency delivery, non-contract purchases, and supplier performance evaluation. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the estimated total salt requirement of 309,592 tons suggests a significant procurement value, with individual county lots ranging from 3,514 to 77,288 tons and ceiling prices between $55.55 and $81.74 per unit.