Sodium chloride, solar salt quality, bulk delivery

This Invitation for Bid (IFB) issued by the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, Purchasing Department, seeks qualified vendors to supply and deliver sodium chloride in solar salt quality or greater for use by Palm Beach County Water Utilities. The procurement requires granular sodium chloride meeting ANSI/AWWA B200 standards, with an estimated 12-month contract value of $451,800 based on 3,600 tons of material. Bulk delivery via pneumatic tanker trucks is required to two current locations: Water Treatment Plant #2 (2,400 tons estimated) and Water Treatment Plant #8 (1,200 tons estimated), with the County reserving the right to modify delivery locations throughout the contract term. Delivery must be completed within three calendar days of receiving a term contract delivery order, and all bulk shipments must be accompanied by certified weight tickets. Bidding pricing must be submitted as a single, fixed unit price per ton, with all associated costs including supervision, labor, equipment, materials, transportation, and delivery incorporated into the quoted price. Qualified bidders must provide three references for similar work completed within the past three years, evidence of required insurance coverage including Commercial General Liability and Business Auto Liability of $500,000 each, and Workers' Compensation insurance, along with a valid Palm Beach County Business Tax Receipt and compliance certifications for Drug-Free Workplace and Non-Discrimination Policy requirements. The bid submission deadline was June 16, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. local time, and the awarded contract will commence for an initial 12-month term with options to renew for four additional 12-month periods subject to mutual written agreement and fund appropriation.

This solicitation includes a minimum 15 percent Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation goal with provisions for scoring adjustments based on SBE responsiveness. No specific incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified in the solicitation documents. The successful bidder will assume full responsibility for product quality verification and removal of non-conforming materials at no cost to the County, along with potential independent testing laboratory costs for quality verification. Criminal history background checks are required for all unescorted personnel entering designated critical or criminal justice information facilities. The County is tax-exempt and will not pay sales tax on any deliveries. The estimated contract value is $451,800 for the initial 12-month term, based on 3,600 tons of sodium chloride delivery, with the potential for substantial increases across the four optional renewal periods if exercised.