Sodium hydroxide 25%, purchase and delivery, term contract

Palm Beach County, Florida issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) numbered 16-040/ZG for the purchase and delivery of Sodium Hydroxide 25% (Caustic Soda) under a term contract with a submission deadline of June 2, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. local time. The procurement seeks to establish a supply contract for sodium hydroxide meeting ANSI/NSF Standard 60 and AWWA Standard 8501-8 certifications with a composition of 24.5%-25.5% by weight and a specific gravity of 1.263-1.285 at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Two items are included in the bid: Item 1 covers tanker load deliveries with a minimum of 4,000 gallons per delivery and an estimated annual quantity of 250,000 gallons, while Item 2 addresses less-than-truckload (LTL) deliveries with a minimum of 500 gallons per delivery and an estimated annual quantity of 25,000 gallons. The successful bidder must deliver products to Palm Beach County Water Utilities WTP #3 in Delray Beach, Florida within 72 hours of receiving a delivery order, with the contract term set at 12 months and an option to renew for four additional 12-month periods subject to mutual written agreement and appropriation of funds. Award will be made on an item-by-item basis to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with pricing submitted on a per-gallon basis for both delivery methods and maintained as firm and fixed for all contract periods. Bidders must submit proof of insurance including Commercial General Liability ($500,000 minimum), Business Auto Liability with Pollution Liability Endorsements ($1,000,000 minimum), and Workers' Compensation coverage, along with three references demonstrating similar goods or services provided within the past three years, MSDS documentation, Criminal History Records Check compliance, and confirmation of non-discrimination policies consistent with Palm Beach County Resolution R-2014-1421.

A minimum 15% Small Business Enterprise (SBE) participation goal applies to this contract, with specific evaluation criteria favoring responsive bidders meeting SBE requirements. The F.O.B. point is destination, meaning the bidder bears all transportation charges, responsibility, liability, and risk in transit. Palm Beach County reserves the right to increase or decrease quantities as necessary and to add or delete delivery locations during the contract term, providing operational flexibility throughout the contract period. No incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified in the solicitation documents, indicating this represents a new competitive procurement process. While no specific budget amount or award value range was disclosed in the IFB, the estimated annual quantities of 250,000 gallons for tanker loads and 25,000 gallons for LTL deliveries provide bidders with volume expectations for pricing considerations.