Spring Fibers and Cotton Batting

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Contracts and Procurement Department is soliciting bids for a blanket purchase order to acquire spring fibers and cotton batting for mattress manufacturing at the Wynne Unit Mattress Factory in Huntsville, TX. The procurement consists of two specific items: 8,400 units of cotton batting measuring 41" x 82" weighing 6.6 lb and 3,200 units measuring 26" x 76" weighing 26 lb, both requiring Bondtex fire retardant backing material. The batting must be blended textile by-products using recyclable materials composed of gin motes, linters, and textile fiber waste, with a minimum 10% by weight boron flame retardant treatment. Technical specifications mandate non-woven 100% polypropylene backing with channel stitch rows maximum 4" apart. The bid opening is scheduled for January 20, 2025, at 3 P.M., with vendor questions due by January 8, 2025, at 12:00 PM (CST). The contract term will run from the award date through August 31, 2025, with no renewal options. Pricing must be FOB destination with freight prepaid and allowed, incorporated into the unit cost, and electronic bid submission is preferred via bids@tdcj.texas.gov.

The solicitation does not specify any set-aside designations or restrictions for specific types of organizations. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are mentioned in the documentation. Vendors must have both a Texas Identification Number System (TINS) and Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) prior to contract award. TDCJ will make awards based on best value factors, including price, bidder's previous performance record, quality, and conformance to specifications. Packaging requirements are specific, with 16 batts per bale and 240 bales per truck load for the larger size, and 5 batts per bale and 200 bales per truckload for the smaller size. The procurement includes detailed security requirements for deliveries to correctional facilities, including mandatory security escorts and contraband restrictions. No specific contract value or budget range is disclosed in the solicitation documents, and contract execution remains contingent upon legislative appropriation of funds.