Statewide Aluminum Sulfate (Liquid) - SBR Procurement

The Maryland Environmental Service is conducting a Small Business Reserve (SBR) procurement for Aluminum Sulfate (liquid) to be delivered statewide, excluding Allegany, Garrett, and St. Mary's Counties. The solicitation seeks competitive sealed bids from qualified contractors to furnish and deliver chemical product meeting specific technical specifications, including 48.5% minimum Aluminum Sulfate on a dry basis, 8.0%-8.3% Aluminum Oxide, and a pH of 2.1-2.5. The estimated contract quantity is 662 dry tons, with an initial contract term of one year commencing upon written notice-to-proceed from the MES Project Manager. Electronic bids must be submitted through the MES Procurement Portal by January 28, 2026 at 1:00 PM, with bidders required to provide Material Safety Data Sheets and meet delivery specifications of FOB destination within three days of notification during business hours. Evaluation criteria specify that award will be made to the responsible bidder with the lowest responsive bid, with contract pricing remaining fixed for the entire contract period and all applicable charges included in the unit bid price.

This procurement is specifically designated as a Small Business Reserve (SBR) procurement, which limits award to certified small business vendors meeting statutory requirements under Maryland State Finance and Procurement Article 14-501 to 14-505. Bidders must maintain commercial general liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, and certify compliance with Maryland's drug and alcohol-free workplace requirements. There are no bonding requirements for this project, and no specific Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) subcontract participation goal, though minority business enterprises and Maryland firms are encouraged to respond. Bidders must provide evidence of proper licensing and submit various required affidavits and certifications addressing topics such as commercial nondiscrimination, bribery convictions, debarment status, and tax payment compliance. While a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the estimated quantity of 662 dry tons suggests a significant procurement opportunity for a qualified small business vendor in the chemical supply sector.