Storage & Handling Guide 2012

The State of Maine Division of Purchases posted a Storage & Handling Guide solicitation on December 5, 2012, with a due date of December 6, 2012.

This procurement carries a substantive environmental and sourcing preference. The State requires paper products and printing services to incorporate post-consumer recycled fiber and/or virgin fiber certified by the American Tree Farm System (ATFS), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Master Logger Certification Program (MLCP), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC)-affiliated entities, or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI). Bidders must specify for each proposed product the percentage of post-consumer recycled fiber content and certified virgin fiber content, along with proof of chain-of-custody certification and the specific certification labels applied. The State reserves authority to pay a price premium of up to 4 percent above the lowest bid to procure paper products with 100 percent post-consumer recycled or certified virgin fiber content. If no bids meet the 100 percent standard, the State awards preference to paper with the highest percentage of qualifying fiber content, provided cost does not exceed 4 percent above the lowest submitted bid price. Bid award decisions incorporate recycled or certified content percentages as an evaluation factor.

Bidders must submit electronically through the Vendor Self Service (VSS) platform by 2:00 p.m. local time on the announced date. Equivalent items meeting or exceeding specified standards are acceptable. The State reserves discretion to award on lowest price alone or on best value criteria incorporating quality, conformity, delivery time, and cost, with price receiving a minimum 25% weight. Standard payment terms are net 30 from receipt of correct invoice. All prices must exclude federal and state taxes. Delivery defaults to FOB Destination with all transportation costs the responsibility of the successful bidder. The State reserves the right to increase or decrease quantities by up to 10% at agreed-upon pricing.