Swimming Pool Chemicals

The School Board of Pinellas County, Florida, is soliciting bids for swimming pool chemicals through a Request for Quotation (RFQ) to be delivered to five school locations: Clearwater High School, Northeast High School, Seminole High School, Nina Harris Exceptional Student Education Center, and Paul B Stephens Exceptional Student Education Center. The procurement seeks firm, percentage discount pricing for various pool chemicals, including calcium hypochlorite granular, cyanuric acid granular, diatomaceous earth, muriatic acid, sodium bicarbonate, and sodium hypochlorite at 10% concentration. Bidders must submit pricing for all ten line items to be considered responsive, with chemicals to be delivered FOB Destination with freight included. The initial contract period will run from April 5, 2026, to April 4, 2027, with potential renewal for two additional one-year periods. Key dates include January 28, 2026, as the deadline for questions, and February 11, 2026, at 3:00 PM as the bid submission deadline through the District's OpenGov Procurement portal. Bidders must comply with specific requirements, including E-Verify employment verification, Level 2 background screening, and submission of various affidavits.

The procurement does not explicitly mention set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. Bidders must meet comprehensive compliance requirements, including providing proof of background screenings under the Jessica Lunsford Act and submitting affidavits related to public entity crimes, drug-free workplace certification, human trafficking compliance, and debarment status. The estimated annual contract value is approximately $35,000, though actual purchases may vary. Price escalation is permitted at renewal periods, limited to the previous year's Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers percentage change, with sixty days' notice required. Vendors must accept purchasing card payments unless otherwise specified. The district has established a detailed bid protest procedure that requires protesters to file a written notice within 72 hours after bid tabulation and submit a formal protest within 10 days, accompanied by a bond equal to 1 percent of the total estimated contract value (minimum $500, maximum $5,000). The procurement allows for potential contract extensions, with the district retaining the unilateral right to extend for up to three additional thirty-day periods beyond the initial contract term.