Tools, outdoor landscaping equipment, term contract

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners Purchasing Department issued a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for outdoor powered commercial-grade landscaping equipment on a term contract basis. The solicitation encompasses nine items including backpack blowers, handheld blowers, 14-inch and 18-inch chainsaws, pole pruners, hedge trimmers, cut-off saws, straight shaft edgers, and weedeater trimmers, with annual estimated quantities ranging from one to twelve units per item. All items are specified with reference manufacturer models, primarily Stihl brand, with vendors permitted to submit equivalent alternatives meeting detailed specifications. The County will award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible vendor on an all-or-none, total offer basis, requiring vendors to respond to all nine items to be considered responsive. Unit prices must be firm and fixed with no escalation clauses permitted, quoted to two decimal points maximum, and remain valid for ninety days from the bid opening date. The successful vendor will receive a twelve-month term contract with the option to renew for four additional twelve-month periods, with delivery required within ten calendar days of receipt of a delivery order and the F.O.B. point designated as destination. The RFQ submission deadline is June 22, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. local time, with responses acceptable via fax or email to buyer Colleen Cardillo. All goods are subject to inspection and acceptance upon delivery, and the County will return non-conforming items at the vendor's expense for full credit.

Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certified vendors within ten percent of the lowest bid price may receive award consideration. Palm Beach County businesses and Glades businesses are eligible for local preference discounts of five percent, contingent upon proper business location certification. Vendors must submit a non-discrimination policy certification and a drug-free workplace certification for tie-bid preference consideration. Vendors must also provide manufacturer descriptive literature matching their quoted manufacturer and part/model numbers unless offering the specified Stihl products. The County is exempt from federal and state taxes, with payment to be made upon receipt, acceptance, and proper invoicing of goods. No incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified in the solicitation documentation, and no specific budget range or award value was disclosed in the RFQ materials.