Univ. of Washington, Emergency Kit ITB, Housing & Food Services Dec 2024

The University of Washington's Housing & Food Services (HFS) department is conducting an Invitation to Bid (ITB #GSKB1225) to establish a multiyear supply contract for preassembled emergency kit backpacks. The procurement seeks domestic vendors capable of warehousing and assembling emergency kits to be delivered to multiple campus locations twice annually, specifically in August and September. Vendors must have a minimum of three years of experience in emergency supply procurement and are required to provide preassembled backpacks containing specific emergency supplies, including detailed specifications for items like masks and water package sizes. A non-mandatory pre-bid Microsoft Teams meeting is scheduled for December 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM, with vendor inquiries due by December 26, 2024, at 12:00 PM. Bids must be submitted through the Workday Strategic Sourcing platform by January 8, 2025, at 5:00 PM, with an anticipated award announcement in late January 2025. The initial product delivery is planned for early August 2025, with a second delivery in late September 2025. Vendors must coordinate deliveries with two business days' notice and provide a 45-minute to one-hour advance call, and are permitted to include additional catalogs or online pricing for related emergency supply items.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The bid is open to commercial vendors with demonstrated expertise in emergency supply procurement, with no apparent limitations on business size or type. No incumbent vendor information is provided in the available documentation. Delivery requirements include inside delivery using vendor-provided pallet jacks to multiple campus locations, suggesting a comprehensive logistics component to the contract. While specific budget ranges are not disclosed, the multiyear contract structure and the requirement for preassembled emergency kits for university housing suggest a potentially significant procurement value. The contract will serve University of Washington locations in King County and Kingston CDP areas of Washington state. Vendors must establish a profile in the Workday Strategic Sourcing system to participate in the bidding process, which may serve as a preliminary qualification criteria for potential contractors.