Water Dispensing Equipment and Water Delivery Services

The Connecticut Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Procurement Division has issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) solicitation number 24PSX0179 for water dispensing equipment rental and water delivery services. The procurement seeks a contractor to provide free-standing water dispensing equipment and bottled water delivery (1-gallon or larger) for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) Potable Water Program and state agency locations without potable drinking water sources. Bidders must possess a minimum of five years of experience providing drinking water services and maintain a Non-Alcoholic Beverage & Water Bottlers (NAB) License from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsible qualified respondent based on multiple evaluation criteria, including pricing, conformity to specifications, past performance, financial responsibility, and delivery terms. The bid opening period runs from February 3, 2025, to March 3, 2025, with a vendor Q&A period scheduled from February 3-12, 2025, and responses due by 2:00 PM EST on March 3, 2025. The DEEP Potable Water Program specifically aims to provide bottled water to selected residential buildings and schools statewide to mitigate well water contamination per Connecticut General Statute Section 22a-471(a)(1), with service locations potentially fluctuating throughout the contract term.

The solicitation includes several advantageous provisions for small and veteran-owned businesses, offering a price preference of up to 10% for micro businesses (with gross revenues under $3 million) and up to 15% for veteran-owned micro businesses. The contract will replace the previous award 18PSX0325 and includes a mandatory extension to political subdivisions, towns, municipalities, schools, and not-for-profit organizations, which broadens the potential utilization of the contract. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive scope of the procurement suggests a significant potential contract value given the statewide coverage and multiple potential user entities. The solicitation emphasizes flexibility, as the DEEP Potable Water Program's service locations may change throughout the contract term, requiring the selected vendor to be adaptable to dynamic service requirements. Importantly, the procurement does not include water bottles less than one gallon in size, clearly delineating the scope of the requested water delivery services. The contract appears designed to ensure reliable water supply for locations with compromised drinking water sources, with a focus on providing safe, accessible water through professional, licensed water delivery services.