Water Filter Cartridge

Polk County Public Schools in Florida has issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) #002-MSQ-0225 for water filter cartridges to support district-wide installation and repair needs. The procurement specifically seeks 2,300 Versafilter III filter cartridges, with the only approved brand being Oasis #041145-001, and no substitutions are permitted. The bid was released on February 11, 2025, with electronic bid submissions due on February 26, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. ET, and the contract period is set to run from March 26, 2025, to March 25, 2026. The bid requires F.O.B. destination pricing that includes shipping to 6-10 maintenance shop locations within Polk County, with the School Board reserving the right to award to multiple vendors and adjust quantities as needed. Evaluation criteria appear to focus on pricing, with bids ranging from $42.70 to $72.01 per filter cartridge, and compliance with state and federal regulations including employment eligibility verification, anti-discrimination policies, and drug-free workplace requirements.

The procurement does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Six vendors submitted competitive bids, including Aura Holdings LLC, 11400 Inc., Lakeland Winsupply Co., Hajoca Corporation, Big Bend Restaurant Supply, and PACH2 Group LLC, with Hajoca Corporation of Lakeland, FL ultimately recommended as the preferred vendor. The total bid values ranged from $101,844.00 (PACH2 Group LLC) to $165,623.00 (Aura Holdings LLC), indicating a significant price variation among bidders. The School Board has budgeted for this procurement with the Superintendent authorized to approve contracts involving public fund expenditures up to $250,000. Vendors were located in states including Florida, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina, suggesting a regional competitive bidding process. The anticipated award recommendation was posted around March 5, 2025, with final Board/Superintendent approval occurring on March 11, 2025.