Weed Barrier Fabric

Portage County, Wisconsin is soliciting bids for a procurement of weed barrier fabric and staples through its Purchasing Department for the Central Wisconsin Windshed Partnership Group (CWWP). The bid opportunity, numbered 2017-31, requires vendors to supply 105 rolls of 10' x 300' weed barrier fabric, 40 rolls of 6' x 750' weed barrier fabric, 40 boxes of 2" x 10" x 8" wire staples, and 10 boxes of 2" x 8" x 8" wire staples. Specific technical requirements mandate black woven polypropylene material with colored guide stripes, precise weight specifications (3.0 to 3.2 ounces per square yard), and detailed performance metrics including tensile strength, tear resistance, burst strength, and ultraviolet exposure resistance. Bidders must submit an original and one copy of bid documents to the Portage County Purchasing office by 2:00 PM on June 12, 2017, with delivery to the Hancock Agricultural Research Station in Hancock, Wisconsin. Evaluation criteria will focus on lowest total cost for responsive and responsible bidders meeting all specifications, with potential consideration of delivery timeliness.

Bidder qualifications include being an original manufacturer or authorized distributor, providing three references from firms receiving similar products within the past two years, and demonstrating three years of experience supplying weed barrier fabric and landscaping staples. Contractors must provide warranty information and be prepared to honor manufacturer's standard warranties. The county is exempt from federal excise and Wisconsin sales taxes, with a CES number of ES 43251. While no specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise requirements were mentioned, vendors must submit written questions about specifications by May 31, 2017, to Karen Kluck, Procurement Specialist. Bid prices are required to be firm for 60 calendar days following bid opening and must include all delivery, packing, transportation, fuel, and insurance charges on an FOB Destination Freight Included basis. Though a specific award value was not disclosed, the comprehensive fabric and staple order suggests a moderate-scale procurement intended to support agricultural research and land management activities.