Welding supplies & equipment

Onondaga-Cortland-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services (OCM BOCES) is seeking bids for welding supplies and equipment through Request for Bid RFB-226-20, targeting 34 school districts across Onondaga, Cortland, and Madison Counties. The procurement covers a comprehensive range of welding-related items including safety equipment, welding gloves, protective gear, tools, electrodes, wires, consumables, and complete welder/fitter hand tool kits, with a strong preference for Lincoln Electric and Miller branded products. The bid solicitation requires vendors to provide firm pricing for 72 individual line items and 16 student tool kits, with specific technical requirements for each item, including precise measurements for steel, aluminum, and stainless steel stock. The bid will be publicly opened on September 10, 2025 at 1:30 PM, with a contract period from October 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025, and potential for contract extension up to four years. Delivery requirements are stringent, with welding supplies to be delivered within two weeks of order and welding gases within 48 hours, and all pricing must include shipping, handling, freight, and fuel surcharges.

The procurement does not explicitly mention set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Vendors must provide comprehensive pricing that includes all fees, with no additional line-item charges permitted, and must be prepared to accommodate potential price adjustments based on documented manufacturer price changes. The bid allows for price escalation/de-escalation for steel, metal, and piping items after the first 30 days, subject to OCM BOCES approval. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the solicitation covers multiple school districts and includes a wide variety of welding supplies and equipment, suggesting a potentially significant contract value. The procurement allows participating districts to purchase items as needed throughout the contract period with no minimum order requirements, providing flexibility for educational institutions in managing their welding program resources. The bid emphasizes precise specifications and technical requirements, indicating a focus on quality and performance for educational welding training programs.