Wholesale Clothing

The Commonwealth of Kentucky, specifically the Department of Corrections through Kentucky Correctional Industries, is seeking wholesale clothing vendors for a comprehensive procurement opportunity targeting correctional facility apparel needs. The Request for Bid (RFB 758 2500000737) solicits vendors to provide a wide range of clothing items including shirts, hats, tactical polos, t-shirts, sweatshirts, fleece, caps, activewear, outerwear, and dress shirts in sizes ranging from XS-6XL. Bidders must have a minimum of five years of industry experience and demonstrate the ability to deliver items within five working days of order receipt. The primary delivery location will be Correctional Industries - LLCC in LaGrange, KY, with the contract initially spanning one year and potential for four additional one-year renewal periods. Key evaluation criteria include wholesale pricing, discount structures, and compliance with technical specifications outlined in Attachment C Bid Price Sheet. Vendor written questions are due by July 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM ET, with final bid responses required by July 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM ET.

The procurement allows for multiple contract awards across three product groups (shirts, hats, and tactical polos), with potential for multiple vendors per group. While no specific set-aside designations were explicitly mentioned, the bid documents include affidavits related to resident bidder status and qualified bidder requirements, which suggest preferences for Kentucky-based businesses. Bidders must complete three mandatory affidavits covering campaign finance compliance, resident bidder status, and qualification declarations. The procurement uses a best value ranking approach, meaning lowest price is not the sole determining factor. Vendors will be required to submit detailed pricing on the Bid Price Sheet, with electronic bid submissions requiring a nominal $0.01 unit price. Although no specific budget range was provided, the extensive line item list and estimated annual purchase quantities (ranging from 100 to 18,000 units per item) suggest a potentially significant contract value for the selected vendors.