Questions for RFP #2015-01:
1. Approximately 80 of the 464 items in Attachment D are exclusive to the current vendor. Will alternative items be allowed for these items or should vendors put N/A in Column J of Attachment D (as instructed on Page 1, Line #2 of Attachment D) and these items will not be evaluated in the RFP?
Answer: See Attachment A - Section 4(b).
2. Approximately 20 of the 70 items in Attachment E are exclusive to the current vendor. Will alternative items be allowed for these items or should vendors put N/A in Column J of Attachment E (as instructed on Page 1, Line #2 of Attachment E) and these items will not be evaluated in the RFP?
Answer: See Attachment A – Section 5(b). Vendor may offer alternate, but comparable, brands.
3. If the answer to either/both questions 1 and 2 above are no, the result would create an anticompetitive procurement as per Section 4.7 (page 22) of the solicitation. Only the incumbent vendor would be able to provide a responsive bid. Will the ADOC eliminate the approximate 100 items, nearly 20% of the bid items, in order to have a competitive RFP?
Answer: This question is not relevant to the Vendor’s proposal.
4. Must a vendor bid all items on Attachment D and Attachment E in order to be deemed responsive?
Answer: No.
5. Will the ADOC allow for alternative brands to be bid for items listed in Attachment D and Attachment E?
Answer: See response to Questions 1 and 2.
6. Will the ADOC allow for similar sizes to be bid for the items listed in Attachment D and Attachment E?
Answer: Vendor may offer equal or larger sizes if the specified size is not available. The ADOC, however, will not account or give credit on an ounce-to-ounce basis.
7. Will the ADOC allow for similar flavors to be bid on items listed in Attachment D?
Answer: Yes.
8. Will the ADOC be evaluating Attachment D and Attachment E based on a price per ounce basis?
Answer: See response to Question 6.
9. If the ADOC is not evaluating on a price per ounce basis, how will a fair evaluation be made to Attachment D and Attachment E when all vendors will be offering similar but different sizes on comparable items.
Answer: Not relevant to Vendor’s proposal.
10. Is the current vendor providing one catalog to each inmate per year for the Incentive Package Program?
Answer: Not relevant to this RFP.
11. Is the current vendor providing two catalogs per year for the footwear Program?
Answer: Not relevant to this RFP.
12. Page 16, section 3.2 letters D says that wardens will determine the number of Footwear Program catalogs for each facility. How many Footwear Programs were issued in 2014?
Answer: Not relevant to this RFP.
13. Are correction friendly products preferred by the ADOC?
Answer: Not relevant to this RFP.
14. Will the ADOC allow for a second round of questions once vendors have seen answers to questions due on 2/25/15?
Answer: No.
Questions specific to Attachment D:
15. Item 1 - Deluxe Watch Cap: Will a standard knit cap work?
Answer: Yes.
16. Item 6 - Jersey Short No Pockets White 6” inseam: Can the State provide forecasted usage by size?
Answer: No.
17. Item 7 - Jersey Short No Pockets White 6” inseam: Can the State provide forecasted usage by size?
Answer: No.
18. Item 8 - Performance T-Shirt White: Is this t-shirt compression or loose fitting?
Answer: Loose fitting.
19. Item 8 - Performance T-Shirt White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
20. Item 9 - Performance T-Shirt White: Is this compression or loose fitting?
Answer: Loose fitting.
21. Item 9 - Performance T-Shirt White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
22. Item 10 - A4 Mesh Shorts White 9” inseam: Are gray shorts acceptable?
Answer : No.
23. Item 10 - A4 Mesh Shorts White 9” inseam: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
24. Item 11 - A4 Mesh Shorts White 9” inseam: Are gray shorts acceptable?
Answer: No.
25. Item 11 - A4 Mesh Shorts White 9” inseam: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
26. Item 12 - Russell Sweat Shirt White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
27. Item 13 - Russell Sweat Shirt White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
28. Item 14 - Russell T-shirt No Pocket White: Will gray be acceptable?
Answer: No.
29. Item 14 - Russell T-shirt No Pocket White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
30. Item 17 - Gildan T-shirt No Pocket White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
31. Item 18 - Gildan T-shirt No Pocket White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
32. Item 21 - Ladies Night Shirt 24”X34” White: What sizes are being requested?
Answer: Per Attachment D, one size fits most.
33. Item 21 - Ladies Night Shirt 24”X34” White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
34. Item 22 - Playtex 18 Hour Original Comfort Strap Bra B Cup White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
35. Item 23 - Playtex 18 Hour Original Comfort Strap Bra C Cup White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
36. Item 24 - Playtex 18 Hour Original Comfort Strap Bra D Cup White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
37. Item 25 - Playtex 18 Hour Original Comfort Strap Bra DD Cup White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
38. Item 26 - Hanes Just My Size Comfort Strap Bra C Cup White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
39. Item 27 - Hanes Just My Size Comfort Strap Bra D Cup White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
40. Item 28 - Hanes Just My Size Comfort Strap Bra DD Cup White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
41. Item 29 - FOTL Men’s Briefs 3 PK White: Can the State provide usages by size?
Answer: No.
42. Item 30 - FOTL Men’s Briefs 3 PK White: Can the State provide usages by size? Answer: No.
43. Item 31 - GRT Sport Men’s Boxer Brief 1 CT White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
44. Item 32 - GRT Sport Men’s Boxer Brief 1 CT White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
45. Item 33 - GRT Sport Men’s Brief 1 CT White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
46. Item 34 - GRT Sport Men’s Brief 1 CT White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
47. Item 35 - FOTL Boxer Brief 3 PK White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
48. Item 36 - Hanes Her Way Women’s Briefs 3 PK White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
49. Item 37 - Hanes Her Way Women’s Briefs 3 PK White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
50. Item 38 - GRT Sport Men’s Boxer 1 CT White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
51. Item 39 - GRT Sport Men’s Boxer 1 CT White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
52. Item 40 - FOTL Men’s T-shirt 3 PK White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
53. Item 41 - FOTL Men’s T-shirt 3 PK White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
54. Item 45 - Indera Men’s Thermal Bottom White: Is a neutral color acceptable?
Answer: No. 55. Item 45 - Indera Men’s Thermal Bottom White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
56. Item 46 - Indera Men’s Thermal Bottom White: Is a neutral color acceptable?
Answer: No.
57. Item 46 - Indera Men’s Thermal Bottom White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
58. Item 51 - Indera Men’s Thermal Top White: Will neutral color be acceptable?
Answer: No.
59. Item 51 - Indera Men’s Thermal Top White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
60. Item 52 - Indera Men’s Thermal Top White: Will neutral color be acceptable?
Answer: No.
61. Item 52 - Indera Men’s Thermal Top White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
62. Item 55 - Indera Women’s Thermal Top White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
63. Item 56 - Indera Women’s Thermal Top White: Can the State provide usage by size?
Answer: No.
64. Item 83 - 24” X 36” Laundry Bag White with Drawstrings: Can we bid a comparable item?
Answer: See response to Question 1.
65. Item 89 - Simline Clear Ball Point Pen (Black): Does this item have to have a clear barrel?
Answer: Yes.
66. Item 89 - Simline Clear Ball Point Pen (Black): Can we bid a gel pen?
Answer: No.
67. Item 93 - Wet N Wild Knock on Wood Eye shadow 3 Pan: Will a different shade of Wet N Wild be acceptable?
Answer: A similar, but neutral, shade will be acceptable.
68. Item 103 - Halls Bag Sugar Free Assorted Mint: Will a honey lemon 30 CT bag be acceptable?
Answer: No.
69. Item 123 - Degree Deodorant Extreme Blast: Will a different scent be acceptable?
Answer: Another gender appropriate scent is acceptable.
70. Item 125 - Rikayah Scented Lotion Polo: Will another scent be acceptable?
Answer: Another gender appropriate scent is acceptable.
71. Item 174 - Old Spice 2 N 1 Hair and Body Wash High Endurance: Will a 3 N 1 be acceptable?
Answer: No.
72. Item 247 - Back Country Taco Filing with Chicken: Would beef taco filling be acceptable?
Answer: No.
73. Item 248 - Lil’Dutch Maid Holiday Mint Cream Cookie: This is a seasonal item, will another cookie be acceptable?
Answer: No.
74. Item 334 - Mrs. Freshley’s Boston Cream Honey Bun: Item only offered Oct thru March, will vendors still be asked to bid on this line item?
Answer: Yes.
75. Item 379 - Herr’s Cheese Flavored Jalapeno Popcorn: Vendor states this item is not available in 7oz, should this be listed as a different ounce size?
Answer: See response to Question 6.
76. Item 379 - Herr’s Cheese Flavored Jalapeno Popcorn: These products are pre-priced, will the ADOC allowed pre- price products to be allowed?
Answer: Yes.
77. Item 439 - Cappuccino French Vanilla: What is the ounce size of this product?
Answer: Item 439 is a ten count pack of single-serving sized proportions.
78. Item 439 - Cappuccino French Vanilla: Will a resalable package be allowed for this item?
Answer: No. 79. Item 461 - Johnsonville Garlic Summer Sausage: This product must be refrigerated, will this product be allowed with the special requirement?
Answer: Yes.
Questions specific to Attachment E:
80. Item 1 - Converse All-Star Men’s Hi Top Basketball Optic White: Converse has decided to not sell to the corrections industry any longer; will the ADOC discontinue offering these shoes given this information?
Answer: Not relevant to this RFP.
81. Item 11 - Converse All-Star Men’s Low Top Basketball Optic White: Converse has decided to not sell to the corrections industry any longer; will the ADOC discontinue offering these shoes given this information?
Answer: See response to Question 80.
82. Attachment E - Can the ADOC please provide a breakdown of the number of shoes sold for each size of each style shoe.
Answer: No.
83. The menus instructs that if a bidder cannot match a particular item or size they should enter N/A in the bid column. Since evaluations are to be done by the sum of the extended costs, as written this will actually give a scoring advantage to bidders who elect not to match a few top‐selling items. On the other hand, Part 4 of Attachment A (page 34) instructs that proposers, “Must provide pricing for all items listed,” but that, “Alternate, but comparable, brands are acceptable.”
a. Please clarify that the instructions in Attachment A are correct and that any proposer who does not bid every line item will be penalized, not rewarded.
Answer: The instructions in Attachment A are correct.
b. Will the state require proposers offering, “Alternate, but comparable brands,” to submit sample merchandise to ensure that inferior goods are not proposed in order to gain an advantage in cost evaluations?
Answer: Not relevant to Vendor’s proposal.
c. Will the state clarify that although, “Alternate but comparable brands,” may be offered; proposers may not bid smaller size(s) of any items on the menu? (Permitting proposers to bid smaller sizes would also give them a de facto advantage in the cost evaluations under the state’s methodology.)
Answer: See response to Question 6.
84. Can we bid on just some of the items because I don’t carry all of the items? I am a small woman owned business but would like to bid on some of the items.
Answer: Per Attachments D and E, “[i]f Vendor cannot provide the item or match a particular size, enter N/A in column J.” Vendors should note, however, that “[p]roposals found to be … substantially non-responsive at any point in the evaluation process may be rejected and not considered further.” RFP Section 5.9(b).
85. Would alternative brands/packs sizes be acceptable or are the products brand specific?
Answer: See response to Questions 1, 2, and 6.
86. Does bid price = unit price? Does the extended bid price = bid price X unit sales?
Answer: See Attachment A at Sections 4(a) and 5(a), Attachment D at Instruction 1, and Attachment E at Instruction 1.
87. What is your current commission rate?
Answer: Not relevant to this RFP.
88. What is the % of orders from family (or other outside source) vs PMOD (or inmate purchase)?
Answer: Not relevant to this RFP.