2027 Water Treatment Chemical Solicitation

The Reading Area Water Authority is soliciting sealed bids for the procurement and delivery of various water treatment chemicals for the 2027 calendar year, spanning from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2027. The solicitation includes a wide array of chemicals such as Powdered Activated Carbon, Anionic Polymer, Aqua Ammonia, Citric Acid, Chlorine, Copper Sulfate, Permanganate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Bisulfite, Sodium Hypochlorite, Poly-Aluminum Chloride (PACL), Zinc Orthophosphate, and Silicofluoride. The contract allows for an optional one-year extension through 2028 at the bidder's original price and terms. Bids must be submitted electronically via the PennBid Program by September 30, 2026, with a public opening at 1:00 PM that same day and final award decisions expected by October 23, 2026. Technical requirements mandate that chemicals meet NSF Standard 60 and relevant AWWA specifications, with specific purity and stability standards for products like Zinc Orthophosphate and Sodium Silicofluoride. Deliveries are primarily directed to the Maiden Creek Filter Plant and other satellite locations in Reading, Pennsylvania, with strict delivery windows and mandatory site visits for suppliers prior to the first shipment. Bidders must provide a 10 percent bid security in the form of a bid bond or certified check, and successful awardees must furnish performance and payment bonds. Additional requirements include the submission of safety data sheets with every delivery, the provision of two annual safety training sessions at no cost, and the submission of a non-collusion affidavit and non-discrimination statement. Award decisions may be made in whole or in part based on technical specifications, pricing quoted as FOB Destination, and, for certain materials like PACL, the results of side-by-side bench testing.