DSHS Mail Courier Services - Yakima

The Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) is soliciting proposals under Solicitation Number 2542-003 for mail courier services at its Yakima office. The contract calls for qualified bidders to provide daily mail pick-up and delivery between the local post office (205 W Washington Ave, Yakima, WA 98903) and the DSHS facility (1002 N. 16th Ave, Yakima, WA 98902). Services are required each business day, Monday through Friday, excluding state and federal holidays, with mail delivered to the DSHS mailroom by 8:00 am and outgoing mail delivered to the post office by 4:30 pm. The initial contract term is 24 months beginning March 6, 2026, with options for successive two-year extensions through March 5, 2032, at DSHS’s sole discretion. The solicitation specifies detailed requirements including the use of designated mail bins (18.5” x 13.25” x 11.5”, tare weight 1.84 lbs.) for transporting mail, handling confidential information in compliance with Washington State laws such as the Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW) and federal statutes, and contractor responsibility for timely, secure, and careful delivery. No specialized packaging, bar-coding, or MIL-STD standards apply, but confidentiality markings must be clearly applied where designated. The contractor must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including data protection, ethical standards, trafficking in persons regulations (2 C.F.R § 175.15), and nondiscrimination laws. Bidder submissions must include several completed attachments covering certifications, proposals, inclusion plans to promote supplier diversity, and references. Evaluation for award is based on a best-value methodology, scored out of 115 points, with key factors including management qualifications (40 points), cost proposal (40 points), technical approach (20 points), and points for certain socioeconomic certifications such as Washington Veteran-Owned and Small Business status (5 points each), as well as compliance with Executive Order 18-03 related to arbitration clauses (5 points). References are reviewed on a pass/fail basis. The contract value estimate ranges between $50,000 and $150,000, with pricing based on bidder-submitted hourly rates multiplied by anticipated weekly service hours (23.5 hours/week over 5 days). No amendments to the solicitation have been issued; proposals are due by December 30, 2025. Awarded contractors will be required to