RFQ-17A-26050100000000000282 | Miscellaneous Clothing & Promotional Items

The State of Maine, through the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of State Procurement Services, is soliciting bids for Miscellaneous Clothing & Promotional Items under RFQ-17A-26050100000000000282, with proposals due by June 3, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. local time via the Vendor Self Service (VSS) portal. The procurement requires vendors to furnish clothing materials with embroidery or screen printing for resale by the Department of Transportation, emphasizing a quick turnaround. Key deliverables include exact reproduction of existing designs and development of new ones within ten calendar days, with all color specifications strictly adhering to Pantone Matching System standards—specifically PMS 541 C and PMS 131 C. Bidders must submit a completed Bid Price Sheet in Excel format without modifications, along with required documentation such as manufacturer literature, equivalency proofs for substituted items, and PDF diagrams of all logos for embroidery or screen printing. All bids must include shipping charges under FOB Destination terms, and pricing must exclude setup fees for repeat orders. The contract is structured as a potential multi-year agreement with an initial performance period from June 22, 2026, through June 30, 2028, and optional extensions up to June 30, 2031. Awards are made on a Best Value basis, prioritizing the lowest-priced qualified responder who fully complies with all technical, regulatory, and procedural requirements. Bidders must submit multiple certifications and affidavits, including a Responsible Bidder Form, State Purchasing Code of Conduct Affidavit, Municipality Participation Certification, and Master Agreement Vendor Information, all of which must be properly signed and notarized where required. Vendors must certify they are not debarred, have no recent terminations for cause, and have not engaged in fraud or collusion. Compliance with wage, labor, environmental, safety, and human rights laws is mandatory, and all suppliers must adhere to non-discrimination principles. The successful vendor will execute a contract via a State of Maine Buyer Purchase Order, Contract Agreement to Purchase Services, or Master Agreement, with payment terms of Net 30 upon receipt of a compliant invoice, and may be paid by check, EFT, or procurement card, with no surcharges permitted for card payments. Failure to respond to compliance requests within 48 hours or submitting non-com