Sarasota County 40' High-Cubed Shipping Container Purchase

Sarasota County is soliciting bids for the purchase of one new 40-foot high-cubed shipping container under solicitation number 2026-QQ-694, with a maximum allowable bid price of $50,000. The award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with no trade-off analysis performed between cost and technical factors—the procurement follows a lowest price technically acceptable (LPTA) model. The container must be a one-tripper, Category A rated, wind- and water-tight unit constructed of corrugated steel with marine-grade plywood flooring, lockable double doors, and a beige/tan/khaki exterior; it must be new, not used, refurbished, or reconditioned. Delivery is F.O.B. Destination to 8781 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34241, meaning the vendor assumes all risk and costs until delivery is completed and accepted by the County. Inspection and acceptance will occur at the delivery site, and the County retains the right to reject non-conforming items at the vendor’s expense. Bidders must submit photos of the container’s exterior and interior, a signed W-9 form, and a pricing proposal through the OpenGov Procurement Portal by April 29, 2026, at 2:30 PM local time. Invoices must be mailed to the Sarasota County Finance Department and must include the Purchase Order number; electronic invoicing is not supported. The County is tax-exempt under Florida law, so vendors must invoice without including sales tax. Vendors must comply with strict certification requirements, including affirming they are not engaged in boycotts of Israel, are E-Verify compliant, and do not use unauthorized surveillance devices in communications with County staff. Contractors are required to indemnify the County against claims arising from their performance and must maintain acceptable insurance coverage upon request. The contract includes a warranty that survives inspection and payment, and the County may terminate the order at any time, paying only for delivered goods or completed work. Alternates are permitted but evaluated for cost impact, and no UEI, CAGE, or socioeconomic certifications are required—only the TIN from the W-9 is collected. The solicitation explicitly prohibits submitting bids above $50,000, and failure to receive any acceptable bids may result in cancellation and re-solicitation through another method.