Sole Source Belts for Belt Presses - Central Plant

The City of Fort Myers has issued a sole source procurement notice dated July 16, 2025, for the acquisition of belts used in belt presses at its Central Plant. This procurement identifies BDP Industries, Inc. as the exclusive manufacturer and supplier of the required belts, authorizing a non-competitive award under Florida State Statute 287.057(3)(c). The City intends to negotiate and award the contract directly to BDP Industries without engaging in a formal solicitation or bidding process. However, the notice invites other potential suppliers to submit product information, qualifications, or statements of capability by July 30, 2025. These responses are solely to determine whether a competitive procurement is warranted; they are not considered formal proposals or bids. Interested vendors must submit such information via email and complete a vendor questionnaire to be considered for any challenge to the sole source designation. The procurement is governed by a 15-calendar-day public notice period during which others may contest the sole source justification. This acquisition is product-focused, covering only the supply of these specialized belts vital for the operation of the City's belt presses, with no service or support components explicitly outlined. Contract terms, such as pricing, quantities, delivery schedules, and inspection criteria, are not specified in the public notice and the procurement uses a “NO VALUE” method, indicating that pricing details are either confidential or formally undetermined at this stage. The award process does not involve competitive evaluation factors, socioeconomic status certifications, or federal acquisition clauses since this is a local government procurement absent of FAR provisions. Contact for the procurement is managed through the City’s Public Utilities Department Procurement Manager Denise K. Finn. While the document includes instructions for supplier submissions through a vendor questionnaire, no modifications, contract type designations, or detailed administrative data such as invoicing and payment instructions are provided publicly. The procurement remains contingent upon the exclusivity of BDP Industries, Inc. as the sole source provider of these belts.