Request For Proposal
Request For Proposal
Request For Proposal
Purchasing Department
Finance Group
May 31, 2013
The City of Norwalk is soliciting proposals from qualified firms for the supply and delivery of office
supplies. Your firm is invited to provide a proposal for these services. Following are the requirements that
specifically apply to this project.
REQUEST FOR SUPPLY & DELIVERY OF OFFICE SUPPLIES
PROJECT NUMBER 3235 Document length - 25 pages
A mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on June 11, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. in the Norwalk City
Hall, 125 East Avenue, Room 128 (Community Room), Norwalk, CT 06856-5125.
All questions concerning this RFP must be submitted in writing to David Carroll, Purchasing Officer,
dcarroll@norwalkct.org. The deadline for the submission of questions is 2:00 pm, June 14, 2013.
If, after review of the RFP documents, your firm is interested in performing the services specified,
provide the information requested, sign and return the completed document, along with your detailed
proposal to the City of Norwalk Purchasing Department by the due date.
Sincerely,
David Carroll
Purchasing Officer
E-Mail – dcarroll@norwalkct.org
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
SECTION 1 – SCOPE OF SERVICES
1.1 QUESTIONS CONCERNING RFP
1.2 PROPOSAL OVERVIEW
1.3 CURRENT OPERATIONS
1.4 CONTRACT TERMS
1.5 ORDERING
1.6 STOREFRONT LOCATIONS
1.7 SALES TEAM
1.8 DELIVERIES
1.9 ORDER PROBLEM RESOLUTION
1.10 RETURNS / ERRORS IN ORDERING
1.11 QUALITY ASURANCE GUARANTEE
1.12 PRODUCT SUBSTITUTIONS
1.13 TEST SAMPLES
1.14 PAYMENT TERMS
1.15 BLANKET PURCHASE ORDERS
1.16 INVOICING
1.17 USAGE REPORTS
1.18 CONFIDENTIALITY
1.19 CHANGES TO AWARD
1.20 MANAGEMENT REVIEWS
1.21 PROPOSAL PREPARATION COSTS
1.22 PROPOSED PRICES
1.23 FIRM’S QUALIFICATIONS
1.24 INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
1.25 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING PROPOSALS
SECTION 2 - RESPONSE FORMS
2.1 FORM OF PROPOSALS
2.2 PRICING RESPONSE FORM(S)
2.3 STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
SECTION 3 - GENERAL INFORMATION
(Request Express Document #1006)
EXHIBIT MATERIALS
I. LOCATION DIRECTORY
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Proposers shall provide detailed information regarding their ability to meet the desired
delivery requirements. A list of departments and delivery addresses is attached. Departments
will be identified by activity codes. New activity codes and delivery sites may be added from
time to time.
A packing label must be affixed to each carton. The packing label shall include the
following information, which is visible on the outside of the box.
-- Firm’s Name
-- Firm’s Order number
-- City’s Order Information: Department Name, Department Contact Information
-- Delivery address (including where appropriate room and/or floor number)
-- City’s Purchase Order Number
-- Number of parcels in the order
A packing slip must also be included with each shipment, and shall include (at minimum)
the following order information, in no particular arrangement.
-- City’s Purchase Order Number
-- Line Item Description(s)
-- Product item number(s)
-- Quantity Ordered
-- Quantity included in this delivery
-- Status of back order items (if applicable)
-- Unit price
-- All other information contained on the aforementioned packing label.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet the desired delivery requirements.
1.9 ORDER PROBLEM RESOLUTION
The City anticipates that the successful proposer shall resolve all order and invoice
discrepancies within five (5) business days from the date of notification or, if because of the
nature of the discrepancy they cannot be resolved within that timeframe the proposer shall take
all of the steps the City, or the City department, deems to be reasonably necessary or
appropriate to resolve such discrepancy.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet the desired order resolution requirements.
1.10 RETURNS / ERRORS IN ORDERING
The City anticipates that all products can be returned for full-credit within thirty (30) days
from the date of the original purchase. The City anticipates that there shall not be a charge for
such returns, nor shall the City be charged a re-stocking fee for such returns.
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If the City receives a product that is damaged or defective, the City anticipates the product to
be replaced by the successful Firm at no additional charge. Additionally, should the City
encounter a warranty / return issue, the City anticipates that the successful Firm would accept
this product for full credit or issue a new replacement product.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview of their return policy
along with an overview of the returns policy they are proposing for the City.
1.11 QUALITY ASSURANCE GUARANTEE
The City anticipates the all products purchased from the proposer shall conform to the
specifications, drawings, or other descriptions outlined in their catalog, and such products shall
be free from material defectives, given normal use and care, over the period of the
manufacturers’ warranty. The proposer agrees to repair and or replace immediately, without
additional fees (including shipping, both ways), any product or part thereof which proves to be
defective or fails within the warranty period specified for such product. Additionally, the
proposer shall be also responsible for repair and/or replacement of any product damaged by
such defective product supplied by the proposer.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet these requirements.
1.12 PRODUCT SUBSTITUTIONS
The City anticipates the awarded proposer shall not substitute any Fixed Price Catalog items
without first obtaining written consent from the City who shall make all determinations as to
the suitability of such product substitution(s). If a substituted product is approved, the City
anticipates that the price of the substituted item shall be equal to or lower than the price of the
product being replaced. Proposers shall provide a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet these requirements.
NOTE. For purposes of comparative analysis, substitute products, equipment, and
pricing will not be accepted or considered as responses to the RFP.
If the proposer is unable to supply a particular item listed, leave it blank.
Please do not submit substitute items and pricing in the response forms of this proposal.
1.13 TEST SAMPLES
The City anticipates the proposer shall supply sample products in sufficient quantities for
testing purposes when requested by the City. The City anticipates that such samples shall be
provided within five (5) business days of the initial request.
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1.14 PAYMENT
The City anticipates the proposer shall offer payment terms at Net 30 or Net 45. However, the
City may consider other payment terms offered by the proposer that extend discounts such as
those for early payment. The City also anticipates that invoices shall only be issued after delivery
and signed receipt of such products.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet the desired payment requirements.
1.15 BLANKET PURCHASE ORDERS
The City anticipates that individual Blanket Purchase Orders shall be issued for each specific
department for the ordering of products related to award. The City anticipates that the proposer
shall not perform any services or delivery of any products without receiving an authorized
Purchase Order. Additionally, the City anticipates that the proposer shall not exceed the value
of this Blanket Purchase Order without written consent from the City to do so.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet the desired order requirements.
1.16 INVOICING
The City anticipates the proposer shall invoice on a monthly basis. The City anticipates that the
proposer shall issue a single invoice per month, for each department, after such service has
been performed or product has been delivered. The City anticipates that such invoice shall be
itemized and shall include, at minimum, the department account number, name and address,
and ship-to location. Additionally, the City anticipates that such invoice shall also include
prices billed and any other pertinent discounts to be applied to the invoice. However, in cases
of back-ordered or drop-shipped items, the City anticipates that the proposer shall submit
multiple invoices until such orders have been completely filled.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet the desired invoicing requirements.
1.17 USAGE REPORTS
The City anticipates the proposer shall provide detailed usage reports on a quarterly and annual
basis. The City anticipates that these reports would be automatically submitted to the
Purchasing Department, the central point of contact for this award, within fifteen (15) business
days after the end of each period that the award is in effect. The City anticipates that the
reporting period shall commence on the award implementation date. The City anticipates that
such reports would be provided in an electronic format (such as Microsoft Excel) and, if
requested in hard copy. The City anticipates that the proposer shall provide these reports no
later than fifteen (15) business days after the end of each period.
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The City anticipates that the proposer’s failure to deliver such reports may result in cancellation
of the award and rejection of the proposer’s submissions in future procurements. Usage
Reporting – Detail Information
The City anticipates that the usage reports, provided on a quarterly & annually basis, would
capture the following detail for each order:
-- Date of Order
-- Department Name
-- Delivery Address Information
-- Line-Item Classification/Description -
-- Line-Item Manufacturer ID & SKU
-- Line-Item Contractor ID
-- Items Sorted by Fixed Price & Catalog Description
-- Unit Pricing – retail cost
-- Unit Pricing – discounted cost
-- Quantity Purchased
-- Total spent per line-item order
Usage Reporting – Summary Information
The City anticipates that the usage reports, provided on a quarterly & annually basis, would
capture the following summary information for each period:
-- Listing of all products purchased sorted by extended prices
-- Listing of all products purchased sorted by volume
-- Listing of all products purchased sorted by description
-- Listing of all products purchased sorted by individual department
Usage Reporting – Service Reporting
The City anticipates that the usage reports, provided on a quarterly & annually basis, would
capture the following service information for each period:
-- Fill-Rate Accuracy
-- Customer Satisfaction
-- Customer Service Calls Return Time
-- List of Discontinued Items
-- List of New Items
The City anticipates that the proposer would provide more than one (1) formatting option for
these reports.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet these reporting requirements.
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1.18 CONFIDENTIALITY
The City anticipates that the proposer shall recognize its obligation that it must conduct
itsactivities in a manner designed to protect any information concerning City of Norwalk from
improper use or disclosure.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet these requirements.
1.19 CHANGES TO CONTRACT
The City anticipates that the proposer’s submission shall provide enough flexibility to meet
its changing business needs.
Proposals must describe how changes in the scope of the contract will be handled, (i.e., what
provisions/ procedures they proposed to be included to handle such changes).
1.20 MANAGEMENT REVIEWS
The City anticipates that the proposer shall provide annual (more frequently if requested)
Management Review meetings with a representative from City to evaluate any
improvements / suggestions, etc., resolve any issues, review statistical data and provide an
overview of the operation in general.
Proposers shall provide within their submission a detailed overview outlining their ability to
meet these requirements.
1.21 PROPOSAL PREPARATION COSTS
The City anticipates the proposer shall absorb all costs incurred in their preparation and
presentation of their proposal. All supporting documentation submitted with this proposal
shall become the property of City of Norwalk unless otherwise requested in writing by the
Firm at the time of submission.
1.22 PROPOSED PRICES
The City anticipates the proposer shall provide pricing utilizing the following schedules:
A. General Office Supplies: All pricing submitted for general office supplies shall remain
firm for the first twelve (12) months of the award. Once the first twelve (12) months of
the award has passed, the proposer may request an increase, which shall be subject to
an annual review by the City. Any request for additional increases shall be limited to
once in any twelve (12) month period thereafter. Any and all increases shall be subject
to annual review. The City reserves the right to reject any price increase deemed to be
excessive.
B. Toner Cartridges: All pricing submitted for toner cartridges supplies shall remain firm
for the first twelve (12) months of the award. Once the first twelve (12) months of the
award has passed, the proposer may request an increase, which shall be subject to an
annual review by the City. Any request for additional increases shall be limited to once
in any twelve (12) month period thereafter. Any and all increases shall be subject to
annual review. The City reserves the right to reject any price increase deemed to be
excessive.
C. Copy Paper: All pricing submitted for paper supplies shall remain firm for the first six
(6) months of the award. Once the first six (6) months of the award has passed, the
proposer may request an increase, which shall be subject to a semi-annual review by the
City. Any request for additional increases shall be limited to once in any six (6) month
period thereafter. Any and all increases shall be subject to semi-annual review. Paper
price escalation has to be agreed to by the City and substantiated by manufacturer price
increases. The City reserves the right to reject any price increase deemed to be
excessive.
All Inclusive Pricing: the City anticipates that all items shall be priced inclusive of any
packaging, shipping, and delivery charges. Size of the order and/or delivery location shall have
no impact on this pricing. No orders placed against the award shall be subject to a minimum
order requirement.
Those items purchased by the City of Norwalk but not listed in the pricing sheets A., B., and C.
will be discounted by the percentage offered on Page 20, D. PERCENTAGE DISCOUNT.
f. Provide a list of any and all subcontractors that you plan to use for this project,
Note that the names of any and all subcontractors must be submitted to the City for
approval prior to the contract award.
1.24 INSURANCE
The City of Norwalk is requiring insurance coverage as listed below for this work.
Note: The term "Firm" shall also include their respective agents, representatives, employees or
subcontractors; and the term "City of Norwalk" (hereinafter called the "City") shall include their
respective officers, agents, officials, employees, volunteers, boards and commissions.
The insurance required shall be written for not less than the scope and limits of insurance
specified hereunder, or required by applicable federal, state and/or municipal law, regulation or
requirement, whichever coverage requirement is greater. It is agreed and understood that the
scope and limits of insurance specified hereunder are minimum requirements and shall in no
way limit or exclude the City from additional limits and coverage provided under the Appraisal
Consultant‘s policies.
Minimum Scope and Limits of Insurance
Worker's Compensation Insurance: With respect to all operations the Firm performs the carry
worker's compensation insurance in accordance with the requirements of the laws of the State
of Connecticut. The Firm shall carry employers liability limits of $100,000 each accident and
$100,000 for each employee by disease and $500,000 policy limit disease.
Commercial General Liability: With respect to all operations the Firm or performs the Firm
shall carry Commercial General Liability insurance providing for a total limit of one million
dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence for all damages arising out of bodily injury, personal
injury, property damage, products/completed operations, and contractual liability coverage for
the indemnification provided under this contract. Each annual aggregate limit shall not be less
than $ 2,000,000.
Automobile Liability: With respect to any owned, non-owned, or hired vehicles the Firm shall
carry Automobile Liability insurance providing one million dollars ($1,000,000) per accident
for bodily injury and property damage.
Fidelity coverage: With respect to fidelity coverage the Firm’s policies including loss of
money, securities, or property, real or personal belonging to the City or in which the City has a
pecuniary interest; limits to be $25,000 each loss.
Acceptability of Insurers: The Firm’s policies shall be written by insurance companies licensed
to do business in the State of Connecticut, with an AM Best rating of A- VIII, or otherwise
acceptable by the City's Risk Manager.
Subcontractors: The Firm shall require subcontractors to provide the same "minimum scope
and limits of insurance" as required herein, with the exception of Errors and
Omissions/Professional Liability insurance, unless Errors and Omissions/Professional
Liability insurance is applicable to the work performed by the subcontractor. All Certificates
of Insurance shall be provided to Corporation Counsel's office as required herein.
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Aggregate Limits: Any aggregate limits must be declared to and approved by the City. It is
agreed that the Firm shall notify the City when fifty percent (50%) of the aggregate limits are
eroded during the contract term.
If the aggregate limit is eroded for the full limit, the Firm agrees to reinstate or purchase
additional limits to meet the minimum limit requirements stated herein. The Firm shall pay
for the premium.
Deductibles and Self-Insured Retentions: Any deductible or self-insured retention must
be declared to and approved by the City. All deductibles or self-insured retentions are
the sole responsibility of the Firm to pay and/or to indemnify.
Notice of Cancellation or Non-renewal: Each insurance policy required shall be endorsed to
state that coverage shall not be suspended, voided, cancelled, or reduced in coverage or in
limits except after 30 days prior written notice by certified mail, return receipt requested, has
been given to the City.
Waiver of Governmental Immunity: Unless requested otherwise by the City, the Appraisal
Consultant and his insurer shall waive governmental immunity as defense and shall not use
the defense of governmental immunity in the adjustment of claims or in the defense of any
suit brought against the City.
Additional Insured: The liability insurance coverage, except Errors and Omissions,
Professional Liability, or Workers Compensation, if included, required for the performance of
the Contract shall include the City as Additional Insured but only with respect to the Firm’s
activities to be performed under this Contract. Coverage shall be primary and non-
contributory with any other insurance and self-insurance.
Certificate of Insurance: As evidence of the insurance coverage required by this Contract, the
Firm shall furnish Certificate(s) of Insurance to Corporation Counsel's Office prior to the award
of the Contract if required by the Bid document, but in all events prior to Firm commencement
of work under this Contract. The Certificate(s) will specify all parties who are endorsed on the
policy as Additional Insureds (or Loss Payees). The certificates and endorsements for each
insurance policy are to be signed by a person authorized by the insurer to bind coverage on its
behalf. Renewals of expiring certificates shall be filed thirty (30) days prior to expiration. The
City reserves the right to require complete, certified copies of all required policies at any time.
The City reserves the right to require complete, certified copies of all required policies at any
time.
All insurance documents required should be mailed to The City of Norwalk,
Corporation Counsel, 125 East Avenue Norwalk, Connecticut 06851-5125.
Waiver of requirements: The Corporation Counsel, may vary the requirements at
Corporation Counsel's sole discretion; if Corporation Counsel determines that the City's
interests will be adequately protected without meeting all stated requirements.
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In the performance of the work, the contractor agrees to take all proper, necessary and
sufficient precautions against the occurrence of any accidents, injuries or damages to any
person or property.
The Contractor shall assume all liability for injury, including death, to persons and damage to
property, including City of Norwalk employees and invitees and their property, caused by or
resulting from the fault or negligence of the Contractor, its agents, servants, employees or sub
contractors in the performance of the work. The Contractor shall protect and indemnify City
of Norwalk from any loss, liability and fines incurred for or by reasons of the violation of any
federal, state or local regulations connected with the Contractor's performance of their work
under this agreement.
1.25 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING PROPOSALS
The City of Norwalk will be responsible for reviewing the proposals received and will
evaluate them using the criteria listed below. The Qualified Firms may be contacted for
interviews.
The City reserves the right to examine any other criteria and take the same under consideration.
Also, to reject any Firm or proposal despite its compliance with the criteria if the City
determines that to do so would be in its best interest.
• Ability to provide specified products & equipment listed.
• Firm’s proposed pricing.
• Proposed terms meet requirements of City’s RFP.
• Recent and relevant experience of the Firm in the supply and delivery of
office supplies to other accounts of similar size as the City.
• Extent of services offered, and depth and extent of overall resources that can be put
to use to ensure the success of the project.
• Overall experience and expertise of the proposed personnel.
• Financial stability of the Firm.
• Thoroughness of the proposal submission.
SECTION 2 - RESPONSE
F. Provide proposal pricing as outlined in section 1.22. You may include any additional
information that demonstrates your qualification for this work.
Written proposals are to be submitted (ten (10) copies) to:
2.2 PRICING RESPONSE FORMS - #3235, SUPPLY & DELIVERY OF OFFICE SUPPLIES
Firm Name -
Address -
Phone - Fax - Email -
Manager - Fed ID#
The undersigned hereby declares that he has or they have carefully examined the plans, specifications and project
site and has satisfied him as to all the quantities and conditions, and understands that in signing this proposal he
waives all right to plead any misunderstanding regarding the same.
The undersigned further understands and agrees that he will furnish and provide all the necessary material, machinery,
implements, tools, labor, services, and other items of whatever nature, and to do and perform all the work necessary
under the aforesaid conditions, to carry out the contract and to accept in full compensation therefore the amount of the
contract as agreed to by the Contractor and the City.
RFP DOCUMENTS are available upon receipt of this invitation over the Internet at
http://www.norwalkct.org.
(Pricing sheets A. GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES, B. TONER CARTRIDGES, and C. COPY PAPER are also
available by clicking on the web links listed below.)
NOTE:
• Proposal submissions including completed pricing sheets A. GENERAL OFFICE SUPPLIES, B.
TONER CARTRIDGES, and C. COPY PAPER must be delivered to the Purchasing Office in the
following two (2) formats prior to the submission deadline to be considered for award:
1. Written proposal responses delivered to the City of Norwalk’s Purchasing
Department.
2. Electronic proposal responses (email) sent to:
dcarroll@norwalkct.org and dthompson@norwalkct.org
• Substitute items and pricing for the products listed in this proposal are not acceptable.
(See Section 1.12.)
D. PERCENTAGE DISCOUNT
off Vendor’s Office Products Catalog/List Price - %.
• Those items purchased by the City of Norwalk but not listed in the pricing sheets A., B., and C. will also
be reduced by the percentage discount offered.
• The percentage discount shall remain in effect for the length of the agreement.
E. ANTICIPATED ANNUAL PRICE INCREASES
Contract Year % Increase
Year 2 (2014-2015)
Year 3 (2015-2016)
Year 4 (2016-2017)
Year 5 (2017-2018)
F. INVOICE PAYMENT TERMS
Net 30 Net 45 Other
G. ABILITY TO MEET ALL REQUIREMENTS LISTED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF
SERVICES
YES NO
If NO, explain in detail.
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Insurance Agency Name - Tel.-
Agency Address -
Submitted by -
Authorized Agent of Company (name and title) Date
The above signatory acknowledges receipt of the following addenda issued during the bidding
period and understands that they are a part of the bidding documents (if applicable):
. .
6. Is your local organization an affiliate of a parent company? If so, Indicate the principal place
of business of your company and the name of the agent for service if different from what has
been indicated on the response form:
Business
.
Name
Address .
City . State . Zip .
Name of
.
Agent
NOTE: In the case of a Limited Liability Corporation or a Limited Liability Partnership a
certified copy of the Articles of Organization certified as valid and in effect as of the date of the
bid opening will be required within 30 days of the bid opening.
A listing of the corporate officers, in the case of a corporation; the general or managing partners,
in the case of a partnership; or the managers and members in the case of either a limited liability
partnership or company will be required within 30 days of the bid opening.
7. Your company may be asked to submit the following information relative to your company's
financial statements prior to receiving an award. This information will not be part of the public
bidding record and will remain confidential.
All information should be supported with appropriate audited financials.
a. Book Value (Total Assets (-) Total Liabilities)
b. Working Capital (Current Assets (-) Current Liabilities
c. Current Ratio (Current Assets/Current Liabilities)
d. Debt to Equity Ratio (Long Term Debt/Shareholder's Equity)
e. Return on Assets (Net Income/Total Assets)
f. Return on Equity (Net Income/Shareholder's Equity)
g. Return on Invested Capital (Net Income/Long Term Debt = Shareholders' Equity)
8. SUBCONTRACTORS: If subcontractors are to be used, please list firm name, address, name
of principal, and phone number below or on a separate sheet. Also indicate portion or section of
work subcontractor will be performing.
Exhibit I
LOCATION DIRECTORY
City Locations
City Hall 125 East Avenue
DPW – Garage 15 South Smith Street
Fire Department 121 Connecticut Avenue
Health Department 137 East Avenue
Library One Belden Avenue
Norwalk Museum 41 North Main Street
Oak Hills Park 165 Fillow Street
Police Department One Monroe Street
Transit District 275 Wilson Avenue