For Vendors

***Vendor Invitation***

 

Notice to Vendors

Sealed solicitations will be received by the Association of Educational Purchasing Agencies (AEPA) on behalf of its 30 State Member Agencies including Montana Cooperative Services (MCS) until:

1:30 p.m. ET, September 17, 2024

Solicitations: 025-A Athletic Field Lighting, 025-B Hardwood & Synthetic Flooring, 025-C Copiers, Multi-Function Print Devices, Printers, & Managed Print Services, 025-D Roofing & Related Services, 025-E Security Solutions, 025-F Cybersecurity & Training, 025-G Portable & Modular Classrooms, 025-H Playgrounds & Equipment

 

All responses shall be submitted online via Bonfire by the due date and time listed above. Vendors are requested to visit AEPA’s website at https://aepacoop.org/registration-solicitations/ for instructions on how to register at no cost with Bonfire. AEPA documents will be released on August 1, 2024. Note that Vendors must be able to provide their proposed products and services in up to 30 states.

Solicitations will be publicly opened after 1:30 p.m. ET, September 17, 2024 at Lakes Country Service Cooperative, 1001 E Mt Faith, Fergus Falls, MN 56537. An opening record will be posted to AEPACOOP.org.

As required by MCA Section 20-9-204 Montana Cooperative Services (MCS) maintains a publicly available master list of goods and services being provided to its members, including current items and pricing, which may be obtained through MCS by calling (406) 461-8050.

Montana Cooperative Services allows companies and others to compete with its current vendors to be included on the MCS Master List to provide either existing products or to propose the expansion of the list to include new goods and services. All applications are evaluated on a lowest responsible bidder standard as required by law. “Lowest responsible bidder” means that a contract will be awarded to “the bidder who is ‘most likely in regard to skill, ability, and integrity to do faithful, conscientious work, and promptly fulfill the contract according to its letter and spirit.’”

Applications are accepted from March 1st and 31st and from October 1st to October 31st and vendor contracts are awarded twice per year, in January and July each year. To be considered for inclusion on the Master List please contact MCS to receive a vendor application; all pricing must be firm for not less than one year after a contract is awarded, with provision for extensions. Any bidder accepted for inclusion on the Master List must enter into a formal contract with MCS within 20 days after the award of the bid; the failure to enter into the contract may result in the forfeiture of the bid award.

Montana Cooperative Services reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids, wholly or in part, and to make awards in any manner deemed in the best interest of the cooperative and/or its members.