Apple Products and Services

Location:	Vermont
Posted:	Mar 17, 2026
Due:	Apr 1, 2026
Agency:	State of Vermont
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	70 - General Purpose Information Technology Equipment (including software).
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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Department of Buildings and General Services

Office of Purchasing & Contracting

133 State Street, 5th Floor | Montpelier VT 05633-8000

802-828-2211 phone |802-828-2222 fax

http://bgs.vermont.gov/purchasing

Agency of Administration

SEALED BID

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

APPLE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

ISSUE DATE

QUESTIONS DUE

RFP RESPONSES DUE BY

March 17, 2026

March 25, 2026 – 4:30 PM (EST)

April 1, 2026 – 4:30 PM (EST)

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT ALL NOTIFICATIONS, RELEASES, AND ADDENDUMS ASSOCIATED

WITH THIS SOLICITATION WILL BE POSTED AT:

http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php

THE STATE WILL MAKE NO ATTEMPT TO CONTACT INTERESTED PARTIES WITH UPDATED

INFORMATION. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH BIDDER TO PERIODICALLY CHECK THE

ABOVE WEBPAGEFOR ANY AND ALL NOTIFICATIONS, RELEASES AND ADDENDUMS

ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SOLICITATION.

STATE CONTACT:

E-MAIL:

Kevin Cooke, State Purchasing Agent II

SOV.ThePathForward@vermont.gov

1. OVERVIEW:

1.1. SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Through this Request for Proposal (RFP) the Office of Purchasing &

Contracting (hereinafter the “State”) is seeking to establish contracts with one or more companies that

can provide Apple Inc Products and Services.

1.1.1.ADDITIONAL PURCHASERS: In the Certificate of Compliance attached to this solicitation bidders

are required to indicate whether political subdivisions and independent colleges of the State may

participate in the awarded contract at the same prices, terms and conditions.

1.2. CONTRACT PERIOD: Any contract(s) arising from this solicitation will be for a period of TWO YEARS

with an option to renew for up to three additional twelve-month periods. The State anticipates the start

date for such contract(s) will be May 1, 2026.

1.3. SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT: All communications concerning this solicitation are to be addressed in

writing to the State Contact listed on the front page of this solicitation. Actual or attempted contact with

any other individual from the State concerning this solicitation is strictly prohibited and may result in

disqualification.

1.4. BIDDERS’ CONFERENCE: A bidders’ conference will not be held for this RFP.

1.5. QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD: Any bidder requiring clarification of any section of this solicitation

or wishing to comment on any requirement of the solicitation must submit specific questions in writing no

later than the deadline for question indicated on the first page of this solicitation. Questions may be e-

mailed to the point of contact on the front page of this solicitation. Questions or comments not raised in

writing on or before the last day of the question period are thereafter waived. At the close of the question

period a copy of all questions or comments and the State's responses will be posted on the State’s web

site http://bgs.vermont.gov/purchasing/bids. Every effort will be made to post this information as soon as

possible after the question period ends, contingent on the number and complexity of the questions. All

information provided by vendors during this process will be public and bidders shall not provide

confidential information, except as described in 5.1 below.

1.6. CHANGES TO THIS SOLICITATION: Any modifications to this solicitation will be made in writing by the

State through the issuance of an Addendum to this solicitation and posted online at

http://www.bgs.state.vt.us/pca/bids/bids.php . Modifications from any other source are not to be

considered.

1.7. CONTRACT QUANTITY: Any quantities stated in the detailed requirements of this solicitation are

estimates only based on prior usage, and are annual quantities, unless otherwise stated. Actual

purchases may be higher or lower depending on the State’s needs.

2. DETAILED REQUIREMENTS:

2.1. State will award one or more contracts. It also reserves the right to make additional awards to other

vendors who submitted proposals at any time if such award is deemed to be in the best interest of the

State.

2.2. Vendors are expected to take an active role in “marketing” the contract. The State will publish copies of the

contracts on their web site, but it is up to the vendors to take a proactive role in maintaining the contracts.

2.3. The State reserves the right to make purchases outside of the awarded contracts where it is deemed in the

best interests of the State.

2.4. The contract pricing will be reviewed from time to time and if it is found to be no longer competitive, the

contract may be renegotiated or canceled.

2.5. Vendors must have ability or commitment to accept and process purchase orders electronically, as well as

online payment via a purchase card. Vendors must inform the State if pricing is affected by use of a

purchasing card to procure the products included in this RFP. No such increase in pricing will be permitted

unless approved by the State.

2.6. The successful bidder must offer a wide variety of Apple products. These products must include, but not

be limited to:

Revised August 21, 2025

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2.6.1. iPads all available models

2.6.2. Macintosh line including laptop and desktop.

2.6.3. Apple and third-party Apple accessories

2.6.4. Services including repair work.

2.6.5. iPhones shall not be included.Insert Line Items listing product / equipment offerings, price per each,

and quantity ordered, as applicable.

2.7. There must be dedicated account representatives that can be easily reached by a toll free telephone

number. The individual must be able to provide detailed product information (or have personnel available

who can answer technical questions) and take orders. It is expected that all calls and e-mail requests

whether for sales or technical information will be acknowledged within three hours of receipt and if it is

necessary to research the question an answer given within 6 hours. The vendor email contact address

must be a group email, able to stay consistent despite any changes in representatives.

2.8. Each vendor awarded a contract must establish a Vermont account team including a single point of

contact for contract administration. The primary contract representative is responsible for the performance

of the contract and must provide timely response to all requests from the State. The account team will

consist of dedicated personnel that will handle sales and service issue. Purchasing & Contract

Administration must be notified immediately of any changes in the team makeup. A representative will be

available between 7:45 AM and 4:30 PM Eastern time. Each vendor awarded will train sales staff to

ensure they are well versed in the terms and conditions of this contract. If necessary, upon request vendor

must be willing to create a remedy plan for sales staff and partners who do not comply with contract terms

and conditions. There will also be a clear upward escalation path established for dispute resolution that will

handle complaints and/or problems with orders and accounts.

2.9. Each vendor is to be the sole point of contact as applicable by contract with regard to contractual matters,

payment of any and all charges resulting from the purchase of the equipment and maintenance of the

equipment for the term of the contract unless otherwise specified by the State. The vendor must be able to

receive, process, and invoice orders unless the State has agreed to assign these functions to a partner.

2.10.

Vendors must have immediate access to inventory of commonly purchased items that will allow for

one or two day order fulfillment.

2.11.

Bidders must provide information on warehouse location(s), size of inventory, average ship time

after receipt of order, average fill rate, average length of time to fill back orders and average error rate.

2.12.

Bidders must describe their return policy.

2.13.

Vendors must agree to and schedule an annual vendor performance meeting to be held each year

with the Office of Purchasing & Contracting as well as the Department of Information and Innovation to

discuss performance and needs. Participation by the vendor is mandatory.

2.14.

Vendors must make available, upon request, procedures for addressing and resolving customer

problems and complaints regarding service, equipment, or billing. This process must include timelines and

escalation process. These procedures must be reviewed annually during the annual vendor performance

meeting.

2.15.

Bidders may propose suggestions on improvements and/or alternatives for doing business with

your company that will make this contract more cost effective for your company and participating public

agencies.

3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:

3.1. PRICING: Bidders must price the terms of this solicitation at their best pricing. Any and all costs that

Bidder wishes the State to consider must be submitted for consideration. If applicable, all equipment

pricing is to include F.O.B. delivery to the ordering facility. No request for extra delivery cost will be

honored. All equipment shall be delivered assembled, serviced, and ready for immediate use, unless

otherwise requested by the State.

Revised August 21, 2025

Page 3 of 23

3.1.1.Prices and/or rates shall remain firm for the initial term of the contract. The pricing policy submitted by

Bidder must (i) be clearly structured, accountable, and auditable and (ii) cover the full spectrum of

materials and/or services required.

3.1.2.Cooperative Agreements. Bidders that have been awarded similar contracts through a competitive

bidding process with another state and/or cooperative are welcome to submit the pricing in response

to this solicitation.

3.2. STATEMENT OF RIGHTS: The State shall have the authority to evaluate Responses and select the

Bidder(s) as may be determined to be in the best interest of the State and consistent with the goals and

performance requirements outlined in this solicitation. The State of Vermont reserves the right to obtain

clarification or additional information necessary to properly evaluate a proposal. Failure of bidder to

respond to a request for additional information or clarification could result in rejection of that bidder's

proposal. To secure a project that is deemed to be in the best interest of the State, the State reserves the

right to accept or reject any and all bids, in whole or in part, with or without cause, and to waive

technicalities in submissions. The State also reserves the right to make purchases outside of the awarded

contracts where it is deemed in the best interest of the State.

3.2.1.Best and Final Offer (BAFO). At any time after submission of Responses and prior to the final

selection of Bidder(s) for Contract negotiation or execution, the State may invite Bidder(s) to provide a

BAFO. The state reserves the right to request BAFOs from only those Bidders that meet the minimum

qualification requirements and/or have not been eliminated from consideration during the evaluation

process.

3.2.2.Presentation. An in-person or webinar presentation by the Bidder may be required by the State if it

will help the State’s evaluation process. The State will factor information presented during

presentations into the evaluation. Bidders will be responsible for all costs associated with providing

the presentation.

3.3. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:

3.3.1.Organizational Conflict of Interest (OCOI): An OCOI arises when a bidder as a business entity has

interests (for example, customers, partners, contracts) that could undermine, or reasonably be

perceived to undermine, its faithful and unbiased performance of a contract with the State that may

result from this solicitation.

3.3.2.Personal Conflict of Interest (PCOI): A PCOI arises when an interest held by an individual, agent or

employee of a bidder could undermine, or reasonably be perceived to undermine, its faithful and

unbiased performance of a contract with the State that may result from this solicitation.

3.3.3.Requirements: The State does not seek to contract with any individual or business entity having a

conflict of interest which cannot be mitigated to the State’s satisfaction. To ensure the State’s

awareness of actual, potential, or reasonably perceived PCOIs and OCOIs, bidders shall:

a) Prior to submitting a proposal, conduct an internal review of its current affiliations and activities and

identify actual, potential, or reasonably perceived PCOIs or OCOIs relative to a contract with the

State that may result from this solicitation.

b) Disclose in your proposal any actual or potential PCOI or OCOI or the existence of any facts that

may cause a reasonably prudent person to perceive a PCOI or OCOI with respect to a contract

with the State that may result from this solicitation. Disclose, also, any actions proposed to mitigate

the PCOI or OCOI.

The State shall have sole discretion to determine whether a PCOI or OCOI can be mitigated to the State’s

satisfaction and may discuss the conflict with the bidder if and to the extent the State deems discussion

necessary to its determination. The State reserves the right to (a) reject from further consideration any

proposal having a PCOI or OCIO that cannot be mitigated to the State’s full satisfaction and (b) terminate

a contract upon discovery that a contractor failed to disclose facts pertaining to a PCOI or OCOI in its

proposal, or otherwise misrepresented relevant information to the State.

3.4. EXECUTIVE ORDER 05-16: CLIMATE CHANGE CONSIDERATIONS IN STATE PROCUREMENTS:

Revised August 21, 2025

Page 4 of 23

For bid amounts exceeding $25,000.00 Bidders are requested to complete the Climate Change

Considerations in State Procurements Certification, which is included in the Certificate of Compliance for

this solicitation.

After consideration of all relevant factors, a bidder that demonstrates business practices that promote

clean energy and address climate change as identified in the Certification, shall be given favorable

consideration in the competitive bidding process. Such favorable consideration shall be consistent with

and not supersede any preference given to resident bidders of the State and/or products raised or

manufactured in the State, as explained in the Method of Award section. But, such favorable

consideration shall not be employed if prohibited by law or other relevant authority or agreement.

3.5. METHOD OF AWARD: Awards will be made under the provisions of 29 V.S.A. § 903. The State may

award one or more contracts and reserves the right to make additional awards to other compliant bidders

at any time if such award is deemed to be in the best interest of the State. All other considerations being

equal, preference will be given to the following as identified in the applicable Certificate of Compliance.

3.5.1.resident bidders of the state and/or to products raised or manufactured in the state;

3.5.2.purchase of goods, products, or materials produced in the United States (including but not limited to

iron, aluminum, steel, cement, and other manufactured products) when the award involves the use of

applicable federal funds under 2 C.F.R. § 200.322)

3.5.3.bidders who have practices that promote clean energy and address climate change.

3.6. CONTRACT NEGOTIATION: Upon completion of the evaluation process, the State may select one or

more bidders with which to negotiate a contract, based on the evaluation findings and other criteria

deemed relevant for ensuring that the decision made is in the best interest of the State. In the event State

is not successful in negotiating a contract with a selected bidder, the State reserves the option of

negotiating with another bidder, or to end the proposal process entirely.

3.7. COST OF PREPARATION: Bidder shall be solely responsible for all expenses incurred in the

preparation of a response to this solicitation and shall be responsible for all expenses associated with any

presentations or demonstrations associated with this request and/or any proposals made.

3.8. CONTRACT TERMS: The selected bidder(s) will be expected to sign a contract with the State, including

the Standard Contract Form and Attachment C as attached to this solicitation for reference. If IT

Attachment D is included in this solicitation, terms may be modified based upon the solution proposed by

the Bidder, subject to approval by the Agency of Digital Services.

3.8.1.Business Registration. To be awarded a contract by the State of Vermont a bidder (except an

individual doing business in his/her own name) must be registered with the Vermont Secretary of

State’s office https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/registration/ and must obtain a Contractor’s

Business Account Number issued by the Vermont Department of Taxes http://tax.vermont.gov/ .

3.8.2.The contract will obligate the bidder to provide the services and/or products identified in its bid, at the

prices listed.

3.8.3.Payment Terms. Percentage discounts may be offered for prompt payments of invoices; however,

such discounts must be in effect for a period of 30 days or more in order to be considered in making

awards.

3.8.4.Quality. If applicable, all products provided under a contract with the State will be new and unused,

unless otherwise stated. Factory seconds or remanufactured products will not be accepted unless

specifically requested by the purchasing agency. All products provided by the contractor must meet

all federal, state, and local standards for quality and safety requirements. Products not meeting these

standards will be deemed unacceptable and returned to the contractor for credit at no charge to the

State.

3.9. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION: Bidders are requested to complete the Environmental Information

Form which is included in the Certificate of Compliance for this solicitation identifying the following for each

product being quoted:

a. Percent (%) of recycled content and post-consumer content; and

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This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.

TITLE	QUESTIONS DUE	ANSWERS POSTED	DUE DATE	NO POSTING AFTER
Apple Products and Services	03/25/2026 04:30PM		04/01/2026 04:30PM