Invitation to Bid: Chemical for the Surface Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants.

Location:	South Carolina
Posted:	Jan 14, 2026
Due:	Feb 5, 2026
Agency:	City of Florence
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	68 - Chemicals and Chemical Products
Solicitation No:	2025-87
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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INVITATION TO BID NO. 2025-87

CHEMICALS FOR THE SURFACE WATER AND

WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANTS

Sealed bids will be received in the Office of Purchasing and Contracting in the City Center at

324 W. Evans Street, Florence, South Carolina, 29501 until February 5, 2026 at 2:00 pm from

qualified vendors to deliver Calcium Hydroxide Greer Lime, Calcium Hydroxide Hydrated Lime,

Chlorine Gas, Hydrofluosilic Acid, Ferric Sulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hypochlorite

(Liquid Bleach), Polymer and Sulfur Dioxide, Chemicals are to be ordered on an “as needed”

basis.

Bids must be submitted in a sealed envelope with “Bid No. 2025-87 Chemicals” clearly marked

on the outside of the envelope for easy identification by the City of Florence. The City does not

accept electronic/emailed bids. Any bids received later than the specified time will not be

accepted/considered. The city will not be responsible for late submission caused by the postal

service, other carriers, or any other delivery problems regardless of the reason. Bids submitted

by mail, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, etc. must meet these same requirements and

should be addressed to:

City of Florence

City Center

324 W. Evans St.

Florence, SC 29501-3430

The City of Florence under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes ensures

that no person shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age, be

excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to

discrimination under any program or activity it administers.

La ciudad de Florencia en el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964 y los estatutos, se

asegura de que ninguna persona por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, discapacidad,

edad, ser excluido de participar en, ser negado los beneficios de, o ser de otra manera sujeto a

discriminación bajo cualquier programa o actividad que administra.

The City of Florence reserves the right to engage in discussions with any or all responsible bidders

who submit bids which appear to be eligible for award, for the purpose of clarification to assure

full understanding of and responsiveness to the Invitation to bid requirements herein.

This solicitation does not commit the City of Florence to award a contract/purchase order, to pay

any costs incurred in the preparation of a bid, or to procure or contract for services. The City of

Florence reserves the right to reject any and all responses, to cancel this solicitation, and to make

an award deemed in its own best interest.

Lynwood F. Givens

Purchasing Agent

MINORITY AND WOMAN OWNED BUSINESSES

Minority Business Owners (minority or woman owned businesses) will be afforded full opportunity

to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds

of race, color, creed, sex or national origin in consideration for an award. It is the policy of the City

that minority business and women owned business enterprises (MBE/WBE) have an opportunity

to participate at all levels of contracting in the performance of City projects to the extent practical

and consistent with the efficient performance of the contract.

LOCAL AND MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PURCHASING PROGRAM

When lowest bid is the principal determining factor in a bid selection process it is the intent of

the City of Florence to provide preference first to local businesses within the City or County of

Florence; however, if no local business is eligible or able to participate, preference shall then be

provided by the City to minority business enterprises based on the following guidelines:

a. For purposes of this policy, a “local business” is defined as a person, firm, contractor,

corporation, or other business entity offering the services and/or products being bid by

the City that maintain a place of business and have a physical business address

located and operating within the City or County of Florence. The business must have

been established for not less than one year within the City or County of Florence and

have a valid City of Florence Business License for a minimum of 12 months prior to the

bid date.

b. For purposes of this policy, a minority business enterprise (MBE) is defined as an MBE

that is certified in accordance with South Carolina Regulations § 19-445.2160, as

authorized by §11-35-5270 the South Carolina Code of Laws, as amended.

c. When lowest bid is the principal determining factor in the selection process any “local

business” as defined in Subsection A above that submits a responsible and responsive

bid within 5% (if the business is located within the City of Florence) or 3% (if the

business is located within Florence County) of the non-local bidder who submitted the

lowest bid may match the bid submitted by the non-local bidder. A “local business”

that is within the percentage guidelines of the lowest bid received shall then be eligible

for award of the contract.

d. If the lowest bid is not a “local business” and a “local business” is within the

percentage guidelines of the lowest bid received, the “local business”, subject to the

provision of Subsection H below, shall be awarded the contract if it is willing to provide

goods or services at the same price of the lowest bid received.

e. If conditions of Subsections C above are met and the qualified “local business”

declines or is unable to match the lowest bid, then the option to do so moves to the

next qualified “local business”, if such business' bid is within the percentage guideline

of the lowest bid and is similarly responsible and responsive.

f. In the event there is no “local business” eligible or willing to match the lowest bid, the

lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted by an MBE, if any, would be allowed

the opportunity to match the bid submitted by the non-local bidder and thereby be

awarded the contract when lowest bid is the primary determining factor in the bid

selection process.

g. If a procurement is to be made pursuant to state funding requirements, federal funding

requirements, bond covenants, or other outside funding source requirements which

prohibit or restrict local or MBE preference, then no local or MBE preference

consideration will be given.

h. The provisions for a local or MBE preference does not prohibit the right of the City to

compare quality of materials proposed for purchase and compare qualifications,

character, responsibility and fitness of all persons, firms, contractors, corporations, or

other business entities submitting bids. Accordingly, the local or MBE preference for a

particular procurement may be waived by the City Manager upon written

recommendation and justification by the Department Director.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS:

The City of Florence reserves the right to select more than one vendor to provide the products

solicited in this invitation to bid. Upon evaluation of the responses to this solicitation, if deemed

in the city’s best interest, the city may award one contract or multiple contracts based on low bid

for each individual product.

CONTRACT TERM AND OPTION TO RENEW

The initial term of the contract resulting from this invitation to bid, shall run for one (1) year. The

parties thereafter shall have the option to renew this agreement for four (4) additional one-year

terms, one year at a time, but only upon the mutual agreement of both parties.

PRICE CHANGES

During the initial term of this contract, there shall be no increases to the prices set forth in the

response to this invitation to bid. Afterward, the City of Florence Purchasing Agent must be

notified of any and all price increases during the term of the contract agreement. The city reserves

the right upon any price increases to accept the price increase or subject the product to the

competitive bidding process. Any price increase imposed without prior notice to the City of

Florence will invalidate any contract issued as a result of this solicitation. Consideration will be

made for price increases due to fuel surcharges.

All price change notices must be accompanied by a copy of the price increase letter from the

product manufacturer. No price increases shall be for more than the manufacturer’s price

increase during the term of the contract.

INSTRUCTION TO BIDDERS

The successful bidder must be authorized to sell the stated product outlined in the specifications

of this bid document.

All bids must be signed by an authorized officer or agent of the company submitting the bid.

The City will assume no responsibility for oral instructions or suggestions. All official

correspondence in regard to the specifications should be directed to and will be issued by the

City’s Purchasing Agent

DEFINITIONS: Responsible Bidder means a bidder who has the capability in all respects to fully

perform the stated requirements, and the integrity and reliability which will assure good faith

performance.

Responsive Bidder means a bidder who has submitted a bid which conforms in all material

respects to the Invitation to Bid.

PROTEST: Any actual or prospective vendor, bidder, or contractor who is aggrieved in

connection with the solicitation or award of a contract may formally protest to the Chief Financial

Officers (CFO). The protest shall be submitted in writing within seven (7) days after such

aggrieved person or party has received the bid tabulation or the intent to award letter.

DISPUTES: In cases of disputes as to whether or not an item or service quoted or delivered

meets the specifications, the decision of the City of Florence shall be final and binding on all

parties. The Purchasing Agent may request in writing, the recommendation of the head of the

City agency using the item or other objective sources.

DEVIATIONS: Any deviations from the specifications contained herein must be noted in detail on

the bidder’s bid response for the City of Florence’s consideration. Failure to submit

documentation of deviations shall be grounds for rejection of the item offered to the City of

Florence.

CHANGES: Any changes in this Invitation to Bid after the purchase order/contract agreement

has been awarded must be with the written consent of the Purchasing Agent or the City Manager;

otherwise, the responsibility for such changes lies with the vendor.

INQUIRIES: Questions concerning this invitation to bid should be directed to the City

Purchasing Agent, Lynwood F. Givens in writing by e-mail at

lgivens@cityofflorence.com. The deadline for the submission of all inquiries is January

29, 2026 at 5:00 pm. Any changes to the specifications in the bid package shall be in

writing in an addendum. All Addendums will be posted on the City of Florence website at

www.cityofflorence.com. It will be the responsibility of bidders to periodically check the

website for addendums.

A complete copy of the City of Florence purchasing policies and procedures manual can

be downloaded from the City of Florence website at www.cityofflorence.com

INSPECTION/ACCEPTANCE of these product shall be conducted by Michael

Hemingway, Utilities Director, or his designee.

CRITERA FOR AWARD

The bid is to be awarded to the lowest responsible/responsive bidder that best meets all of the

City of Florence’s specifications. Timeliness of completion will also be a consideration.

Firms are requested to submit Two (2) copies of the bid on the City of Florence Bid sheet

included in this invitation to bid. The bid will be awarded to the lowest responsible/responsive

bidder that best meets the City of Florence’s specification/scope of work, taking into consideration

but not limited to the following:

A. Superior quality

B. Warranty of Product

C. Timeliness of delivery

D. Adequate Service

E. Operating cost of product over its lifetime

F. Past performance of bidder previous city contracts

G. Geographical location of bidder in relations to Florence SC

The City shall have sole discretion in evaluating the bids. The City reserves the

right to select the bid that it may determine to be in the best interest of the City.

The City also reserves the right to reject any and all bid, including that of the

selected Contractor if satisfactory contract negotiations cannot be concluded.

SPECIFICATIONS

Chemical

Calcium Hydroxide Greer

Lime (50 lb. bag)

Calcium Hydroxide Hydrated

Lime (Bulk)

Chlorine Gass 150 lb.

Cylinders

Hydrofluosilic Acid

(Fluoride)

Ferric Sulfate

Sodium Hydroxide Caustic

Sodium Hypochlorite (Liquid

Bleach)

Polymer: Required Jar Testing

before end of bid or

acceptance

Sulfur Dioxide (150 lb.

Cylinder)

Strength

or Purity

99%

98.3% P

100%

25% S

13-15% S

50% S

12-15% S

Gallons or

Weight per

Order

45,000 lbs.

(900) bags

40,000 lbs.

8,250 lbs. (55-

65 Cylinders)

44,000 lbs.

47,000 lbs.

4,500 Gallons

23,00 lbs. totes

150 lb. (9

Cylinders)

Delivery

Locations

1006 W.

Darlington St.

2598 Florence

Harllee Blvd.

1006 W.

Darlington St.

& 650 Buie

Dr.

Timmonsville

2598 Florence

Harllee Blvd

2598 Florence

Harllee Blvd

2598 Florence

Harllee Blvd

1000 Stockade

Dr. & 2598

Florence

Harllee Blvd.

1000 Stockade

Drive

650 Buie

Street,

Timmonsville,

➢ The successful vendor must loan to the City at no charge and for the term of the

contract, all cylinders needed for storage of Chlorine. The cylinders must have a

capacity to hold 150 lbs. of gaseous chlorine and gaseous dioxide. The

containers must be delivered on a short bed truck capable of offloading the

containers at all of the various plant sites listed.

TAXES

The City of Florence pays SC Sales Taxes in the amount of 8%. However, the City of Florence

is exempt from Federal Taxes and will issue exemption certificates, if requested. INCLUDE SC

SALES TAX WITH YOUR BID.

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

bid number	bid description	cloising date	bid file
2025-87 Invitation to Bid: Chemical for the Surface Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants.	The City of Florence is accepting sealed bids from qualified vendor to provide chemicals to the City's surface water and wastewater treatment plants.	Thu, 02/05/2026	2025-87-invitation-to-bid.pdf

Invitation to Bid: Chemical for the Surface Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants.

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