Water Treatment Chemical: Liquid Ferric Sulfate (Ferric)

Orange Water and Sewer Authority
Our community's trusted partner for clean water and environmental protection.
IFB NO. 26-009
INVITATION FOR BID
FOR
WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL - LIQUID FERRIC SULFATE (FERRIC)
Date Issued: February 2, 2026

Table of Contents
NOTIFICATION .......................................................................................................................................................... 2
1 NOTICE OF INVITATION TO BID ...................................................................................................................... 2
2 TIMELINE .............................................................................................................................................................. 2
3 BIDDER INSTRUCTIONS ..................................................................................................................................... 3
3.1 Bid Requirements .................................................................................................................................................... 3
4 SELECTION PROCESS FOR BIDS FOR LIQUID FERRIC SULFATE, ............................................................ 4
5 GENERAL BID CONDITIONS .............................................................................................................................. 5
5.1 Questions and Addenda ........................................................................................................................................... 5
5.2 Public Bid Opening and Late Bids .......................................................................................................................... 5
5.3 Proprietary Information ........................................................................................................................................... 6
5.4 Method of Response ................................................................................................................................................ 6
5.5 Withdrawal of Bids ................................................................................................................................................. 6
5.6 Acceptance of Terms and Conditions ...................................................................................................................... 6
5.7 False, Incomplete or Unresponsive Statements ....................................................................................................... 6
5.8 Clear and Concise Submission ................................................................................................................................ 6
5.9 Prime Bidder Responsibilities ................................................................................................................................. 7
5.10 Minority Business Participation .............................................................................................................................. 7
5.11 Insurance ................................................................................................................................................................. 7
5.11.1 Excess/Umbrella Liability Insurance ............................................................................................................ 7
5.11.2 General Liability Insurance .......................................................................................................................... 7
5.11.3 General Liability Property Damage Liability ............................................................................................... 7
5.11.4 Automobile Liability Insurance .................................................................................................................... 7
5.11.5 Workers' Compensation Insurance ............................................................................................................... 7
5.12 Contract Term and Extension .................................................................................................................................. 7
5.12.1 Price Escalation ........................................................................................................................................... 8
6 PROTEST PROCEDURES ..................................................................................................................................... 8
6.1 Protests Received Prior to Receipt of Bids .............................................................................................................. 8
6.2 Selection Protests .................................................................................................................................................... 8
6.3 Filing Procedures .................................................................................................................................................... 8
7 COSTS AND DAMAGES ........................................................................................................................................ 8
Attachment A--------------Specifications
Attachment B--------------Bid Form
Attachment C--------------Certificate Regarding Conflict of Interest
Attachment D--------------Iran Divestment Act
Attachment E--------------Companies Boycotting Israel Divestment Act Form
Attachment F--------------Non-Collusion Affadavit
Attachment G--------------Reference Form
Attachment H--------------Response Checklist

NOTIFICATION
INVITATION FOR BID
SOLICITATION NO. 26-009
FOR
WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL - LIQUID FERRIC SULFATE (FERRIC)
1 NOTICE OF INVITATION TO BID
The Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA), invites sealed bids from qualified suppliers for
the supply of Liquid Ferric Sulfate, used in water treatment processes.
To obtain a copy of the Invitation for Bid (IFB) document, suppliers shall download the document
from the OWASA'S website at https://www.owasa.org/bid-opportunities
Bids are solicited and will be received at Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA),
Administration Building, 400 Jones Ferry Road Carrboro, NC 27510, until 2:00 p.m., ET
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, for the WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL - LIQUID FERRIC
SULFATE, SOLICITATION.
Questions regarding the IFB shall be directed to David Moore, Procurement Coordinator at
dmoore@owasa.org.
OWASA reserves the right to reject any or all Bids.
2 TIMELINE
DATE EVENTS
February 2, 2026 IFB distributed and posted to OWASA website
February 17, 2026 Inquiries must be received in writing by (e-mail only) to David
5:00 PM ET Moore at dmoore@owasa.org
February 20, 2026 Responses to all questions received will be posted on the OWASA
5:00 PM ET website.
March 3, 2026
Bids due at the administrative offices of OWASA
2:00 PM ET
March 3, 2026
Public Bid Opening at the administrative offices of OWASA
2:15 PM ET
March 12, 2026(tentative) Notice of Intent to Award Contract
Contract Start Date
March 16, 2026(tentative)

3 BIDDER INSTRUCTIONS
Bids shall be delivered to David Moore, Procurement Coordinator, at Orange Water and Sewer
Authority (OWASA), 400 Jones Ferry Road, NC 27510. The outside of the envelope must be
marked BID: 26-009 WATER TREATMENT CHEMICAL - LIQUID FERRIC SULFATE, and
shall indicate the name, and address of the bidder.
OWASA reserves the right to reject any or all Bids for any reason determined by OWASA to be in
its best interest, or to award the bid to the lowest responsive responsible bidder, taking into
consideration quality, performance, and the time specified in the bids for the performance of the
contract.
3.1 Bid Requirements
INFORMATION REQUIRED FROM THE BIDDER
See Attachment H Response Checklist.
To determine responsiveness in the chemical solicitation, the following items must be
received:
Bid Submission Documents and Attachments
3.1.1 Specifications (Attachment A)
o
3.1.2 Bid Form (Attachment B)
o
3.1.4 Certificate Regarding Conflict-of-Interest (Attachment C)
o
3.1.5 Iran Divestment Act Certificate (Attachment D)
o
3.1.6 Companies Boycotting Israel Divestment Act Form (Attachment E)
o
3.1.7 Non-Collusion Affidavit (Attachment F)
o
3.1.8 Reference Form (Attachment G)
o
3.1.9 Response Checklist (Attachment H)
o
3.1.10 Provide Safety Data Sheets (SDS) of company's specific product.
o
3.1.11 Provide a Certificate of Analysis document with each delivery and an
o
affidavit of compliance with the bid which must specify by percentage the
following chemicals and characteristics. All analysis must be performed using EPA
approved analytical methods and/or by an accredited laboratory. Bidder must
provide the lab's certification credentials.
%Ferric Iron (Fe3+)
%Ferrous Iron (Fe2+)
%Total Iron
%Free Sulfuric Acid
Liquid Specific Gravity

% Solids (insoluble material)
3.1.12 Provide Delivery Lead Time for an Order.
o
3.1.13 Provide three references from facilities (not finance department) previously
o
supplied.
Provide two copies of your bid documents with one thumb drive.
4 SELECTION PROCESS FOR BIDS FOR LIQUID FERRIC SULFATE,
The selection process for bids for LIQUID FERRIC SULFATE will be conducted to identify
the lowest responsive and responsible bidder taking into consideration time, quality, and
performance. The steps are as follows:
Safety Data Sheets (SDS)-Pass/Fail
o
Certificate of Analysis-(COA)-Pass/Fail
o
Delivery Lead Time for an Order-Pass/Fail
o
Provide three references from facilities previously supplied-Pass/Fail
o
Lowest responsive responsible bidder
o
This selection process ensures a fair, transparent, and compliant procurement of LIQUID
FERRIC SULFATE, by evaluating critical criteria on a pass/fail basis and awarding the
contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, we aim to secure reliable deliveries,
high standards of quality and performance. Only contractors who pass all four criteria will be
considered. The chosen supplier must meet all contractual obligations and ensure timely and
reliable delivery of the product, contributing to the efficient operation of our services.
OWASA may waive any irregularities in any bid that does not prejudice other respondents.
OWASA reserves the right to reject any and all Bids.
Termination of Contract Resulting from this IFB.
OWASA reserves the right to cancel the whole or any part of the resulting Contract due to a
failure of the Supplier to carry out any obligation, term or condition. Prior to any termination
for Cause, OWASA will provide written notice to the Supplier, opportunity to respond and
opportunity to remedy. Some examples of material breach include, but are not limited to:
* The Supplier provides product that does not meet reasonable quality standards and is
not remedied in a timely manner
* The Supplier fails to ship the product or provide delivery within a reasonable amount
of time
* OWASA has reason to believe that the Supplier will not or cannot perform the
requirements or expectations of the contract
* Upon receipt of written notice of concern, the Supplier shall have three (3) business
days to provide a satisfactory response to OWASA. Failure on the part of the Supplier

to reasonably address all issues of concern may result in Contract cancellation and
termination
* OWASA reserves the right to cancel or suspend the use of this Contract if the Supplier
files for bankruptcy protection or is acquired by another party. Awarded supplier will
be responsible for disclosing to OWASA any litigation, bankruptcy or
suspensions/disbarments that occur during the Contract period. Failure to disclose may
result in immediate termination of the Contract
* OWASA may execute Contract termination without cause with a required 30-day
written notice of termination. Termination of Contract shall not relieve either party of
financial, product/service obligations incurred or accrued prior to termination
5 GENERAL BID CONDITIONS
5.1 Questions and Addenda
Any changes to this IFB document will be made by written addenda issued by OWASA. Upon
issuance, the addenda will be considered part of the IFB document and will prevail over
inconsistent or conflicting provisions contained in earlier versions of the IFB document.
Addenda will be available for download from the OWASA website in the same manner as the
IFB document. This process will be repeated each time an addendum is posted to the OWASA
website.
Bidders shall acknowledge their receipt of all addenda with their submission. As with other
required documentation, Bids that fail to provide a detailed listing of addenda received may be
excluded from further consideration for this solicitation.
It is the desire of OWASA to provide the same information to all interested parties to ensure
fairness and impartiality in the procurement process. To that end, OWASA will not respond to
telephone inquiries or personal visits. Visitation by respondents or their representatives may be
made to OWASA only at the pre-bid meeting, if held. All questions are to be submitted in
writing. Submit written questions via e-mail to the OWASA Procurement Coordinator at
dmoore@owasa.org by 5:00 pm Eastern Time on February 17, 2026. Responses to questions
will be posted on the OWASA website no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on February 20,
2026. Answers to questions or directives to Submitters regarding the IFB process by any
OWASA employee other than Mr. Moore and verbal answers to questions are not binding on
OWASA.
5.2 Public Bid Opening and Late Bids
The public bid opening for the current solicitation will be conducted on March 3, 2026 at 2:15
PM, at the main conference room of OWASA's administration offices. All interested parties
are invited to attend this transparent process. Please note that bids must be submitted by 2:00
PM on the day of the opening. Bids received after this time will not be accepted under any
circumstances. This strict adherence to deadlines ensures fairness and integrity in the
procurement process, allowing all participants to compete on an equal footing.

Public Bid Opening Location:
OWASA Administration Office
400 Jones Ferry Road
Carrboro, NC 27510
5.3 Proprietary Information
Any reservations on the use of data contained in the proposal shall be clearly stated in writing.
OWASA will attempt to comply with a Proposer's designation of proprietary/confidential
information. However, OWASA may not be able to withhold a record (data, document, etc.) or
deny access to a record requested by an individual (the public) when an obligation is imposed
upon OWASA under the North Carolina Public Records Act (Act). OWASA's determination to
withhold or disclose a record will be based upon the particular circumstances involving the
record in question and whether the record may be exempted from disclosure under the Act.
Records which the Proposer considers to be trade secrets and privileged or confidential must be
identified by the Proposer on each page submitted.
5.4 Method of Response
Responses to this IFB shall be made according to the specifications and instructions contained
herein. Failure to adhere to instructions may be cause for rejection of any Bid.
5.5 Withdrawal of Bids
Any bid may be withdrawn any time prior to the stated bid opening date and time (closing time).
The withdrawal request must be executed by the bidder or a duly authorized representative. The
withdrawal of the bid does not prejudice the right of the bidder to file a new bid prior to the bid
closing time. No bids may be withdrawn after the bid opening date and time.
5.6 Acceptance of Terms and Conditions
Bidders understand and agree that submission of a Bid will constitute acknowledgment and
acceptance of, and a willingness to comply with, all the terms, conditions, and criteria contained
in this IFB, except as otherwise specified in the Bid. Any and all parts of the submitted Bids
may become part of any subsequent Agreement between the selected Bidder and OWASA.
5.7 False, Incomplete or Unresponsive Statements
False, incomplete, or unresponsive statements in connection with a Bid may be sufficient cause
for rejection of the Bid. The evaluation and determination of the fulfillment of the above
requirement will be OWASA'S responsibility and its judgment shall be final.
5.8 Clear and Concise Submission
Bids shall provide a straightforward, concise delineation of the Bidder's capability to satisfy the
requirements of the IFB. Each Bid shall be submitted in the requested format and provide all

required information. Each Bid shall be signed in ink by a duly authorized officer of the
company.
5.9 Prime Bidder Responsibilities
The selected Bidder will be required to assume responsibility for all requested deliverables as
indicated in Attachment A-Specifications regardless of who produces them. Further, OWASA
will consider the selected Prime Bidder to be the sole point of contact with regard to contractual
matters, including payment of any and all charges resulting from the contract.
5.10 Minority Business Participation
It is the policy of OWASA to provide minority businesses an equal opportunity to participate
in all aspects of OWASA's contract activities. Bidder shall comply with OWASA's Minority
Business Participation Outreach Plan and Guidelines.
5.11 Insurance
During the performance of the Contract, bidder shall maintain the minimum levels of insurance
shown below and provide certificates of such coverage to Owner prior to performance. All
policies must provide ten (10) days advance written notice to Owner in the event of cancellation,
expiration, or alteration.
5.11.1 Excess/Umbrella Liability Insurance, with a limit of $4,000,000.
5.11.2 General Liability Insurance, with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 for each
occurrence and $1,000,000 in the aggregate.
5.11.3 General Liability Property Damage Liability, with a limit of $1,000,000 for
each occurrence.
5.11.4 Automobile Liability Insurance, with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 for
each person and $1,000,000 for each accident.
5.11.5 Workers' Compensation Insurance in accordance with statutory requirements and
Employers' Liability Insurance, with a limit of $1,000,000 for each occurrence.
5.12 Contract Term and Extension
The term of this Agreement shall be for one (1) year commencing on the Effective Date,
with the option for OWASA to extend for two (2) additional one (1) year periods upon
written notice at least 15 days prior to the end of the current term. Failure to exercise these
options will result in the Agreement's termination at the end of the then-current term.

5.12.1 Price Escalation
The Supplier shall notify OWASA of the Adjusted Price for each extension year no later
than 60 days prior to the commencement of that extension year. The Adjusted Price shall
be calculated using the Producer Price Index (PPI) for Basic Organic Chemicals (0614)
published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This adjustment shall be final and binding on
both parties for the duration of the extension year.
6 PROTEST PROCEDURES
6.1 Protests Received Prior to Receipt of Bids
Protests concerning the procedures of this solicitation must be submitted in writing to the
OWASA Director of Finance not later than five (5) working days prior to the date set for the
receipt of Bids. Upon receipt of a protest, the Director of Finance may, at his/her discretion,
extend or postpone the deadline for receipt of Bids. The Director of Finance will answer the
protest in writing not later than three (3) working days prior to the deadline date for receipt of
Bids.
6.2 Selection Protests
Following this announcement, a bidder may file a protest regarding the recommendation. A
protest of the recommendation must be in writing and must be received by the OWASA Director
of Finance not later than five (5) working days after the OWASA Announcement of Notice of
Intent to Award Contract. OWASA will consider all protests regarding the recommended
Bidder prior to executing the contract.
6.3 Filing Procedures
Any and all protests filed with the OWASA shall:
1. Include the name and address of the protester.
2. Identify the procurement.
3. Contain a statement of the legal and factual grounds for the protest and any supporting
documentation. The grounds for the protest must be fully supported.
4. Indicate the ruling or relief desired from OWASA.
Protests shall be filed with the OWASA Director of Finance, via personal delivery or courier to
400 Jones Ferry Road Carrboro, NC 27510; The Director of Finance will respond in detail to
each substantive issue raised in the protest. With regard to a properly filed protest, OWASA's
determination will be final.
7 COSTS AND DAMAGES
All costs of a protest shall be the responsibility of the protestor and undertaken at the protestor's
expense. OWASA will not be liable for damages to the Proposer filing the protest or to any
participant in the protest, on any basis, expressed or implied.

Specifications (Attachment A)
1. Intent of Specifications: Liquid ferric sulfate ((Fe (SO ) *nH O) is for use in the treatment
2 4 3 2
of potable drinking water
2. Anticipated annual amount: 78 loads at 45,000 to 50,000 lb per load for a total of
approximately 3,600,000 to 3,900,000 lbs per year
3. Liquid ferric sulfate (ferric) shall be delivered in tank truck quantities of approximately
~45,000lbs.
4. Ferric must be of high purity and made from material specifically for water treatment for
the purpose of coagulation.
5. Specifications shall be as follows:
Formula Fe (SO ) *nH O
2 4 3 2
Product Liquid Ferric Sulfate
Appearance Dark Reddish-Brown Liquid
Specific Gravity 1.560-1.640
Molecular Weight 399.8
(approximate)
Ferrous Iron (Fe2+) 0.15%
Free Acid (as H SO ) 0.10%
2 4
Ferris Iron (Fe3+) 12.3-14% by Weight
Iron (Fe) 12.5-14% by Weight
% Solids (insoluble 0.10%
material)
6. Liquid ferric sulfate must not contain the listed specific impurities in excess of the following
limits by weight:
Arsenic 1.0 mg/kg
Antimony 1.0 mg/kg
Mercury 0.2 mg/kg
Barium 6.0 mg/kg
Beryllium 1.0 mg/kg
Cadmium 0.5 mg/kg
Chloride 100 mg/kg
Chromium 5.0 mg/kg
Copper 5.0 mg/kg
Cyanide 1.0 mg/kg
Fluoride 60 mg/kg