The State of Rhode Island negotiates a Master Price Agreement for all of the State's binding needs.
The bindery that wins the bid handles binding for URI, RIC, CCRI, the State Law Library, and any other state agencies that require binding. (Of the state agencies, URI Library is the largest binding "customer.")
Each contract lasts for three years, with two one-year renewal options.
From the mid-1990s through 2008, the contract was awarded to Ridley's Book Bindery, of Ithaca, NY. In December 2010, Ridley's went out of business, and the contract was taken over by Acme Binding of Charlestown, Mass. On June 16, 2011, Tony Cowell told me that the contract had been extended one year through 6/30/2012. The current contract, which runs from 7/1/2012 through 6/30/2015 was awarded to Acme. The contract was extended once to end 6/30/2016 and a second time to end 6/30/2017, with no extensions remaining (see user guide here https://www.purchasing.ri.gov/RIVIP/MPAs/139userguide.pdf and the updated MPA and price list here http://www.purchasing.ri.gov/RIVIP/MPAs/139part1.pdf).
The last two bids were drafted by John "Tony" Cowell, Jr. (401-574-8114 / John.Cowell@purchasing.ri.gov) of the Department of Administration. Before the contract runs out, it is important to contact the DOA to make sure they still have a copy of our binding specifications on file, and that these will be included in the next RFQ. It is essential that any commercial bindery that bids on the contract be able to meet these specifications.
In 2017, Tony retired. The 2017 bid is being handled by Cheryl McGurn (401-574-8130 / Cheryl.McGurn@purchasing.ri.gov).
Prospective bidders can find RFQ's here http://www.purchasing.ri.gov/bidding/BidSearch.aspx by searching for the keyword "Binding."
The 2008 RFQ is here: http://www.purchasing.ri.gov/RIVIP/stateagencybids/7082858.pdf [and here, in PDF]
The 2012 RFQ is here: https://www.purchasing.ri.gov/RIVIP/StateAgencyBids/7457847.pdf [and here, in PDF]
The 2012-2015 Master Price Agreement, awarded to Acme Bookbinding, is available in PDF here. (The link to it is at http://www.purchasing.ri.gov/MPA/MPAAwards.aspx?MPANumber=139&MPADesc=Book%20Binding.)
Tony explained that bidding goes to the "first lowest responsible and responsive bidder." Thus to the lowest bidder, unless you can prove (through lots of paperwork, etc.) that the winner is not "responsible and responsive."
Since this is a Master Price Agreement, it must go to bid. There is no amount set for the contract / purchase, so there is no amount under which an RFP would not have to take place (since amount of contract is not set or known ahead of time.)
Ridley's Book Bindery, Inc.
2435 North Triphammer Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
Phone: 607-257-0212
Fax: 607-257-7977
Email: office@ridleysbookbindery.com
Web: http://www.ridleysbookbindery.com/
In December 2010, we received a letter from Ridley's announcing that they were going out of business, and that ACME Bookbinding had acquired its assets and customer base. We later received a letter from ACME Bookbinding stating that they were working transfer the Ridley database of titles for our account.
HFGroup – Acme Binding
80 Cambridge Street
P.O. Box 290699
Charlestown, MA 02129-0212
Phone: 617-242-1100
Fax: 617-242-3764
Email: info@HFGroup.com
Web: http://www.acmebinding.com/
Contacts:
Paul Parisi, President — pparisi@HFGroup.com
Pat Nuttall — 617-242-1100 x225 — pnuttall@HFGroup.com