27NUTRL6 - Q and A - FINAL.docx

This is a Questions and Answers document issued by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in response to vendor inquiries regarding Request for Response 27NUTRL6 for dried cranberries. The procurement seeks low-sugar dried cranberries made exclusively from Massachusetts-grown and harvested cranberries in two flavors: Fruit Punch and Raspberry Lemonade. The total quantity required is 4,870 cases per flavor, with Fruit Punch delivery scheduled for August/September 2026 and Raspberry Lemonade for February/March 2027. Responses were due by June 29, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET through COMMBUYS, with the question submission deadline set for June 22, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. ET. The contract term runs one year from approval through June 30, 2027, with four optional 12-month renewal periods extending through June 30, 2031. No pre-bid conference was scheduled.

The Q&A clarifications address critical operational details regarding the procurement structure. Delivery will occur to a single location—the warehouse of the awarded contractor from bid 27NUTRL4—rather than multiple locations or direct distribution to Regional Administrators (RAs). The vendor selected for 27NUTRL6 will supply the product to the state-contracted warehouse/distributor (27NUTRL4), which will then purchase, hold inventory, and distribute the product to RAs at the contracted price. Vendors must provide product codes and cost per case delivered to the warehouse on the fee sheet. Samples are not required before bid opening but are appreciated. No anticipated expenditure or maximum obligation amount is specified in the documentation. Pricing structure prohibits increases during the first contract year, with renewal-year increases requiring at least 30 days' notice and capped at five percent or the Boston-Cambridge-Newton Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower.