B-50199 Purchase of Local Beef Question and Answer Addendum 2_~1.docx
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- Attached to
- SBE: IFB for Purchase of IL Local Ground Beef
- Solicitation number
- 26-586SBE-CHFED-B-50199
- Issued by
- Madison County, Illinois
About this file
This is a Question and Answer Addendum for Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Invitation for Bid (IFB) #26-586SBE-CHFED-B-50199 for the purchase of Illinois local ground beef. The solicitation seeks ground beef sourced from cattle raised on farms or ranches located within Illinois and processed at USDA-inspected facilities also within the state. The beef must meet specifications including 85/15 percent fat content or leaner (90/10 is acceptable but likely more expensive), be hormone-free, and come from animals graded Prime or Choice. The IFB permits bidders to be either single vendors aggregating beef from multiple farmers or independent farmers, with no restrictions on bidder type provided all requirements are met. Schools will order the local ground beef through an existing ISBE ordering system similar to current USDA Foods procurement processes, with additional guidance and training to be provided to schools in coming months.
The contract carries a budget cap of $2.5 to $3 million. Award determination will be based on bidders' ability to meet IFB requirements, lowest price, and volume capacity, with multiple bidders potentially awarded contracts to reach the total budget cap. Product labeling does not need to display hormone-free or grade specifications; bidders' attestation during submission is sufficient, though ISBE and school food authorities may request current certification documentation from the winning bidder at any time. The specifications do not require package labeling of hormone-free status or animal grades; rather, vendors must be prepared to provide certification documentation upon request to verify compliance with stated requirements.
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26-586SBE-CHFED-B-50199
SBE: IFB for Purchase of IL Local Ground Beef Question and Answer Addendum #2
1. Two of the requirements are that the ground beef is Hormone Free and that the ground beef comes from animals graded Prime or Choice. Is the ground beef required to be labeled on the package as this or just that the farmer is making sure these requirements are met?
ANSWER: The label does not need to include the hormone free or animal grade specifications. The bid submission will suffice that you are meeting the standards required within the bid specifications. If ISBE or agency-affiliated end users (school food authorities) reach out and would like to request documentation or a certification from the winning bidder, the vendor must be prepared to provide current certification at that time. If other questions arise over the presence of hormones within the beef, the agency will work with the appropriate oversight officials regarding the beef at that time of questioning.
2. I am currently in contact with my suppliers. I am aware the state is asking for 85/15 percent fat, would the state consider 90/10 percent fat?
ANSWER: The state will accept beef that is 85/15 or leaner. We believe that 90/10 percentage fat would be more expensive than the beef that is 85/15 percent fat. Since the invitation for bid will be awarded to the lowest price bidder(s), that would be a significant factor for the bidder to consider
3. Do the cows themselves have to be sourced from Illinois?
ANSWER: Yes - “Local” is defined as beef derived from cattle that have been raised on a farm or ranch located within the State of Illinois and subsequently processed at a USDA-inspected facility also located within Illinois.
4. I wondered if you could provide some insight/clarification into the IL State Board of Education’s bid solicitation #26-586SBE-CHFED-B-50199 for Illinois ground beef. Is this intended for a single vendor who aggregates local ground beef from numerous farmers, or is it appropriate for multiple independent farmers to submit bids for the quantity that they would be able to reasonably supply?
Answer: Bidders can be from a single vendor who aggregates local ground beef from numerous farmers OR the bidder could be independent farmers. There are no limitations on who can bid as long as the IFB requirements can be met. Bids will be reviewed based on bidders that can meet the IFB’s requirements, then based on lowest price and then the volume each bidder can provide will be used to determine how many bidders can be awarded the contract in order to reach the $2.5-$3 million cap on this contract.
5. Additionally, how would an eligible school go about requesting the local ground beef once it is made available?
Answer: Schools will have the option of ordering the local ground beef through an existing ISBE ordering system that schools are familiar with. It will work similarly to how they order USDA Foods and/or bonus items. Schools will be provided additional guidance and training in the coming months.
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