T0741 Amendment 1 7.19.2021.docx

PHILIP D. MURPHY

Governor State of New Jersey

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

DIVISION OF PURCHASE AND PROPERTY

PROCUREMENT BUREAU

33 WEST STATE STREET

P. O. BOX 230

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY 08625-0230

ELIZABETH MAHER MUOIO

State Treasurer

SHEILA Y. OLIVER

Lt. Governor

MAURICE A. GRIFFIN

Acting Director https://www.njstart.gov

July 19, 2021

To: All Interested Vendors {Bidders}

Re: Bid Solicitation # 21DPP00605 Bid Solicitation: T0741 Foods: Entrees, Frozen, Kosher, Halal, Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian for NJ Department of Corrections Quote Submission Due Date: August 3, 2021 (2:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Bid Amendment #1

The following constitutes Bid Amendment #1 to the above referenced Bid Solicitation:

· This Bid Amendment includes answers to questions;

It is the sole responsibility of the Vendor {Bidder} to be knowledgeable of all of the additions, deletions, clarifications, and modifications to the Bid Solicitation and/or the New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions relative to this Bid Solicitation as set forth in all Bid Amendments.

All other instructions, terms, and conditions of the Bid Solicitation shall remain the same.

Bid Solicitation: # 21DPP00605 T0741 Foods: Entrees, Frozen, Kosher, Halal, Ovo-Lacto Vegetarian for NJ Department of Corrections Answers to Questions

Section Reference Question (Bolded) and Answer

Where applicable, each question references the appropriate Bid Solicitation section.

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Answer: Yes. Prior to the Quote Opening Deadline, a Vendor {Bidder} should review the documents comprising the submitted Quote to ensure that all of the required documents have been completed and attached. Oftentimes a Quote is deemed non-responsive because a Vendor {Bidder} fails to attach a required form or attaches a blank form. To review a submitted a Quote a Vendor {Bidder} should log into NJSTART and review each document attached to the Quote submission. Instructions on how to review a submitted Quote can be found in the Quick Reference Guide entitled How to Review a Submitted Quote which is available on the NJSTART Vendor Support Page under Vendor Reference Guides.

Answer: As stated in Bid Solicitation Section 1.3.1.1, Exceptions to the NJ Standard Terms and Conditions (SSTC): "Questions regarding the SSTC proposed exceptions to mandatory requirements, including the Special and Standard Terms and Conditions in Sections 5 and 9 of this Bid Solicitation must be posed during this Electronic Question and Answer period and shall contain the Vendor's {Bidder's} suggested changes and the reason(s) for the suggested changes." Additionally, as stated in Section 4.1, General: "Quotes including Vendor {Bidder} proposed terms and conditions may be accepted, but Vendor {Bidder} proposed terms or conditions that conflict with those contained in the Bid Solicitation, as defined in Section 2.0 of this Bid Solicitation, or that diminish the State's rights under any Blanket P.O. resulting from the Bid Solicitation, may render a Quote non-responsive."

Answer: Yes; Vendors {Bidders} are required to provide, with its Quote, specification data sheets for an equivalent brand bid on a given price line. Vendors {Bidders} offering approved products identified in this Bid Solicitation are not required to submit specification data sheets for those approved products only.

Bid Solicitation Section 4.4.3.3 states: "Vendors {Bidders} shall submit with its Quote specification data sheets for all equivalent brands bid. The specification data sheets must document that its product bid meets or exceeds the requirements of the Bid Solicitation specifications.

Vendors {Bidders} offering approved products identified in this Bid Solicitation are not required to submit specification data sheets for those approved products only. However, all required information identified on the State-Supplied Price Sheet is necessary to confirm specification conformance and must be provided."

Answer: Price adjustments may be considered following Blanket P.O. award. Price adjustments may be requested pursuant to New Jersey State Standard Terms & Condition Section 6.1 which states "in an exceptional situation the State may consider a price adjustment. Requests for price adjustments must include justification and documentation."

Answer: Bid Solicitation Section 3.7, Estimated Order Quantities, lists the estimated order quantities that will be ordered by DOC over the three (3) year Blanket P.O. term.

Bid Solicitation Section 3.7 states, “The State makes no guarantees of Blanket P.O. usage or total quantities ordered during the Blanket P.O. term, including any extension(s) thereof. The State reserves the right to increase, decrease or eliminate quantities in their entirety. Product ordering is on an as-needed basis, normally monthly, and order frequency may vary.”

Answer: Bid Solicitation Section 3.1 lists all required specifications for the Bid Solicitation. These specifications, including the inclusion of plastic knives, have been confirmed by the Using Agency to be current and accurate.

Answer: The State does not track average time between Quote opening dates and Blanket P.O. award dates.

The current anticipated ‘Blanket P.O. Effective Date’ of January 3, 2022, may be found on the ‘Summary’ page of the Bid Solicitation in NJSTART, and any revisions to the anticipated award date may be found there.

Answer: The State does not typically make an effort to ensure that a current Vendor {Contractor} has sold all of their existing inventory before a new Blanket P.O. is in place. Per Bid Solicitation Section 7.2, Blanket P.O.s will be made with reasonable promptness by written notice to the Vendor(s) {Contractor(s)} intended for award.

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