T2499 Q and A Bid Amendment 03.31.22~2.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

March 31, 2022

To: All Interested Vendors {Bidders}

Re: Bid Solicitation # 22DPP00720 T2499 Foods: Various Foods Items- Statewide

Quote Submission Due Date: April 13, 2022 (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 #22DPP00720 T2499 Foods: Various Foods Items- Statewide

Answers to Questions

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

Section Reference Question (Bolded) and Answer

A: It is recommended that users utilize Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer to view PDFs. Certain PDF forms cannot be opened in the Chrome or Firefox built in PDF viewers that are enabled by default. If using Chrome or Firefox it is recommended that the file is downloaded instead by clicking the download button in the upper right-hand corner of the browser after an error message is received. An alternative option is to disable the built in PDF viewers in Chrome or Firefox.

This updated answer supersedes the answer posted in NJ Start Q & A Tab.

A: 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.

A: As stated in Bid Solicitation Section 2.2, "Questions regarding the State of New Jersey Standard Terms and Conditions and exceptions to mandatory requirements MUST be posed during the Electronic Question and Answer period and shall contain the Bidder’s suggested changes and the reason(s) for the suggested change(s).”

This updated answer supersedes the answer posted in NJ Start Q & A Tab.

A: Bid Solicitation Section 3.8 states in part: “The Bidder must be registered as a qualified small business with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Small Business Registration and M/WBE Certification Services Unit, by the date the Quote is received and opened.

A Bidder should verify its Small, Minority, Veteran, and Women Owned Business Certification status on the “Maintain Terms and Categories” Tab within its profile in NJSTART. In the event of an issue with a Bidder’s Small, Minority, Veteran, and Women Owned Business Certification status, NJSTART provides a link to take corrective action.

If the Bidder has previously registered or been certified as a Small Business Enterprise, the Bidder should ensure it is currently registered and that its registration is active with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, Small Business Registration and M/WBE Certification Services Unit, prior to the quote opening date, to be eligible for award. The Bidder should ensure that it has completed the annual verification, if required.

Information, registration requirements and application are available at https://www.nj.gov/treasury/revenue/ucs.shtml.”

A: Please see the answer to Question #4 above.

A: .If your Company’s small business status is listed as Expired or Revoked by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services Small Business Registration and MWBE Certification Services Unit at the Quote opening, your Company’s Quote will still be evaluated and considered for award, in accordance with Bid Solicitation Section 8.9.2, which states, in pertinent part: “If no responsive Quotes offering reasonable pricing from a Small Business Vendor {Bidder} registered and approved as such at the time of Quote opening as per Section 3.8 are received for Categories 1 and 2, the State may award a Contract to any responsive Vendor {Bidder} as per Bid Solicitation Section 8.16.”

A: Yes; Bid Solicitation Section 3.21 states: “The Bidder shall submit with its Quote the Specification Conformance Form. By submitting this form, the Bidders certifies that all items offered in response to this Bid Solicitation conform to the requirements set forth in the Bid Solicitation.”

Q: As a SBE, if I were to submit quotes for items in addition to the set aside (Cat .1 & 2), would my quote(s) be considered?

A: Yes. Bid Solicitation Section 1.1 states in part: “The State intends to make Contract awards to all responsive Vendors {Bidders} for each brand offered per category/price line, that meets the category definition and requirements of the Bid Solicitation in accordance with Section 8.9 of this Bid Solicitation.”

Category 1: Spices and Category 2: Sauces have been designated as partial Small Business set-aside. Categories 3-10 have NOT been designated as partial Small Business set-aside. All responsive quotes for Categories 3-10 will be considered.

And Price Sheet Q: Can't open price sheet, just categories?

A: Yes, it is just categories.

Bid Solicitation Section 3.24 states in part: “A Bidder should submit a preprinted price list or catalog for each category and brand bid. The price list and/or catalog submitted must clearly indicate the products and brands offered and the firm, fixed pricing associated with the products, such that the applicable Bid Solicitation category/price line may be determined. Price lists should clearly identify product packaging for each item offered.”

Bid Solicitation Section 3.36 states in part: “Step 4 -The Vendor {Bidder} shall insert a firm, fixed percentage (%) Discount or Markup from the product catalog/price list, by entering the percentage Discount or Markup bid in the "Percentage (%) Discount (-) or Markup (+)” field on the price line on the State-Supplied Price Sheet.” Section 8.9 of the Bid Solicitation states “The State intends to make Contract awards to all responsive Vendors {Bidders} for each brand offered per category/price line that meets the category definition and requirements of the Bid.”

Moreover, please make sure you “enable editing” in the pop-up box that appears when opening the document.

For any additional assistance, Section 1 of the Bid Solicitation states, “Bidders are strongly encouraged to visit the NJSTART Vendor Support Page, which contains Quick Reference Guides (QRGs), supporting videos, a glossary of NJSTART terms, and helpdesk contact information. Bidders should utilize the QRGs before attempting to submit a Quote through NJSTART. It is the Bidder’s responsibility to ensure that the Quote and attachments have been properly submitted. Inquiries concerning the use of NJSTART may be directed to njstart@treas.nj.gov.”

Section 1.2 What are the awarded products and pricing under the current contract?

Answer: Bid Solicitation Section 1.2 states, in part: “Bidders interested in reviewing the current Contract/Master Blanket Purchase Order specifications and pricing information may do so by following the instruction below. Bidders should not rely upon or use data or information from the Contract when preparing a response to this Bid Solicitation as this Bid Solicitation addresses the State’s current requirements.”

· Go to: www.njstart.gov

· Select “Active Blankets”

· In the search bar, select “Blankets” from the drop down menu

· Enter T2499 and click “”

· The current Contract list will appear under “Results”

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