1148-DAIRY

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, specifically involving Montgomery County and Grampian Borough, is seeking a dairy product vendor through an Invitation for Bid (IFB) numbered 1148-DAIRY. The procurement solicits bids for a three-month supply of various dairy products, including frozen whole eggs, frozen egg whites, fresh shell eggs, American cheese, and cheddar cheese. Bidders must comply with USDA regulations and are required to provide product samples for laboratory testing. The contract will be awarded on a line-item basis to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with all pricing structured as F.O.B. destination and no additional charges permitted after award. Critical submission requirements include completing and returning the "Reciprocal Limitations Agreement" with the bid package, and submitting pricing for each line item with a total bid amount entered on the final page. The formal bid deadline is December 19, 2013, at 1:00 PM, with award notifications to be posted on the DGS eMarketplace website. Vendors must be prepared to ship and invoice in the exact quantities and units as originally bid, with no deliveries accepted on state holidays.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Quantities for the dairy products are noted as estimated, suggesting flexibility in potential contract volume. No incumbent vendors are identified in the available documentation. The contract appears to be a standard procurement for institutional food services, likely serving state facilities or programs. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the three-month contract duration and multiple product categories indicate a potentially substantial procurement value. Vendors must demonstrate capability to meet USDA regulatory standards, provide laboratory-testable product samples, and maintain consistent delivery performance across different dairy product categories. The line-item award approach suggests that multiple vendors might be selected if they offer the most competitive pricing for specific product types.