2113 DHS ODP EBC fresh and frozen produce

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Ebensburg Center is soliciting bids for the supply and delivery of fresh and frozen produce to support dietary needs at its facility located at 4501 Admiral Peary Highway, Ebensburg, Pennsylvania. This Invitation for Bid (IFB 6100065769) encompasses 36 line items of produce including fresh vegetables (tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, onions, peppers, carrots, and lettuce), fresh fruits (apples, blueberries, cantaloupes, honeydew, oranges, strawberries, watermelon, kiwi, and bananas), and frozen vegetables (broccoli cuts, cauliflower, peas and carrots, sweet peas, peas and onions, strawberries, broccoli spears, winter blend, Brussels sprouts, spinach, and green beans). The contract period covers July, August, and September 2026, with specified delivery dates throughout this three-month window and total quantities ranging from 4 cases of raisins to 1,800 pounds of frozen sweet peas. All pricing must be quoted on a per-unit basis with F.O.B. destination terms, and bids must comply with exact specifications including USDA grades, pack sizes, and product codes with acceptable brands specified for frozen produce items. Bids must be submitted electronically through the PA Supplier Portal by May 13, 2026, at 2:00 PM, with the bid effective date of May 1, 2026. The Department reserves the right to adjust quantities at the request of the dietary director and may award the contract by lowest price per line item or lowest overall price. All bidders must register on the PA Supplier Portal and comply with mandatory attributes including representations and authorizations.

The solicitation includes a Pennsylvania Preferred Agricultural Products question that requests bidders to identify any line items offering Pennsylvania-produced agricultural products as defined by Executive Order 2010-03, indicating a potential preference for in-state agricultural suppliers. While the procurement documents do not identify specific incumbent vendors or current contractors, no set-asides for small businesses or minority-owned enterprises are explicitly mentioned in the primary solicitation materials. No site visits or bidders' conferences are scheduled. The contract award value is contingent upon actual orders placed and quantities delivered throughout the contract period, as the pricing structure is based on per-unit costs rather than a fixed total contract value. Costs will be reimbursed through the DHS Ebensburg Center's operational budget based on actual consumption and delivery of produce items during the three-month procurement period.