August 2025 Meat & Cheese - DOC-PE

The Louisiana Department of Corrections - Prison Enterprises (DOC-PE) is soliciting bids for a comprehensive meat and cheese procurement contract for August 2025, specifically targeting West Carroll Parish. The solicitation encompasses approximately 40 line items of frozen meat and cheese products, including chicken leg quarters, whole loaf cheese, turkey ham, bologna, smoked sausage, frankfurters, chicken/turkey breakfast patties, fish portions, whole turkeys, and additional meat products. Quantities for individual line items range from 300 to 80,000 pounds, with strict product requirements including processing dates within 90 days of delivery, specific packaging standards, and detailed fat content specifications. Vendors must use refrigerated trucks and deliver products to the Wakefield facility between Monday and Thursday from 7:00 am - 1:00 pm, with deliveries scheduled 24 hours in advance. The bid is scheduled for public opening on July 22, 2025, with a delivery deadline of August 7, 2025, and can be submitted electronically through the LaGov vendor portal or by physical submission to the Office of State Procurement in Baton Rouge.

The procurement opportunity includes multiple Louisiana preference provisions that allow price adjustments for Louisiana-produced or Louisiana-processed products, with preferences ranging from 7-10% above the lowest bid. Vendors must be registered in the LaGov system and comply with various certification requirements, including USDA and FDA labeling regulations, Louisiana Department of Agriculture grading programs, and specific packaging guidelines. The state intends to award the contract on an individual basis to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, with Lines 2 and 39 to be awarded on a grouped basis. Potential bidders must demonstrate compliance with civil rights laws, accessibility requirements, and anti-discrimination statutes. Payment will be processed electronically, with the LaCarte procurement card used for purchases under $5,000 and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) available for other transactions. The solicitation includes strict food safety compliance requirements, with potential penalties for non-compliant products, including mandatory inspection of all supplier products after three violations in a quarter.