August Produce Bid

The Pennsylvania Department of General Services is seeking a vendor to supply fresh produce to the State Correctional Institution at Coal Township through an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for August 2010. The procurement specifically requires multiple weekly deliveries of various fresh fruits and vegetables, including 16 different produce items ranging from bananas and cantaloupes to broccoli and tomatoes. Quantities vary significantly, with order sizes ranging from 4 to 265 cases per delivery, and scheduled deliveries are planned for August 4 through August 25, 2010. The bid was posted on July 7, 2010, with a strict submission deadline of July 21, 2010 at 2:00 pm. Vendors must provide nutrition fact labels with their bids and understand that all pricing must be quoted as FOB destination, with the award to be made on a group basis. Additional requirements include security clearances for delivery personnel and compliance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law.

The solicitation appears to have a preference for Pennsylvania-based vendors through the Reciprocal Limitations Act, which provides preferential treatment to in-state businesses. Bidders must complete the GSPUR-89 form, which requires documentation of manufacturing locations and establishes preference percentages for out-of-state vendors. While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, vendors must demonstrate compliance with state procurement regulations. The contract is for a one-month period with an estimated value based on institutional inmate population, and the correctional institution reserves the right to adjust quantities or not award specific items if they are not deemed in the institution's best financial interest. Payment will be processed upon receipt of items and submission of a proper invoice, with potential contract modifications based on institutional needs.