Beverages - Canteen

The Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) is seeking Letters of Agreement with multiple vendors for the procurement of beverages to be sold through canteen services to incarcerated individuals in correctional facilities located in Garfield County, Colorado. The solicitation, issued as RFQ 26-0004, encompasses a comprehensive range of plastic-bottled beverages in 16-ounce containers, including carbonated soft drinks (Coca-Cola, Diet Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mt. Dew), non-carbonated beverages (Canada Dry Ginger Ale, Root Beer Caffeine Free, Fanta Orange), bottled water products (Aquafila, Propel), ready-to-drink teas (Pure Leaf unsweetened and sweet varieties), sports drinks (Gatorade in multiple flavors and Body Armor in various formulations), with anticipated volumes of up to 8,000 units per item monthly, though volumes are not guaranteed. Bidders may respond to any or all items listed in the price quote exhibit and must submit 3-5 product samples for evaluation by the Canteen Review Committee, which assesses items for security risks, religious affiliations, and nutritional benefits; all products must be packaged exclusively in plastic containers with clear packaging preferred, must not contain glass, metal, or alcohol, and must be engineered to withstand high-altitude transportation. Deliveries are required via truck when feasible or otherwise UPS or FedEx, with receiving hours limited to 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Monday through Thursday, excluding specified holidays, and delivery to 57500 East Highway 50 and Evans Road, Canon City, Colorado 81212. Written inquiries must be submitted by April 2, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. MT, quote submissions are due by April 6, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. MT, with the Notice of Intent to Award estimated for April 7, 2026, Letter of Agreement execution anticipated on April 10, 2026, and contract start date of April 15, 2026. The initial contract term runs from April 1, 2026 through June 30, 2026, with renewal opportunity for up to two additional one-year periods not to exceed three years total at the state's sole discretion, contingent upon appropriated and budgeted funds. Award will be made to the responsible bidder whose acceptable quote is most advantageous to the state, with price being the primary consideration, though sample quality and delivery lead time may also factor into evaluation.

Any organization capable of providing the specified commodities is eligible to bid; there are no identified set-aside designations or restrictions limiting response to disadvantaged business enterprises, though bidders may voluntarily identify themselves as small business, women-owned, veteran-owned, or HUBZone certified entities through the W-9 process. All bidders must be registered with the Colorado Secretary of State and must complete an Enhanced Criminal Background Investigation, including fingerprinting, within 30 days of award notification; all personnel delivering goods or providing services are subject to criminal history checks, background screening, fingerprinting, drug testing, employment history verification, and professional credential validation, with facility access requiring completion of a Consent to Search Authorization form. Bidders must register in CORE through the State of Colorado Vendor Self Service system before contract execution and must obtain certificates of insurance including workers' compensation, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $1,000,000 aggregates, and automobile liability of $1,000,000 combined single limit, with the State named as additional insured. Pricing is subject to one price change during the initial term of the Letter of Agreement, with subsequent adjustments permitted twice annually following the initial term if submitted 60 days in advance with written justification and Canteen staff approval; if a price increase is denied, the award transfers to the next lowest bidder. All quotes must be submitted electronically through bidnetdirect.com//cdoc, with bidders required to be registered on BidNet Direct to download solicitation documents and submit responses; no budget range or specific award value is published in the solicitation materials, as orders will be placed on an as-needed basis throughout the contract term by authorized CDOC Canteen personnel.