Brand Name Pop Products for NDCS Facilities

The State of Nebraska, through the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), Materiel Division, State Purchasing Bureau (SPB), is soliciting bids for a "Brand Name" Pop contract for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS). The procurement involves supplying branded soft drinks and beverages to six correctional facilities: Nebraska State Penitentiary, Reception Treatment Center, Omaha Correctional Center, Nebraska Correctional Youth Facility, Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, and Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. The contract requires the vendor to provide and maintain token-operated vending machines capable of dispensing a comprehensive range of soft drinks, including regular and diet sodas, fruit-flavored drinks, citrus sodas, energy drinks, and sparkling waters. Vendors must submit a cost sheet with pricing for a core list of 40 specific soda types and a catalog of additional beverages, with pricing based on 24 twelve-ounce aluminum can cases. The bid opening is scheduled for September 26, 2025, at 2:00 PM Central Time, with electronic submissions required via ShareFile. The initial contract term is two years, with the option to renew for two additional two-year periods, and estimated annual usage ranges from 400 to 8,500 product cases per facility.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The vendor will be responsible for owning, operating, and maintaining the vending machines at no additional cost to the state, with machines required to accept specific tokens and potentially accommodate smart card technology. While no incumbent vendors are identified, the contract includes detailed specifications for machine dimensions, operational requirements, and maintenance responsibilities. The state reserves the right to add or remove items from the core list and may contract with multiple vendors or terminate the contract based on funding availability. The pricing structure includes a core list with fixed prices and a catalog/non-core list requiring vendors to submit percentage discounts from regular retail prices. Although a specific budget range is not provided, the multi-facility scope and potential for two four-year contract periods suggests a significant potential contract value for the selected vendor(s).