Centinela State Prison

The California Department of Rehabilitation is conducting a small business solicitation (RFQ #07-0784.2) for the procurement and installation of 30 vending machines at Centinela State Prison, located in Imperial, CA. The procurement specifically requires nine frozen vending machines, five combo snack/drink vending machines, twelve cold drink vending machines, and four snack ambient vending machines. Bidders must provide newly manufactured equipment that meets stringent technical specifications, including compliance with ADA accessibility standards, UL Standards 751 and 541, California Appliance Efficiency Regulations, EPA Energy Star Version 3.0 standards, and ANSI/NSF Standard 25-2012. The solicitation mandates complete delivery, installation, and operational readiness within 5 weeks (35 calendar days) after order receipt, with vendors responsible for removing 35 existing vending machines through trade-in or recycling. Quotes are due on December 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM, and will be evaluated based on lowest cost, with award made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all administrative and technical requirements. Questions must be submitted no later than three business days prior to the due date.

The procurement is designated as a Small Business Solicitation with specific provisions for Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises (DVBE), though the DVBE incentive has been waived for this administrative purchase. Bidders must submit multiple mandatory certifications, including a Bidder Declaration form, Payee Data Record, California seller's permit, post-consumer recycled content certification, Darfur Contracting Act certification, and verification of non-debarment status. Contractors must also comply with strict correctional facility security protocols, including obtaining gate clearance for personnel, adhering to dress code restrictions, and following the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Prison Rape Elimination Policy. While no specific contract value is explicitly stated, the procurement involves substantial equipment replacement across multiple prison locations. Vendors must be either manufacturers or Factory Authorized Suppliers with demonstrated technical expertise, inventory capabilities, and repair services, with a requirement to provide 90 days of free labor covering setup, programming, training, and warranty repairs.