Chocolate Crème Sandwich Cookies

The Missouri Department of Corrections is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the procurement of chocolate creme sandwich cookies for resale in offender canteens across nineteen correctional institutions in the Central and Eastern Region Commodity Warehouses. The procurement seeks chocolate creme sandwich cookies consisting of two crisp chocolate cookies with sweet white vanilla creme filling, packaged in 11-16 ounce plastic tray packages with 12 packages per case, with an estimated quantity of 700 cases for evaluation purposes, though actual usage may vary. Bidders must submit a firm fixed case price that includes all packing, handling, shipping, and freight charges on an FOB Destination Freight Prepaid and Allowed basis, with payment terms of Net 45. The contract will be structured as a Blanket Purchase Agreement with an initial term from the date of award through May 4, 2026, followed by three optional one-year renewal periods during which vendors may propose maximum price increase or decrease percentages calculated against the original contract price. Required product specifications include ounces per package, packages per case, cases per pallet, vendor item number, individual package UPC number, and certification of whether the product is Kosher, Halal, or neither. The Department will evaluate bids using multiattribute scoring methodology and does not negotiate canteen-funded contracts. Sealed bids must be submitted electronically through MissouriBUYS no later than 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, with the solicitation opening on August 8, 2025, and no bidders' conference or site visit is scheduled. The Department may require samples to be submitted at no cost within five business days of request, with taste testing conducted to determine product acceptability.

Vendors responding to this procurement must achieve "Approved" registration status in MissouriBUYS and comply with multiple business compliance requirements, including Missouri tax clearance, Secretary of State registration, anti-boycott certification, and conflict-of-interest disclosures. This is a new product addition to the canteen resale program with no incumbent vendor currently contracted to supply these cookies, and both house brand and national brands are eligible to bid provided they meet all specifications. The Department serves an estimated offender population of 24,575 across all correctional institutions in the covered regions. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or minority-owned businesses are noted in the procurement documents. The Department reserves the right to reject any or all bids submitted. While a specific contract value or budget range is not disclosed in the solicitation materials, the estimated 700-case quantity provides an indication of potential volume for evaluation purposes. Questions regarding this opportunity should be directed to Priscilla Courtney, the Procurement Specialist, at (573) 526-6590 or Priscilla.Courtney@doc.mo.gov.