CI Smokeless Tobacco

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is issuing an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for smokeless, flavored, individually pouched, tobacco-free, nicotine delivery products to supply Pennsylvania Correctional Industries with three Rogue brand products in wintergreen, spearmint, and peppermint flavors. The procurement covers an estimated monthly volume of 3,500 units per flavor delivered to three correctional facilities: SCI-Albion, SCI-Houtzdale, and SCI-Mahanoy. Qualified suppliers must possess a Pennsylvania Wholesaler Certificate, maintain a minimum 98% order accuracy rate, comply with Department of Corrections security requirements including security clearance applications for employees and drivers, and submit three product samples for security review prior to bid opening. Products must meet strict specifications including non-metallic casing, tamper-resistant or tamper-evident packaging, nicotine levels not exceeding 3 mg/g, and a minimum sell-by date of four months after delivery, with initial deliveries required within thirty days of order receipt and subsequent replenishment orders within five business days. All pricing must be submitted FOB Destination and all-inclusive of product costs and shipping, with the contract term of two years plus three optional one-year renewals subject to mutual agreement and 60 days' notice for price adjustments with supporting documentation. Electronic bids only are accepted through the PA Supplier Portal at https://pasupplierportal.state.pa.us, with bids due by June 8, 2026, and award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder on a single award basis unless the Commonwealth determines line-item awards are in its best interest.

The solicitation includes no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises; however, the Reciprocal Limitations Act requirements apply, offering Pennsylvania resident bidders preference advantages equal to preferences applied by other states and requiring submission of manufacturing location documentation. Vendors must comply with Executive Order 2021-06 Worker Protection and Investment Certification requirements, certifying compliance with Pennsylvania's Unemployment Compensation Law, Workers' Compensation Law, and all applicable state labor and workforce safety laws, and must verify they are not listed on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry's public non-compliance list prior to award. All vendors are required to complete the Iran Free Procurement Certification Form confirming they are not engaged in investment activities in Iran, or alternatively obtain a written exemption on a case-by-case basis; false certifications carry penalties including civil fines up to $250,000 or twice the contract amount, contract termination, and three-year ineligibility to bid on Commonwealth contracts. No incumbent contractors or existing infrastructure requirements are identified in the solicitation documents. The procurement does not specify an overall budget or award value range; pricing is submitted on a per-unit and per-case basis through the price sheet template, with compensation based on actual delivered and accepted units at the quoted prices, and the Commonwealth reserves the right to make purchases through supplementary competitive bidding procedures as deemed necessary.