Cocoa

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction (NCDAC) is seeking to establish an Agency Specific Term Contract for procuring 100% natural, unsweetened cocoa through Invitation for Bid (IFB) #52-IFB-1429989674-SCP. The procurement targets an estimated 4,500 cases over three years, with each case containing six 5-pound containers of cocoa. Specific product requirements include cocoa fat content between 10-22%, moisture content under 5%, and strict packaging specifications. The bid is specifically for delivery to the NCDAC Central Warehouse in Raleigh, NC, with a mandatory delivery timeline of 30 calendar days after receiving a purchase order. Bids are due on February 12, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, which represents a one-week extension from the original February 5, 2025 deadline. The contract term will span three years from the date of final contract execution, with product pricing required to remain firm for the initial 90 days. Vendors must be prepared to provide written justification for any subsequent price increase requests, which are subject to state approval.

The solicitation includes a Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) participation goal of 10%, encouraging diversity in vendor selection. The previous contract was awarded to America's Best in March 2022 at $41.50 per case, resulting in a total contract value of $186,750 over three years. The minimum order quantity is established at 500 cases per order, which potential vendors must be capable of fulfilling. All deliveries will be FOB Destination, with transportation costs included in the total bid price. The procurement is open to vendors who can meet the comprehensive cocoa specifications and administrative requirements outlined in the solicitation documents. The commodity code for this procurement is 501615, and interested vendors should carefully review all attached documents, including the primary IFB and two addenda, which provide critical details about bid submission, product specifications, and contractual expectations.