eCM# 1815648 2019 IFB - FDP NSLP Food Processing

The Colorado Department of Human Services, Food Distribution Program (FDP), issued Invitation for Bid #2019000127 on December 13, 2018, with a submission deadline of January 8, 2019, seeking vendors to provide food processing services for USDA Foods and commercial equivalents supporting the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) across approximately 49 recipient agencies with 240 delivery sites and 13 direct delivery sites statewide. The procurement encompasses processing services for diverse USDA commodities including beef, chicken, cheese, flour, potatoes, and other food products, with historical data indicating approximately 5.4 million processed pounds annually. Vendors must submit comprehensive bids in Microsoft Excel format on data storage devices using specified formulas that calculate processing bid prices per case plus USDA Foods value per case divided by servings per case to determine the commercial bid price per serving. All pricing must be FOB delivered to recipient agencies and approved distributors, with freight charges and minimum delivery amounts included in bid prices. The contract will award to single or multiple vendors for an initial 12-month term with four optional one-year renewal periods, for a maximum total of five years, with all products subject to state approval and compliance with 7 CFR Part 250.30 regarding the Buy American Clause, requiring all USDA Foods and substitutions to be 100 percent domestic origin, and processed products containing at least 51 percent domestically grown or raised agricultural commodities. Vendors must submit approved Summary End Product Data Schedules (SEPDS), Child Nutrition Labels, and nutrition fact sheets for each product, participate in the annual Colorado USDA Foods Show, and submit monthly performance reports by the 15th of each month, with penalties of $1,000 per day assessed for products not received within six weeks or for late payment of rebates.

The solicitation does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions on organization types able to respond; however, all bidders must execute required certifications and affidavits including Anti-Collusion Affidavits, Suspension and Debarment Certifications under Executive Order 12549, Certification Regarding Lobbying (for transactions exceeding $100,000), and Disclosure of Lobbying Activity forms as applicable under federal requirements. Vendors must also comply with environmental regulations through execution of a Clean Air and Water Certificate if contract awards exceed $100,000, and they may optionally accept a Piggyback Clause extending contract purchasing privileges to non-Colorado entities under the same terms and conditions. Processing options available include Fee for Service (FFS), Modified Fee for Service (MFFS), Net off Invoice (NOI), and Indirect Refund Sale (Rebate) structures. The sample contract template indicates that contractors must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including workers' compensation, general liability of $1,000,000, automobile liability, and professional liability insurance as required, with all contract terms subject to fund availability and appropriations for each fiscal year. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available documentation; however, the scope of services addressing 49 recipient agencies with 240+ delivery sites and historical processing volumes of 5.4 million pounds annually suggests a substantial contract value. The contract documents incorporate Colorado special provisions regarding governmental immunity, independent contractor status, E-Verify immigration verification compliance, and vendor offset procedures, with invoices due within 45 days of state acceptance and payment limited to the specified contract maximum amount.