Foam food trays

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) issued a Request for Quote (RFQ) solicitation numbered 5400025804 for the procurement of foam food trays for the Food Service Main Warehouse, specifically seeking 400 cases of five-compartment foam trays measuring 8.25 by 10.25 inches, with 500 trays per case. The procurement requires two separate deliveries: 200 cases on September 20, 2023, and 200 cases on January 18, 2024, to be delivered F.O.B. to the SCDC Food Service Warehouse at 4422 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210. Sealed offers were originally due by August 30, 2023, but an amendment extended the submission deadline to September 6, 2023, at 10:00 AM, with award notification originally scheduled for September 5, 2023 and later adjusted to September 15, 2023. Bidders were required to provide unit pricing for each case, submit descriptive literature detailing tray specifications, and demonstrate compliance with South Carolina procurement regulations. The evaluation criteria focused on selecting the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with specific attention to product quality, delivery requirements, and compliance with state purchasing guidelines.

The solicitation included several vendor participation restrictions and preferences, allowing potential bidders to claim South Carolina Code Section 11-35-1524 preferences, such as South Carolina end-product preference, United States end-product preference, or resident vendor preference, contingent upon meeting specific requirements. Vendors were mandated to obtain a state vendor number and register with South Carolina's vendor registration system before submission. Nonresident vendors might be subject to income tax withholding requirements unless they register with the Department of Revenue or submit appropriate affidavits. The contract was ultimately awarded to Imperial Bag & Paper COLLC (doing business as Imperial Bag) in Lithia Springs, Georgia, with a total contract value of $10,884.00, representing a unit price of $27.21 per case for the Pactiv YTHB0500SGBX foam tray brand. The solicitation explicitly stated that compostable sugarcane bagasse trays were not acceptable, and all items must be new, unused, palletized, and shrink-wrapped. The procurement was a one-time purchase with no contract renewal options, emphasizing the specific, limited nature of this procurement opportunity.