Food, Canned Canine & Feline, Purchase & Delivery of, Term

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners' Purchasing Department issued Request for Quotation (RFQ) #700106/KP for the purchase and delivery of canned canine and feline food on a 12-month term contract basis with options to renew for four additional 12-month periods. The solicitation seeks firm, fixed unit pricing (per ounce with two decimal places) for four specific items: Hill's Science Diet Canine Adult (Chicken & Beef Entree) in a quantity of 110,000 ounces; Hill's Science Diet Feline Adult (Liver & Chicken Entree) in a quantity of 52,000 ounces; Hill's Science Diet Kitten (Liver & Chicken Entree) in a quantity of 52,000 ounces; and Hill's Science Diet Puppy (Chicken & Barley Entree) in a quantity of 65,000 ounces, all specified as "or equal" to allow for equivalent alternative brands meeting detailed AAFCO nutritional standards regarding can size, ingredient composition, protein levels, fat content, fiber content, moisture levels, and taurine content where applicable. Vendors must submit responses on an all-or-none basis, bidding on all four items to be considered responsive, with deliveries required within ten business days of receiving a delivery order and F.O.B. destination pricing with all transportation costs borne by the vendor. The original submission deadline of November 29, 2016 was extended via amendments to December 6, 2016, and subsequently to December 14, 2016 at 4:00 p.m. Palm Beach County local time, with faxed or emailed responses accepted. Bidders must submit manufacturer specifications and descriptive literature for any non-specified brand offerings, comply with the County's non-discrimination policy per Resolution R-2014-1421, provide samples upon request, and acknowledge acceptance of all terms and conditions including criminal history records checks and public entity crime statute requirements. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with the County ordering on an as-needed basis with no minimum order requirements and reserving the right to increase or decrease quantities as necessary.

The solicitation includes a Small Business Enterprise (SBE) set-aside provision allowing certified SBE firms within 10 percent of the lowest responsive and responsible bid to receive award consideration. A five percent local preference price reduction is available to vendors demonstrating a permanent place of business in Palm Beach County or the Glades through submission of a valid Business Tax Receipt and completed Certification of Business Location form. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information was specified in the solicitation documents. The estimated annual contract value for all four items is approximately 279,000 ounces of canned pet food, though no specific dollar amount was disclosed in the available materials. Payment will be rendered only upon the County's inspection and acceptance of delivered items, with invoices submitted to the Palm Beach County Finance Department and purchase order numbers required on all invoices and correspondence. The contract term of twelve months may be extended for up to four additional twelve-month renewal periods subject to mutual written agreement and Board appropriation of funds, providing the successful vendor with potential long-term business opportunity through 2020.