Fresh Carrots

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) No. 52-IFB-1741276183-SDD for the procurement of fresh carrots to be processed at their Enterprise Cannery located in Tillery, North Carolina. The solicitation seeks competitive bids for 550,000 pounds of fresh carrots, to be delivered in eleven loads of approximately 50,000 pounds each, with deliveries scheduled to begin in February 2025. Vendors must supply carrots that are from a freshly harvested crop, characterized as firm, well-formed, and free from defects. The bid was issued on October 2, 2025, with proposals due on October 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, and will be followed by a public bid opening conducted via Microsoft Teams. Bid evaluation will be based on lowest price, meeting specifications, and additional factors including vendor references, financial stability, and worker location. Vendors must be registered in the North Carolina Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) and comply with state procurement requirements.

The procurement includes provisions for the Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUB) program, which encourages participation by minority, women, and disabled-owned businesses. The previous contract, awarded in October 2024 to D & E Farms, was valued at $92,125.00, with carrots priced at $0.1675 per pound for the same 550,000-pound quantity. While specific set-aside percentages are not detailed, the HUB program suggests a commitment to diverse vendor participation. The solicitation implies that vendors will need to demonstrate capability to meet the specified carrot quality standards and delivery schedule. The contract award date remains to be determined pending bid evaluation, and interested vendors should carefully review all specifications and requirements before submitting their proposals to ensure compliance with the state's procurement guidelines.