Fresh Dairy Products

The Washington State Department of Enterprise Services is conducting a competitive solicitation for fresh dairy products, seeking to establish multiple contracts across seven geographic regions and 39 counties to supply state agencies and eligible purchasers with dairy items including milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, and ice cream. The solicitation was posted on November 21, 2024, with a pre-bid conference scheduled for December 4, 2024, and questions due by December 31, 2024. Bidders must submit proposals by January 14, 2025, with an anticipated award announcement on March 14, 2025, and contract award by April 13, 2025. The initial contract term will be 24 months, with a potential extension of an additional 36 months based on performance. Evaluation criteria include performance requirements (75 points), bid pricing (410 points), and compliance with Executive Order 18-03 (15 points), totaling 500 possible points. Bidders will be evaluated on market basket analysis, product specifications, delivery capabilities, and pricing precision, with requirements including specific product shelf life, temperature control, and nutritional standards.

The solicitation includes reserved awards specifically for Washington Small Businesses and Certified Veteran-Owned Businesses, with up to two main awards per region and one reserved award per county. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of three years of industry experience and provide detailed sustainability and web optimization capabilities. The contract includes a 1.25% vendor management fee and requires compliance with Buy American provisions for school purchases. Preference points will be awarded for Kosher/Halal certified products and Washington Grown items. The historical annual sales volume for these contracts is approximately $3.56 million, with bidders required to provide comprehensive pricing that includes all delivery and administrative costs. Insurance requirements include $2 million commercial general liability coverage, workers' compensation, and transportation liability. While no incumbent vendors are specifically identified, the solicitation emphasizes opportunities for diverse businesses, including Minority-Owned (MBE), Woman-Owned (WBE), and Veteran-Owned (VOB) enterprises.