Fresh Fruit and Produce

Sacramento County is soliciting bids for a Fresh Fruit and Produce contract (RFB #2022-RFB-0054) to supply produce to multiple county departments, including the Main Jail, Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center, S.E.T.A./Head Start facilities, Mental Health Treatment Center, and Juvenile detention facilities. The procurement covers 11 specific fresh produce items with substantial annual quantities, such as 612,000 lbs of apples, 580,000 lbs of oranges, and 157,500 lbs of lettuce. Vendors must provide produce meeting USDA and FDA standards, transported via refrigerated vehicles with inside delivery, and adhere to specific grade requirements. The bid evaluation will consider vendors' understanding of specifications, initial 12-month pricing, maximum markup percentage, and references. Key dates include a May 25, 2022 deadline for questions and a June 15, 2022 response deadline at 1:48 pm, with electronic submissions required through the ProcureNow platform. The initial contract term is 12 months, with potential renewal options for up to four additional one-year terms, not exceeding a total of five years and six months.

While no specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are explicitly mentioned, the county does express a preference for Sacramento County and California-made products when economically feasible. The projected annual expenditure for this contract exceeds $1,000,000, with pricing structured as weekly quotes and a maximum markup percentage over landed dock cost. Vendors must provide competitive pricing throughout the contract term and be prepared to handle potential product recalls or refunds. The county reserves the right to reject products not meeting specifications and requires detailed invoicing with specific information. Domestic produce is preferred, and contractors must submit itemized packing lists and maintain high product quality. Bidders must comply with environmental purchasing policies, insurance specifications, and various state and local procurement regulations. Responses will be considered valid for 90 calendar days after the bid closing date, with the county evaluating bids based on the lowest responsive and responsible bidder.