FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES-Chick Buckbee Juvenile Center

The State of West Virginia, Department of Administration and Division of Corrections and Rehabilitations, is seeking a vendor to supply fresh fruits and vegetables to the Chick Buckbee Juvenile Center (also referred to as Rubenstein Juvenile Center) located in Davis, West Virginia. This is an open-end Request for Quotation (RFQ) for a one-year contract with the potential for three successive one-year renewals subject to mutual written consent. The procurement encompasses 26 line items of fresh produce including apples (gold and red delicious varieties), bananas, grapes, cantaloupes, melons, oranges, pineapples, strawberries, watermelons, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, celery, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, salad mixes, spinach, and eggs. All products must meet U.S. Number 1 quality standards with specified packaging requirements, and annual quantities range from 10 to 100 cases per item depending on the specific product. Required qualifications for vendors include maintaining a Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) license, possessing Commercial General Liability Insurance of at least $100,000 per occurrence, providing weekly delivery service with standard orders fulfilled within two working days, implementing effective pest control and sanitation procedures, and maintaining adequate inventory. Rejected products must be replaced within forty-eight hours at no additional charge, and repeated rejections may result in contract cancellation. Pricing must be submitted on two bid sheets: Bid Sheet #1 requiring vendor cost per unit and desired markup percentage for all items, and Bid Sheet #2 requiring legible copies of supplier invoices and bills of lading as supporting documentation dated the week of June 25, 2019. Contract award shall be made to the responsive vendor offering the lowest overall total cost while meeting all specifications and documentation requirements. The solicitation deadline for questions was August 6, 2019, and bid responses were due by August 14, 2019, at 2:30 p.m. Delivery is F.O.B. destination with standard delivery charges included in bid pricing, and payment shall be made in arrears following delivery and acceptance of goods by electronic funds transfer or P-Card.

The solicitation documents do not specify any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, women-owned businesses, or other socioeconomic categories, indicating this is an open competition available to all qualified vendors meeting the stated requirements. No incumbent vendor or current contractor information is identified in the available solicitation materials. Vendors must be properly registered with the West Virginia Purchasing Division and must provide a completed Purchasing Affidavit affirming no debt to the State or its political subdivisions. Vendor pricing is firm for the life of the contract unless otherwise specified in the solicitation. The solicitation does not provide an explicit budgeted amount or estimated award value; however, based on the pricing sheet structure requiring annual quantity estimates for 26 line items and the open-end nature of the contract, the total annual value would depend on vendor pricing and actual usage at the facility. Procurement contact Beverly L. Ruppert can be reached at (304) 782-2371 or beverly.l.ruppert@wv.gov for questions, and all bid submissions must be made electronically through wvOASIS or signed and delivered by the deadline, with vendors required to acknowledge receipt of any addenda to avoid bid disqualification.