Fresh Green Beans

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction is seeking competitive bids for a fresh green bean procurement through an Invitation for Bid (IFB) targeting their Correction Enterprise Cannery. The solicitation requests 1,440,000 pounds of fresh green beans to be delivered in 32 loads of 45,000 pounds each between April and September 2025, with a specific delivery schedule of two loads in April, eight loads each in May, June, and August, and six loads in September. Green beans must meet stringent quality requirements, including being firm, fresh, succulent, tender, fairly well formed, and free from decay, anthracnose, and extraneous material. Predominantly 2-3-4 sieve beans are required, and delivery must be in bulk trailer loads with conveyor belt, walking floor, or dump capability. The bid submission deadline is February 4, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, with all questions required to be submitted by January 23, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, and answers provided by January 24, 2025, by 5:00 PM ET. Vendors must be registered in North Carolina's Electronic Vendor Portal (eVP) and provide proof of authorization from the grower if acting as a dealer, reseller, or distributor.

The procurement appears to have no specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor types beyond the registration requirement in the state's vendor portal. The previous contract was awarded to D&E Farms Inc. at $0.275 per pound for 750,000 pounds, with a total contract value of $206,250, which provides a benchmark for potential pricing. While no explicit disadvantaged enterprise requirements are mentioned, vendors must demonstrate their ability to meet the precise delivery and quality specifications. The contract covers a six-month period in 2025, suggesting a potential annual value of approximately $396,000 if the full 1,440,000 pounds are procured at the previous contract's rate. Vendors will need to demonstrate capability in large-scale agricultural production, transportation logistics, and consistency in delivering high-quality green beans to a state correctional facility's cannery operation. The procurement appears designed to ensure a steady, reliable supply of fresh green beans for processing within the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction's enterprise.