Fresh Ground Beef

This state and local contract opportunity is an Invitation for Bid (IFB) issued by the Arkansas Department of Transformation and Shared Services Office of State Procurement on behalf of the Division of Correction to obtain pricing and a contract for the supply of fresh ground beef. The DOC is seeking to purchase approximately 40,000 to 42,300 pounds of fresh ground beef every three weeks during the contract term. The successful contractor must have all facilities, staff, and operations necessary for providing the fresh ground beef ready and available for immediate delivery upon each purchase order. Bids are due by September 12, 2023, and the anticipated contract start date is January 1, 2024, with an initial one-year term and up to six additional one-year renewal options. The contract will be awarded to the lowest-bidding, responsible contractor on an all-or-none basis. Pricing must be proposed in U.S. dollars and cents, and the contractor must comply with all applicable state and federal laws, rules, and regulations, including USDA and FSIS requirements.

The IFB does not mention any set-asides for specific business types, such as Veteran-Owned Small Businesses. The state is not open to allowing price fluctuations within the initial one-year contract term, and the supplier must provide a firm price for that period. The state requires a firm price for the initial one-year term, and the total 7-year cost projections can include an average of 10% annual increases to account for market fluctuations in beef prices. The IFB does not provide any information about incumbent vendors or current contractors, and the award value or budget range is not specified.