Fresh Produce

The County of Orange, Sheriff-Coroner Department is issuing Invitation for Bid (IFB #060-2995502-MB2) for fresh produce supply to Orange County penal institutions. The procurement encompasses delivery of 22 line items including vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, carrots, lettuce, onions, peppers, potatoes, squash varieties, and others) and fruits (apples and oranges), with an additional line item for miscellaneous produce items at market rates. The successful contractor must deliver fresh produce to four designated facilities—Central Men's Jail/Food Services in Santa Ana, Theo Lacy Facility/Food Services in Orange, James A. Musick Facility/Food Services in Irvine, and the Inmate Services Warehouse in Anaheim—at least two times per week during operating hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding County holidays. All deliveries must be made in mechanically refrigerated trucks maintaining internal temperatures between 40°F and 45°F, with pricing on an FOB Destination basis including all freight, shipping, handling, and delivery charges. Required qualifications include current D-U-N-S numbers, Unique Entity Identifiers (UEI), valid California State Contractor's Licenses, Certificates of Insurance with additional insured endorsements, W-9 forms, and three references from past clients. The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder, with pricing firm for the entire contract term and no price increases permitted during the first contract year; the contractor must provide volume discounts when applicable, accept full-case returns without restocking fees, and replace rejected merchandise within 24 hours at no cost to the County. Electronic bid submissions through the County's eProcurement Portal at https://procurement.opengelm.com/portal/ocgov are required, with all questions submitted through the portal's Question & Answer section by February 26, 2026, at 4:00 p.m., and bids due by March 12, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Bid validity extends for 365 days following the solicitation closing date.

The County offers a five percent (5%) preference deduction for certified Orange County Local Small Business (OCLSB) or Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) bidders during evaluation, with a maximum allowable preference of $100,000. The initial contract term is two calendar years, effective May 6, 2026, with options for two additional one-year renewals by mutual written agreement. The contractor must provide current market reports with order forms and guarantee that quoted prices are equal to or less than prices offered to other local, state, or federal government entities for comparable services. Performance and Labor and Material Payment Bonds are required, with bond penal sums determined based on estimated contract value. Specific award values or budget ranges are not disclosed in the solicitation documents; however, historical average pricing data is provided for reference, with notable higher-priced items including baby carrots at $800.17 per case, apples at $1,434 per box, and oranges at $1,247 per carton. No incumbent vendors or existing contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. Contractors must maintain adequate stock availability, submit invoices within two days of shipment referencing contract number 060-2995502-MB2, and accept payment in arrears within 30 days of invoice approval.