Fresh Produce - Request for Quote

The Colorado Department of Corrections is soliciting quotes for fresh produce for correctional facility kitchens under Documented Quote DQ 2027000165, with written inquiries due November 6, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time and quotes due November 10, 2026 at 12:30 p.m. Quotes must be submitted electronically through bidnetdirect.com/cdoc, and late submissions will not be accepted. The only eligibility condition is that Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business bidders must submit U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs certification documentation.

Bidders must price itemized fresh produce, comprising thirty fruit and vegetable items, for delivery to seven facilities: Buena Vista Correctional Complex, Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility, Central Warehouse, Sterling Correctional Facility, Denver Women's Correctional Facility, Denver Reception & Diagnostic Center, and Limon Correctional Facility. Deliveries are scheduled for November 16–18, 2026, and must be F.O.B. destination. Products must meet current USDA grade standards and carry identity, origin, and date-coding labels. The awarded brand must be the brand delivered, though equal-specification products are permitted if nutritionally approved before award. Samples are required on request at the vendor's expense and are non-returnable. Salad mix and shredded lettuce require a minimum ten-day shelf life upon delivery to the Department of Corrections warehouse, and apple and orange deliveries require consistent sizing.

The solicitation names no dollar value and guarantees no quantities. Per-item quantities range from zero to 760 units across facilities. The resulting purchase order covers ordered quantities delivered on designated weeks after award, with estimated award and purchase order start both set for November 10, 2026. Pricing must be all-inclusive of shipping, must remain firm for the initial purchase order term, and must carry no surcharges or taxes billed to the state, although bidders may be required to pay sales tax in certain political subdivisions. Award goes to the responsible bidder whose acceptable quote is most advantageous to the state, with price as the primary consideration, and sample quality, delivery lead time, and past performance may also be evaluated. Vendors that fail to deliver on three separate occasions may be disqualified from future solicitations for three years or indefinitely.

Before purchase order execution, awardees must register in CORE through Vendor Self Service, provide a Colorado Secretary of State Good Standing certificate, and deliver an insurance certificate. Commercial general liability coverage must carry minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and in the aggregate, and insurers must hold an A.M. Best rating of "A" with a financial size of VII or better. Awardees must also complete the CDOC Enhanced Criminal Background Investigation within 30 days of award notification. Exhibits A through G are required with the bid, including Exhibit E, which discloses any performance outside the United States or Colorado and requires written notice within 20 days under Colorado Revised Statutes 24-102-206.