FY-26 IVHQ - Quarterly (Mar-Jun) Weekly Food Order - Brand Specific or Equal

The State of Illinois, through the Illinois Veterans Home (IVHQ) in Quincy, is issuing a Request for Quote (RFQ) for weekly food orders covering the quarterly period of March through June 2026. This procurement seeks vendor quotes for 24 line items encompassing a diverse range of food products, including proteins (bacon, pork butt at 1,500 pounds), dairy products (multiple cheese varieties and milk), prepared foods (pizza crusts, donuts, rolls), vegetables, condiments, and specialty items such as Hawaiian rolls and sweet potato fries. Vendors must submit quotes for all 24 line items with pricing that includes any applicable shipping and freight charges, with orders to be placed with a two-week lead time for once-weekly Tuesday deliveries, subject to holiday adjustments. Quoted quantities are estimated only, with actual orders determined by operational need and available funding throughout the fiscal year. Quotes must be submitted to Summer Prenger at the Illinois Veterans Home by the due date of February 24, 2026, as specified in the BidBuy system. Vendors may propose brand-specific products or equal alternatives, with vendors bearing the burden of proof that substitute products meet required standards of quality, performance, and characteristics. Minor differences in product design, construction, or features that do not affect suitability for intended use will not result in rejection of "or equal" submissions.

The RFQ documents do not identify any set-aside designations, restrictions on respondent types, disadvantaged enterprise preferences, incumbent vendors, or contract renewal options. Vendors responding to this procurement must comply with the State of Illinois Standard Terms and Conditions (Version 23.2), which establish comprehensive contractual requirements including mandatory insurance coverage (general commercial liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence and workers' compensation), prevailing wage compliance where applicable, record retention obligations of three to five years, indemnification provisions, and compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. The State retains the right to terminate the contract for convenience with thirty days' notice or for cause immediately upon notice. No budget range or estimated award value is provided in the available procurement documents, with pricing to be determined based on vendor quotes submitted for the 24 specified food line items.