Inactive Dried Torula Yeast (food grade)

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has issued Invitation for Bid (IFB #0991-15) for procuring 80,000 pounds of Inactive Dried Torula Yeast (food grade) to be delivered to their fruit fly rearing facility in Waimanalo, Hawaii. The procurement requires the yeast to be packaged in 25kg or 50-pound bags and shipped in 40' containers, with specific technical specifications including maximum 8.0% ash content, maximum 7,500 cfu/g bacterial count, maximum 7.0% moisture, and minimum 45.0% protein content. Key procurement dates include March 21, 2016, at 3:00 PM for vendor questions, and March 28, 2016, at 3:00 PM as the sealed bid submission deadline. The contract will be structured as a blanket purchase order valid for one year from issuance or until funds are expended, with orders placed on an "as needed" basis. All shipping and freight costs must be included in unit pricing, and the delivery location is the CDFA facility at 41-650 Waikupanaha Street, Waimanalo, HI 96795.

The procurement includes specific set-aside requirements, mandating 3% Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) participation, which is mandatory for bid consideration with no Good Faith Effort option available. Small businesses and microbusinesses can claim a 5% preference when submitting bids. The contract will involve two initial delivery tranches: 40,000 pounds within 30 days of purchase order issuance, and an additional 40,000 pounds to be delivered by the end of August 2016. While no specific total contract value is explicitly stated, the procurement suggests a substantial annual requirement for this specialized food-grade yeast. Vendors must carefully review all technical specifications and compliance requirements, as the CDFA will evaluate bids based on meeting these precise nutritional and packaging standards. The Notice of Proposed Award is expected to occur 1-5 work days after the bid opening, with the contract managed by Purchasing Analyst Christina Hernandez.