Liquid Non-Frozen Fruit Punch Drink Base

The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction is seeking a procurement for liquid non-frozen fruit punch drink base concentrate through Invitation for Bid (IFB #52-IFB-1793859625-SDD) for the Enterprise Roanoke River Cannery. The procurement involves supplying approximately 16,500 gallons annually, delivered in 3,300-gallon loads to a facility located in Tillery, NC, with strict delivery restrictions between 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM ET, Monday through Thursday. The product must meet specific technical specifications, including a 50:1 concentration ratio, 11.5 Brix, 10% acidity, pH 2.00, and 8.7 lbs/gallon density, and be delivered in 330-gallon totes with a minimum six-month shelf life. Vendors must submit samples of both unmixed concentrate and ready-to-drink product by November 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, and provide manufacturer authorization documentation, current Safety Data Sheets, three customer references, and completed financial certifications. Critical deadlines include written questions due by November 3, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET, with state responses provided by November 5, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET, and bid submissions due November 12, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET.

The contract includes specific sourcing restrictions, mandating that all product ingredients must be free from pork products or derivatives and originate 100% from domestic sources (grown, processed, and packed in the United States). The State reserves the right to award to a single vendor or make separate awards, with the ability to reject all bids and negotiate Best and Final Offers. The previous contract was held by America's Best Packaging (now FlavorPros LLC), who supplied the product at $4.53 per gallon under contract 19-IFB-483264384-SDD-DAC. The contract will have an initial one-year term with options to renew for two additional one-year terms, requiring 30-day prior notice for renewal. While the estimated annual contract value is approximately $119,582 based on prior year pricing, there are no guaranteed minimum or maximum purchase quantities. Pricing shall remain firm for 180 days from contract execution, with subsequent increases subject to negotiation and State approval.