Milk & Dairy Products

San Bernardino County Purchasing Department issued Invitation to Bid (ITB) AGENCY26-PURC-6314 on March 20, 2026, seeking qualified vendors to supply milk and dairy products to support the County's institutional food service operations. The procurement encompasses 21 line items including fluid milk products in various fat content levels (whole milk, low-fat milk, non-fat milk), specialty milk products (soy milk, Lactaid milk), and supplementary dairy items such as cottage cheese, yogurt, margarine, buttermilk, sour cream, and string cheese, with unit sizes ranging from 4 ounces to 5 pounds. Historical consumption data from 2021 through January 2026 indicates substantial annual volumes, with peak consumption of approximately 4.9 million units in 2022, and consistent demand for fat-free milk in 8-ounce single-serve containers as the dominant product category. Bidders must submit all proposals electronically through the San Bernardino County Electronic Procurement Network (ePro) by April 24, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., with a deadline for submission of questions on April 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pricing must be quoted on an F.O.B. destination basis with freight charges itemized separately and excluded from product unit costs, with all pricing effective for the week of June 29, 2026. Contract award is anticipated in June 2026, with bids subject to a 90-day acceptance period from opening, and net payment terms are Net 60 days from receipt and acceptance of merchandise. Award will be made to the responsive, responsible bidder providing the best value, with the County reserving the right to reject any or all bids and conduct pre-award surveys to verify bidder capability.

San Bernardino County offers a local vendor preference of 5 percent to vendors whose principal place of business is located within San Bernardino County boundaries. Public agency participation is permitted; however, agencies outside San Bernardino County are responsible for their own freight charges. Bidders must complete representations and certifications regarding business ownership, debarment status, criminal history, cost data accuracy, and independent pricing. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are specified in the solicitation documents, and the procurement does not indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though all vendors must meet standard representations and certifications requirements. While no explicit budget range is provided in the available documents, the historical consumption data suggesting annual volumes ranging from approximately 4.5 million to 4.9 million units provides a basis for estimating potential contract value. The County will consider factors including pricing, vendor capability, and responsiveness to specifications in making the award determination.