Milk & Dairy Products for Independence

The State of Iowa is seeking a single vendor to provide Milk & Dairy Products for Human Services in Independence through a Request for Bid (RFB) numbered 005-RFB-0179-2022. The procurement covers specific dairy products including 1% white milk, skimmed white milk, skimmed chocolate milk (all in 1/2 pint sizes), and additional items such as sour cream, yogurt, and cottage cheese (in 5-pound quantities). The contract will run from 01/31/2023 to 02/01/2024, with potential for up to four annual extensions. Pricing for fluid milk products will be subject to an escalator clause based on October's Class I price per CWT published by the United States Department of Agriculture in Iowa Federal Order 65 & 79. Vendors must provide quarterly electronic reports in Microsoft Excel format, detailing sale dates, customer information, product descriptions, quantities, and pricing. The bid requires an administrative fee of 1.00% on all sales, payable quarterly to the Iowa Department of Administrative Services. The state reserves the right to award the contract to the bidder with the best overall or line item price, with no minimum order quantities required.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention set-aside designations or restrictions on responding organizations. Historical purchase volumes for the products range from 3 to 25,750 units across different product lines, suggesting potential variability in order volumes. Pricing will include delivery, and all prices are subject to the specified escalation mechanism. While no specific budget range is provided, the comprehensive product list and potential for multiple annual extensions indicate a significant procurement opportunity. The bid was originally posted on 10/3/2022 with a closing date of 11/15/2022, allowing potential vendors approximately six weeks to prepare and submit their proposals. The procurement is specifically for human services in Independence, Iowa, suggesting this is a localized contract targeting specific institutional or human service needs within the state.