MPA 583 OE Local Perishable Food Vendors

The State of Rhode Island Division of Purchases has issued a Master Price Agreement (MPA 583) Open Enrollment solicitation (OEV21000419) to establish a qualified vendor list for local perishable food vendors to supply food products to state agencies, municipalities, and quasi-governmental organizations in Providence County and across Rhode Island. The initial contract period will run from November 1, 2020, to September 30, 2022, with options to renew for up to two additional 12-month periods. Vendors must submit electronic proposals through the Ocean State Procures system and provide either a bid surety bond or certified check for 5% of their cost proposal. Evaluation will be conducted on a pass/fail basis, with successful vendors placed on a qualified vendor list from which state agencies can request quotes for specific projects. Key qualifications include maintaining appropriate insurance coverage, including $1 million in liability insurance, workers compensation, and automobile liability coverage. Proposals can be submitted at any time up until 6 months before the contract's end date, with no guaranteed purchasing volume for selected vendors.

The solicitation includes specific set-aside requirements for minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses, mandating a minimum 10% participation in the total contract value. Certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), and Veteran Business Enterprises (VBEs) will be given preference, with agencies required to obtain at least one quote from a certified diverse business when soliciting project quotes. A 1% contract administrative fee will be assessed on all purchase orders issued under the MPA, effective January 1, 2020. The agreement has statewide applicability and can be utilized by political subdivisions including municipalities, institutions of higher education, municipal and state schools, and quasi-public agencies. While no specific award value or budget range is explicitly stated, the open-ended nature of the solicitation suggests flexibility in potential contract values. The State reserves the right to select one or more vendors and to remove vendors from the qualified list at its discretion, ensuring ongoing quality and performance standards for perishable food product procurement.