HHS0016983 Food Carts Brenham SSLC

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Procurement and Contracting Services division, along with the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), issued an Invitation for Bids (IFB) for the procurement of one Dinex DXMOCII20 20-Tray Combination Meal Delivery Cart for the Brenham State Supported Living Center. The specific deliverable is a Meals on Command II 20-tray combination meal delivery cart featuring stainless steel construction with separate hot and cold compartments, insulated doors with color coding, digital control panels, convection heating on the hot side, and R404A refrigeration on the cold side, along with mobile casters. Bidders must submit all required documentation including Exhibit A (HHS Solicitation Affirmations), Exhibit C (Pricing Sheet with unit pricing and shipping costs), and any applicable Addendum Acknowledgement Forms to be considered for award, with failure to provide these materials resulting in bid disqualification. Pricing must be submitted as firm, fixed prices in US dollars only and must include all labor, equipment, materials, supplies, and related expenses; price adjustments during the contract term may be permitted only at HHSC's discretion based on the Consumer Price Index formula or federal minimum wage increases with supporting documentation. The IFB was posted January 16, 2026, with a questions and clarifications deadline of January 23, 2026, and responses to questions posted January 26, 2026; bids are due January 30, 2026, at 10:30 AM Central Time with an anticipated contract start date of February 3, 2026. The contract term extends from the award date through August 31, 2026, with a potential one-year extension option at HHSC's sole discretion, and bidders' responses must remain firm and binding for 240 days.

The solicitation documents do not identify any specific set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent vendors; however, all respondents must comply with extensive mandatory certifications and affirmations covering compliance with state and federal laws, suspension and debarment status, human trafficking prohibitions, child support obligations, E-Verify requirements, cybersecurity training standards, and prohibitions regarding boycotts of Israel and firearm industries, among other requirements detailed in Exhibit A and Exhibit B. The contractor is responsible for all delivery logistics, including scheduling delivery appointments and meeting specified delivery windows of 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding noon to 1:00 PM; failure to deliver on time may result in HHSC purchasing items on an emergency basis and charging price differences to the vendor. Reworked products, previously refused items, and seconds are not acceptable, and unauthorized substitutions are prohibited unless prior written approval is obtained from HHSC. The IFB does not guarantee any volume, usage, or compensation, and HHSC reserves the right to make single or multiple awards to achieve best value for the state; no specific funding source or budget amount is identified in the solicitation documents. Bidders may submit responses electronically through the HHS Online Bid Room, which requires multi-step registration through IAMOnline, though bidders are cautioned that technical difficulties with the optional online system are not grounds for protest of a contract award.