P25-0018 - Cane Sugar

The California Department of Food & Agriculture (CDFA) Administrative Services Purchasing Unit is conducting an informal competitive Request for Quote (RFQ) for the procurement of cane sugar, designated as solicitation P25-0018. The procurement involves purchasing 1,900 bags of cane sugar, totaling 95,000 pounds, to be delivered to the Department of Food & Agriculture in Waimanalo, Hawaii. This sugar is a critical component for larval rearing and adult colony diet of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly. The delivery schedule requires approximately two deliveries per month, with a minimum of 200 bags per delivery, and all bags must be ordered by December 31st, 2025. The solicitation has a specific timeline, with quotes due by July 14, 2025, at 5 PM PT, and questions accepted until July 7, 2025, at 12:00 PM PT. Bidders must submit detailed price quotes on company letterhead, include freight and shipping charges in unit pricing, and provide F.O.B. Destination responses. The procurement is structured as a Term Purchase Order ending December 31, 2025, or when funds are depleted.

The solicitation includes provisions for small business preferences, offering a 5% preference to California Certified Small Businesses or non-small businesses that demonstrate at least 25% small business subcontractor participation. Bidders are required to complete and submit multiple certification documents, including Bidder Declaration, Recycling Content Certification, Darfur Contracting Act Certification, and a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) Disclosure. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the total procurement volume is 95,000 pounds of cane sugar. The contract appears to have no predetermined incumbent vendor, and the solicitation is open to businesses that can meet the technical specifications and regulatory compliance requirements. Additional evaluation criteria include compliance with state contracting regulations, submission of required certifications, and the ability to meet the specified delivery schedule and minimum order quantities.