Perishable & nonperishable food & other

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) through the South Carolina School Food Service Purchasing Alliance, Inc. for a comprehensive food and supply procurement contract. The solicitation seeks bids for Lot A, which encompasses a wide range of food products including meats, canned and frozen fruits, juices, vegetables, miscellaneous grocery items, special dietary items, and related supplies to support USDA Child Nutrition Programs across 21 correctional institutions statewide. Bidders were required to submit sealed offers by September 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the SCDC Purchasing Division in Columbia, South Carolina, with questions due by August 26, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. The contract period runs from October 1, 2022, through July 31, 2023, with potential for up to four additional one-year renewal options. Deliveries must be palletized and shrink-wrapped, delivered weekly between 6:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to correctional institutions, with delivery appointments coordinated through designated facility contacts. Pricing must be submitted as fixed, delivered prices, with a firm fixed fee applicable throughout the contract period for specified product categories.

The solicitation was open to all qualified distributors with no specific set-aside provisions noted. All products must comply with Buy American requirements, mandating domestic origin for over 51 percent of processed products, with poultry products required to be processed in the United States. The contract was ultimately awarded to U.S. Foods, located in Lexington, SC, with an evaluated and awarded contract amount of $30,571,324.08. The procurement was conducted under Procurement Exemption #9 for perishables, making it non-protestable under South Carolina Consolidated Procurement Code. Contractors are required to maintain HACCP compliance, conduct food recalls as necessary, provide weekly customer service representatives, and submit monthly utilization reports. The solicitation included provisions for pre-award and post-award audits to verify pricing accuracy and commodity credits. The estimated annual budget for the contract was $10,550,313.77, with potential for price adjustments for fresh produce and eggs based on market conditions, and other non-category items allowed to request price adjustments with supporting documentation until January 31, 2023.