Pre-qual - food, fresh, frozen, can, bread/dairy

Palm Beach County's Board of County Commissioners Purchasing Department issued a Request for Pre-Qualification for food suppliers to provide fresh, frozen, canned products, bread, bakery items, and milk and dairy products on an as-needed basis over a sixty-month contract period. Pre-qualified vendors must demonstrate capability to deliver to Palm Beach County Headstart Centers, Parks & Recreation Water Parks, and Public Safety/Youth Affairs Department locations throughout the county, including Belle Glade, with regular weekly deliveries to Headstart Centers every Wednesday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and all orders fulfilled within five business days. Vendors must maintain strict temperature controls for frozen items (0-5 degrees Fahrenheit), refrigerated items (35-45 degrees Fahrenheit), and dry goods (70-75 degrees Fahrenheit), comply with Florida Department of Health and Palm Beach County Health Department sanitary standards, and furnish USDA certificates with each delivery. Pre-qualification applicants must submit a minimum of three customer references from the past three years, evidence of current service to at least three large commercial or government accounts, a current Health Department inspection report, and maintain a fully equipped and staffed office capable of responding to price quote requests within five business days. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible pre-qualified contractor, with individual projects not to exceed $49,999, and vendors must carry Commercial General Liability Insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, Business Auto Liability Insurance of at least $500,000 combined single limit, and Workers' Compensation and Employer's Liability Insurance per Florida Statute Chapter 440. The solicitation accepted pre-qualification responses on or after September 8, 2011.

The contract includes a Small Business Enterprise provision allowing Palm Beach County-certified small businesses to receive preference if their bid falls within ten percent of the lowest bid. The anticipated total funding for this sixty-month contract is $4,500,000, with Palm Beach County reserving the right to increase, decrease, or re-advertise for services as necessary. Projects at or exceeding the mandatory bid threshold of $50,000 will be separately solicited through formal competitive sealed bidding. All deliveries are on an F.O.B. destination basis, with pre-qualified vendors retaining title and responsibility for transportation, liability, and claims. Pre-qualification responses should be submitted to Senior Buyer Kristen A. Monnett at the Palm Beach County Purchasing Department, with emergency and special purchase deliveries available by phone or email to accommodate county needs.