Pre qualification of vendors for food, fresh frozen, canned

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners Purchasing Department issued a Request for Pre-Qualification seeking vendors capable of supplying food items including fresh, frozen, and canned products, bread and bakery items, and milk and dairy products under a term contract arrangement. This solicitation establishes a pre-qualified vendor list for perishable and non-perishable food supplies to be procured on an as-needed basis, with vendors required to indicate their capability to supply specific food categories in bulk, non-bulk, or retail formats, including produce, meats, poultry, seafood, dairy, bakery products, frozen foods, condiments, and miscellaneous grocery items. Qualified vendors must possess fully equipped offices, comply with all delivery requirements including temperature controls for frozen goods (0-5 degrees Fahrenheit), refrigerated items (35-45 degrees Fahrenheit), and dry goods (70-75 degrees Fahrenheit), and furnish USDA certificates for vegetables, meats, poultry, and seafood with each delivery. The original submission deadline was January 12, 2017 at 4:00 p.m., with responses required in sealed packages signed by authorized company representatives. The contract term shall be sixty months or until estimated funding is expended, with delivery required within five business days of order receipt and vendors responsible for maintaining proper storage, rotation, and sanitary conditions meeting Florida Department of Health and Palm Beach County Health Department standards. Vendors must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least $500,000 per occurrence, business auto liability insurance of $500,000 combined single limit, and workers' compensation insurance in accordance with Florida Statute Chapter 440, and must provide current Health Department inspection reports, minimum three references for commercial accounts, current Business Tax Receipts, and evidence of non-discrimination policies compliant with Palm Beach County Resolution R-2014-1421.

Small Business Enterprise (SBE) preferences apply under this solicitation, allowing certified SBE vendors within ten percent of the lowest responsive bid to receive award consideration. A five percent local preference is available to vendors with established permanent places of business in Palm Beach County or the Glades. Pricing shall be based on fixed quotes provided by pre-qualified vendors for individual projects, with all-inclusive pricing covering supervision, equipment, materials, transportation, and related costs. The anticipated funding for the sixty-month contract period is $1,750,000, with the County reserving the right to adjust this amount based on actual requirements. Projects equaling or exceeding the mandatory bid amount of $100,000 shall be separately solicited through formal competitive sealed bid processes. The County reserves the right to re-qualify or terminate vendors at its discretion throughout the contract term.