REPTILE and AVIAN FOOD, PURCHASE OF, TERM CONTRACT

Palm Beach County's Board of County Commissioners Purchasing Department issued Request for Quotation #650484/JM on January 22, 2021, to establish a twelve-month term contract for the supply of reptile and avian food products to three county nature centers: Daggerwing Nature Center in Boca Raton, Green Cay Nature Center in Boynton Beach, and Okeeheelee Nature Center in West Palm Beach. The procurement seeks premium quality frozen feeder animals and live feeder insects across twelve line items, including various sizes of feeder mice (pinkies, fuzzies, small, medium, large, and x-breeders), feeder rats, feeder chicks, feeder crickets in two sizes, standard mealworms, and superworms, with estimated annual quantities ranging from 15 to 2,675 units depending on the specific product. All products must be shipped and packaged for individual use, with frozen items delivered within forty-eight hours of order placement in good condition free of contaminants or damage. Quotations were due by February 11, 2021, at 4:00 p.m. Palm Beach County local time via fax or email. Prospective vendors must be USDA Certified Breeders, maintain current Palm Beach County business tax receipts and licenses, comply with E-Verify employment eligibility verification requirements, register in the County's Vendor Self Service system, and provide drug-free workplace certification. Pricing must be submitted as single, fixed unit prices with no escalation clauses, and prices shall remain firm for the initial term and any renewal periods, with the F.O.B. point set as destination and the successful quoter responsible for all transportation charges and risk in transit.

Award will be made on an all-or-none basis to the lowest responsive and responsible quoter, subject to Palm Beach County's Small/Minority/Women-Owned Business Enterprise (S/M/WBE) program preferences and local preference ordinance provisions, indicating that disadvantaged and locally-owned enterprises may receive preferential consideration. The successful contract shall include an initial twelve-month term with the option to renew for four additional twelve-month periods upon mutual written agreement, contingent on appropriation of funds by the Board of County Commissioners. No incumbent vendors or current contractors were identified in the solicitation documentation. Payment will be rendered only upon the County's satisfaction and acceptance of delivered items, with all pricing required to include shipping, delivery, labor, materials, and other costs necessary for complete performance. No specific budget allocation or award value was disclosed in the available solicitation materials, though the estimated annual quantities and diverse product range suggest a moderate contract value supporting the operational needs of three county nature centers.