SBE: JMPC - Warehousing and Delivery of USDA FoodsJ

The Illinois State Board of Education, in agreement with the Chief Procurement Officer for General Services, is seeking to establish a joint purchase master contract to efficiently receive, warehouse, and deliver USDA Foods, including dry, cooler, and frozen foods, to eligible entities throughout Illinois. The selected vendor will be responsible for receiving, warehousing, and delivering approximately $60 million worth of USDA Foods annually to public and private nonprofit schools, correctional facilities, emergency disaster-relief agencies, summer food service programs, and other qualified recipients. The contract term will be from execution through June 30, 2027, with no option to renew beyond a total term of 10 years. Vendors must have a minimum of two years' experience in these operational areas and demonstrate the necessary facilities, equipment, and staffing to effectively manage the program. Pricing will be based on fixed per-unit fees for receiving, warehousing, and delivering the foods, with the option to include a fuel adjustment surcharge.

The contract is not subject to any small business, minority-owned, women-owned, or veteran-owned business participation goals, but the Illinois State Board of Education encourages the use of such firms where feasible. The incumbent contractor is Lanter Distributing LLC, who was awarded a 35-month contract with a total value of $10,241,124.00. Vendors must be registered with the Illinois Procurement Gateway and the Illinois Department of Human Rights to be considered for this opportunity, and bids must be submitted electronically through the BidBuy system by June 26, 2024.