September 2025 Meat & Cheese - DOC-PE

The Louisiana Department of Corrections - Prison Enterprises (DOC-PE) is soliciting bids for a comprehensive meat and cheese procurement for its Wakefield facility through Solicitation RFx No. 3000025211. The procurement encompasses 43 line items of meat and cheese products, including chicken leg quarters, whole loaf cheese, turkey ham, bologna, frankfurters, ground beef, turkey wings, chicken gizzards, and sliced cheese. Quantities range from 100 to 80,000 pounds, with strict specifications requiring all products to be frozen, processed within 90-120 days of delivery, and packaged according to detailed guidelines. The bid will be awarded on an individual basis to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder meeting specifications, with lines 2 and 42 (cheese items) to be awarded on a grouped basis. Bids are due on August 12, 2025, at 10:00 AM CST, with delivery expected by Thursday, September 4, 2025. Delivery is restricted to Monday through Thursday between 7:00 am and 1:00 pm, using refrigerated trucks, with a mandatory 24-hour advance delivery scheduling requirement.

Bidders must be registered in the LaGov system and submit bids online, with new vendors required to submit a W-9 form. The procurement offers potential Louisiana product preferences for vendors with a workforce of at least 50% Louisiana residents. There are no specific set-aside designations mentioned, but the solicitation includes multiple compliance certifications related to civil rights, accessibility, non-discrimination, and federal contracting requirements. Federal procurement guidelines specifically prohibit unreasonably restrictive qualifications that could provide bidding advantages to in-state or local firms. While no specific budget range is explicitly stated, the extensive product list suggests a significant procurement value. Payment will be processed using the LaCarte procurement card for purchases under $5,000, with Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) available as an alternative payment method. Vendors must comply with USDA and FDA labeling requirements, with all products requiring processed dates stamped on the packaging.