Skim milk

The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) Food Service Division issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for the procurement of skim milk, specifically seeking 1,976 cases of milk packaged as 50 eight-ounce cartons per case. The solicitation targeted a one-year contract for milk delivery to the SCDC Food Service Warehouse located at 4422 Broad River Road in Columbia, SC. Bidders were required to submit sealed packages to the SC Department of Corrections Purchasing Branch by January 8, 2020, at 10:00 AM, with award notification scheduled for January 16, 2020. Evaluation criteria focused on identifying the lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with unit prices required for comprehensive assessment. Deliveries must occur within 30 days of purchase order receipt, with specific requirements that all items be new, palletized, and shrink-wrapped. Late delivery penalties were structured, ranging from 5% to 20% based on the number of days delayed, and only approved brands (Pet and Borden) were acceptable.

Vendors were required to be registered with the State prior to submission and had opportunities to claim various preferences, including South Carolina resident vendor preference and United States end-product preference. The solicitation included standard certifications regarding independent price determination, debarment, drug-free workplace compliance, and ethics requirements. Ultimately, Borden Dairy Company of S.C., LLC was awarded the contract at a total evaluated amount of $21,044.40, with a unit price of $10.65 per case. The procurement did not appear to have specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The State explicitly noted they would not pay sales or use taxes, which vendors were required to omit from pricing. Questions from prospective bidders were to be submitted at least five days prior to the bid opening, and the final contract was approved by Laurie Branham, Director of Procurement, and Ruthie H. Bishop of the Department of Corrections.