Smart Vending Equipment - Canteen

The Colorado Department of Corrections is requesting proposals for smart vending equipment for correctional facility canteens under RFP 2027000008, with proposals due August 17, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. The procurement spans a Phase 1 pilot of 6–8 units followed by potential full deployment of 140–200 units statewide upon successful pilot completion. No contract value cap is specified; pricing will be evaluated as part of proposal response.

The scope centers on high-security, AI-vision–enabled refrigerated vending machines with internal and user-facing cameras achieving 99% or higher transaction accuracy, reinforced locking mechanisms and shatter-resistant polycarbonate panels, 4G/5G cellular connectivity with secondary network failover, and backend software enabling independent inventory and AI training by Colorado Correctional Industries staff without vendor technician intervention. All software operations and data storage must reside solely within the United States. Equipment must operate continuously in 24/7 industrial-grade environments.

The RFP is brand-agnostic; vendors need not specify particular cooler manufacturers. Warranty must include a minimum 3-year limited warranty for compressors and cooling systems, 1-year full replacement for electronics and AI hardware, and 24/7 technical help desk support. PCI DSS compliance for payment processing is mandatory. Pricing must remain firm for 24 months from pilot launch and follow tiered volume pricing for post-pilot procurement (5–10 units, 11–25 units, 25+ units). An all-inclusive pricing model bundling software licensing, system support, maintenance dashboards, and future updates into hardware cost is strongly preferred.

All contractor personnel entering CDOC facilities must pass comprehensive National Crime Information Center background investigations and comply with Prison Rape Elimination Act guidelines. Contractors must obtain a U.S. Department of Justice PREA audit every three years at their expense. General Liability Insurance with $1 million per occurrence minimum and Crime Insurance with $1 million employee dishonesty coverage are required. The initial contract term runs October 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with renewal options for up to four additional one-year periods.

Evaluation criteria include Hardware Security and AI Technology, Software and Management Platform, Maintenance/Warranty/Self-Service Empowerment, and Cost and Pricing Structure, evaluated via weighted scoring on completeness, cost-effectiveness, and organizational responsibility. The State may conduct discussions, request clarifications, and solicit best and final offers. Notice of intent to award is estimated for July 31, 2026; contract execution is anticipated for October 1, 2026. Written inquiries closed July 23, 2026; responses are estimated to post July 28, 2026. Offerors must register with Bidnet Direct and in CORE before contract execution.