Soft Drinks - DOC-DWCC

The Louisiana Office of State Procurement has issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for a Blanket Order Contract to provide soft drinks for canteen resale at the David Wade Correctional Center in Catahoula Parish. The procurement seeks 4,000 case equivalents of specific Coca-Cola brand products in 20oz plastic bottles, packaged 24 bottles per case, with required flavors including Coca-Cola Classic, Diet Coke, Coke Zero, Dr. Pepper, Diet Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Diet Sprite, Sprite Zero, Barq's Root Beer, Fanta Orange, and Fanta Strawberry. The initial contract period will be 12 months, beginning July 1, 2025, or the date of award, with options to renew for two additional 12-month periods, not exceeding a total of 36 months. Bidders must be registered in the LaGov system and submit all required documents online, with the bid opening scheduled for June 24, 2025, at 10:00 AM CST. The award method will select the lowest responsive, responsible bidder meeting specifications, with the state reserving the right to reject individual line items. Delivery will be on a called-for, as-needed basis, with strict instructions to deliver only when specifically requested by the agency.

The solicitation includes specific vendor requirements, such as mandatory security clearance processes for prison facility access, which involves providing detailed employee information for background checks. Vendors must comply with comprehensive payment terms, including using the LaCarte procurement card for purchases under $5,000 and Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) for other transactions. Pricing must be comprehensive, covering transportation, freight, inside delivery, unpacking, and debris removal. While no specific set-aside designations are mentioned, bidders must adhere to civil rights laws, ADA requirements, and federal clauses related to anti-kickback, clean air and water acts, and non-discrimination policies. Although a specific budget range is not provided, the procurement is for 4,000 case equivalents of soft drinks, suggesting a significant but not explicitly defined contract value. The state emphasizes that only specific brand names and models will be accepted, and bidders must specify their exact brand, bottle size, case quantity, and flavors to be considered for the contract.