USDA Certified Grocery Items - Department of Corrections

The Missouri Department of Corrections has issued an Invitation for Bid (IFBC30034902100736) for USDA Certified Grocery Items to be procured for the Central Region and Eastern Region Commodity Warehouses located in Jefferson City and Bonne Terre. The solicitation requests bids for 18 specific grocery items including applesauce, green beans, sliced apples, red beans, vegetarian beans, diced beets, sliced carrots, whole kernel corn, sweet peas, sliced peaches, peanut butter, sliced pears, pineapple tidbits, spinach, tomato ketchup, tomato paste, stewed tomatoes, and lima beans. All products must meet stringent requirements, including USDA Grade A or B standards, Kosher certification or Kosher-allowable ingredients, and specific packaging specifications (typically 6/#10 cans per case). The bid submission period opened on November 11, 2020, with responses due by November 23, 2020, at 8:00 PM GMT. The contract period will run from January 1, 2021, through June 30, 2021, with specific delivery schedules established for each item and location. Vendors must complete and submit multiple exhibits, including pricing pages, and adhere to detailed product specifications such as minimum drained weights and palletization requirements of 8 tie 7 high (maximum 56 cases per pallet).

The solicitation does not indicate any specific set-aside designations or restrictions on vendor participation, suggesting the bid is open to all qualified vendors. No incumbent vendor information is provided in the documentation. Payment terms are set at Net 45 Days, with all items to be delivered FOB Destination. While the total contract value is not explicitly stated, the estimated quantities range from 280 to 10,472 cases per item, suggesting a potentially significant procurement value. The solicitation allows vendors to submit bids through either hard copy to the Division of Purchasing or electronically via the MissouriBUYS system. Vendors are prohibited from entering negative bid values and must ensure their products meet all specified requirements. Funding for the contract will come from the Missouri Department of Corrections' budget, indicating this is a direct procurement to support the department's food service operations.