VDC bid program, can tuna, term CONTRACT127555

The Commonwealth of Virginia, Division of Purchases and Supply, is requesting bids on a term contract to supply kosher-certified canned tuna to the Virginia Distribution Center in Sandston under IFB 127555, with bids due September 22, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. EDT. All bidders must submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan with a goal of 42% of purchases from DSBSD-certified small businesses.

The scope is chunk light tuna in water meeting Commercial Item Description A-A-20155D, no more than 1.5% salt, in 37.9-ounce cans (minimum pressed label weight) packaged at 6 cans per 66.5-ounce case. Approximate annual usage is 4,575 cases. All products must maintain a minimum of 180 days shelf life remaining upon delivery. The specification mandates compliance with Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requirements, FDA Standards of Identity (21 CFR 161.190), and Good Manufacturing Practices, with testing for salt content, sodium levels, methylmercury (not to exceed 1.0 ppm), and histamine levels using AOAC International methods. Contractors must guarantee all canned goods free from swells and latent defects for six months after delivery, with the vendor responsible for replacement of defective product at no cost to the Commonwealth.

The contract term is two years with three optional one-year renewal periods. Bids shall be firm unit prices on an F.O.B. delivered basis with all freight costs included. The minimum order quantity is 22 pallets per shipment, with delivery required within the bidder's stated timeframe (agency target: 24–27 calendar days after order receipt). Price escalation is permitted only after 150 days from the effective date and thereafter every 180 days, limited to documented increases in product costs as a percentage of active ingredients, not to exceed the Producers Price Index for tuna. An optional pre-bid teleconference is scheduled for September 8, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. EDT. Written bid clarifications are due by 4:00 p.m. EDT on September 10, 2026. Public bid opening occurs at 2:05 p.m. EDT on September 22 via teleconference. Bidders must submit complete product literature, labels, specification sheets, and safety data sheets with their bid response.