WIC MILK and SOY-BASED FORMULA REBATE

The Florida Department of Health's Bureau of WIC Program Services is seeking a Provider through an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for a milk and soy-based formula rebate contract. The procurement targets selecting a vendor to provide monetary rebates following WIC program participants' purchases of infant formula from authorized retail grocers. Bidders must specify a rebate and brand name for both milk-based and soy-based primary contract formulas in concentrated liquid, powdered, and ready-to-feed forms. The contract, anticipated to run from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2029, with potential three-year renewal, will serve approximately 400,000 participants, including 94,216 infants. Key procurement dates include a non-mandatory pre-bid conference on March 17, 2025, written questions deadline on March 28, 2025, bid submissions due by April 30, 2025, and an anticipated intent to award posting on May 6, 2025. The award will be made to the responsive, responsible respondent offering the lowest total monthly net cost for infant formula, with evaluation focused on rebate value and ability to meet 100% of WIC program infant clients' formula needs.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate set-aside designations or specific restrictions on respondent types. The contract includes a structured rebate system designed to offset federal grants, with monthly rebate payments totaling $7,000,000, subject to adjustment based on actual monthly rebate amounts. Rebates will be calculated using the manufacturer's lowest national wholesale full truckload price and a percentage discount method. The program emphasizes breastfeeding support and allows for medical exceptions and alternative formula provisions under federal regulations. Providers must guarantee sufficient formula quantities and demonstrate the capability to support the WIC program's nutritional requirements. The rebate funds will be reinvested to provide additional benefits to program participants, making this a financially strategic procurement for the Florida Department of Health. The contract's total potential value could reach approximately $21 million over the initial three-year term, not including potential renewal periods.