Cheese

The State of California, Department of General Services, is issuing an Invitation for Bid to establish a statewide contract for the supply of various cheeses—including processed cheese, mozzarella string cheese, and natural cheese—to all California state departments. The contract is priced on a USDA‑published base price of $1.562 per pound with no differentials, covering approximately 4.65 million lb of cheese over a two‑year base term, with two optional one‑year extensions. Bidders must meet extensive federal and state food‑safety certifications, provide detailed product specifications, packaging, labeling, and shelf‑life compliance, and submit a completed Pricing Workbook, Narrative Response, and numerous compliance forms. The solicitation emphasizes small‑business, veteran‑business, and TACPA preferences, and requires acceptance of the California procurement card. • Supplies three product groups: Processed cheese, mozzarella string cheese, and natural cheese. • Minimum order quantities: 200 lb for processed and natural cheese, 168 lb for string cheese. • Strict regulatory requirements: USDA plant approval (out‑of‑state), CDFA licensing (in‑state), CGMP, trans‑fat limits, vegetarian rennet, and detailed labeling. • Contract term: 2 years with two optional one‑year extensions; bid validity 60 days.