27NUTRL7 | Dried Cranberries | RFR

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is soliciting bids for the procurement of low-sugar dried cranberries made exclusively from cranberries grown and harvested in Massachusetts, available in two flavors: Fruit Punch and Raspberry Lemonade. The contract, identified as BD-27-1026-DOE02-DOE01-131541, is being issued through COMMBUYS with a response deadline of August 3, 2026, and requires delivery to the specified place of performance at 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149. Although no estimated contract value is disclosed, the award will be based on best value using a trade-off methodology that prioritizes non-cost factors over price alone, explicitly excluding Lowest Price Technically Acceptable. Bidders must be Massachusetts-based small businesses meeting stringent eligibility criteria, including having 50 or fewer full-time employees, annual revenues under $15 million, and at least one year of continuous operation, to qualify for preferential consideration under the Small Business Purchasing Program. Non-SBPP bidders are only considered if no eligible small business submits a technically acceptable and best-value proposal. A minimum commitment of 1% of the contract value must be directed toward certified Supplier Diversity Program partners, including Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, Veteran-Owned, Disability-Owned, and LGBTQ Business Enterprises, and this commitment constitutes at least 25% of the total evaluation score. Bidders are required to submit a comprehensive SDP Plan Form outlining their strategy for engaging certified partners, with self-certification or use of non-certified entities being unacceptable. In addition to diversity compliance, contractors must adhere to Massachusetts Public Records Law, HIPAA obligations if handling health data, and prohibitions on use of the Commonwealth seal without authorization. All payments must be made via Electronic Funds Transfer, requiring enrollment in the VendorWeb system, and contractors must comply with prompt payment discount requirements. The Commonwealth reserves the right to unilaterally expand the contract scope or term if funding is available. All deliverables remain the property of the state, and false representations regarding SBPP or SDP status may lead to disqualification, debarment, or contract termination. Proposals must be submitted electronically through COMMBUYS by the deadline, with no late submissions accepted, and all materials must be in English using U.S. customary units.