INVITATION TO BID - IW249046

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is soliciting bids under solicitation number IW249046 for the delivery of 30 loads of IQF diced carrots, packaged in 30-pound cases with a poly blue liner, to be delivered to the TDCJ Cold and Dry Storage facility at 1002 San Jacinto Street, Palestine, Texas. The solicitation, posted on April 23, 2026, with a response deadline of May 8, 2026, is issued as an Invitation for Bids under NAICS code 424420, targeting wholesale trade of food and beverage products. All deliveries must adhere to F.O.B. Destination terms, meaning the vendor is responsible for all freight, import, and tariff charges, with acceptance occurring upon inspection at the designated receiving location. The goods must be new, unused, and of current production, with compliance required for material safety data sheets, labeling including “PRODUCT OF USA” and “HALAL AND KOSHER” where applicable, and adherence to TDCJ security protocols, including vehicle and personnel searches and strict prohibition of contraband during site access. The evaluation for award is based on a best-value trade-off approach considering price, past performance, quality, and conformance to specifications, with no predefined weights or adjectival ratings. Bidders must comply with extensive state-specific contractual requirements, including disclosure of interested parties, affirmation of child support obligations, certification against involvement in human trafficking or boycotts of Israel or energy companies, and mandatory disclosure of any artificial intelligence systems used in fulfilling the contract. Vendor personnel are subject to mandatory cybersecurity training, data security controls under TX-RAMP, secure hard drive erasure standards, and compliance with Texas Government Code provisions relating to records retention, procurement ethics, and prior state employment disclosures. Contract performance must occur within a default 14-day delivery window unless otherwise specified, and no subcontracting or assignment is permitted without prior written approval from TDCJ. Invoices must reference the purchase order number and include a valid Payee Identification Number, and be submitted to the TDCJ Accounts Payable office in Huntsville, Texas. The solicitation does not specify a contract value due to unpopulated pricing data, and no barcoding, MIL-STD packaging standards, or electronic invoicing systems like WAWF are required. The primary point of contact is Leslie Bowers of TDCJ Contracts and Procurement, who can be reached via email or phone for