INVITATION TO BID - IW249052

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is soliciting bids for the delivery of 9,450 cases of 30-pound IQF diced carrots in poly blue liner packaging, to be delivered F.O.B. destination to the Snyder Distribution Center in Snyder, Texas. Bids must be submitted by May 8, 2026, under solicitation number IW249052, with proposals accepted electronically via email to BIDS@TDCJ.TEXAS.GOV or as a single hard copy, adhering to Microsoft Office formats for editable content and PDF for signed documents, and not exceeding 10 MB per email. All items must be new, unused, and of current production, with packaging allowing for security inspection upon delivery, and no bar-coding or standardized labeling beyond vendor name, address, and solicitation number required on samples or invoices, which must include a valid Payee Identification Number and Texas ID Number (T.I.N.S.). The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price arrangement, with no guaranteed quantities, and delivery timelines default to 14 calendar days unless otherwise specified by the vendor. Awards will be based on best value, considering price, past performance, quality conformity, and other state interests, with no formal weighting or scoring provided. Delivery must occur at designated TDCJ facilities across Texas, with strict security protocols: all delivery personnel are subject to search, must be escorted within facilities, barred from carrying cash over $35 or any contraband, prohibited from interacting with inmates, and cannot bring minors or pets onto property. Contractors must certify compliance with a wide array of Texas-specific requirements, including prohibitions on foreign adversary ownership, non-boycott of Israel or energy companies, disclosure of AI use requiring prior written consent, disclosure of employees previously employed by TDCJ within the last two years, and adherence to cybersecurity standards under TX-RAMP, data retention under TDCJ records schedules, and electronic waste recycling statutes. Failure to meet any certification or requirement may result in immediate termination without compensation, and TDCJ retains the right to terminate for convenience with 30 days’ notice or for non-appropriated funds. Invoices must be sent to P.O. Box 4018, Huntsville, TX 77342-4018, referencing the purchase order number and PIN, and processed through the Texas Comptroller’s office contingent on legislative appropriations. No UEI, CAGE code, or small business certification is required, only