A. OBJECTIVE: a) The purpose of this Request For Information (RFI), which is not a solicitation to procure, is a means of conducting market research to identify capable parties having an interest in the Statewide Cookies, Crackers, and Snacks procurement. This RFI is in addition to any formal forthcoming virtual pre-bid conference that would occur after the procurement solicitation posting, once a date is determined. b) The requirements stated in this RFI may not accurately reflect that which may be contained in a Request for Proposal (RFP), Invitation for Bid (IFB), Purchase Order RFP (PORFP), Task Order RFP (TORFP) or other procurement vehicle. This issuance does not constitute a commitment to issue a request for bids, award a contract, or pay any costs incurred in preparation of a response to this request. Furthermore, the Department of General Services (DGS) requires that all responding vendors abstain from providing any quotes or bids in response to this RFI unless otherwise asked to do so. c) Any information received in response to this RFI will assist DGS in collecting information that may be used at a future date for a procurement. A submission in response to this RFI does not guarantee that the respondent will be included in any subsequent procurement. Likewise, a nonsubmission in response to this RFI does not preclude a recipient or vendor from inclusion in any future procurement. d) As part of DGS's efforts to gather this information, DGS may schedule information sessions as it determines necessary with participants or others. The purpose of these sessions is strictly information gathering. This is not a procurement activity and will not result in an evaluation or a purchase.
