Procurement of Dietary Articles by Punjab Prisons Department

Punjab Prisons Department, Government of the Punjab, invites bids for the procurement of dietary articles including FAQ (30,000 kilograms), Sooji (300 kilograms), Chawal Basmati (800 kilograms), Tomatoes (1,150 kilograms), Dry Peas (3,000 kilograms), Potatoes (5,000 kilograms), Onions (250 kilograms), and Mixed Vegetables (22,500 kilograms) to be delivered to District Jail Jhelum. The total estimated value ranges from Rs. 33,000,000 to Rs. 3,500,000 for individual items, with deliveries required in 50-kilogram packs. The procurement is conducted via the E-Procurement Punjab portal following the single stage two envelopes procedure under Punjab Procurement Rules 2014.

Eligible bidders include registered suppliers, authorized dealers, authorized distributors, general order suppliers, companies, and sole proprietors registered with relevant tax authorities and the EPADS portal of PPRA. Bidders must not be blacklisted by the Procuring Agency or PPRA, nor associated with consultancy firms engaged for tender preparation. Government-owned enterprises may participate if duly authorized. A 2 percent original CDR (cash deposit receipt) performance guarantee is required from successful bidders, with additional battery testing and inspection charges to be borne by the supplier.

Bid documents are available on the PPRA website at www.ppra.punjab.gov.pk, E-PADS at https://eprocure.gov.pk, and the Prison Department website at www.prisons.punjab.gov.pk. Bids must be submitted online via Punjab Procurement-E portal on or before 17 August 2026 at 2:00 PM, with technical bid opening scheduled for 2:30 PM the same day. Bidders should contact District Jail Jhelum on phone 0544-920062-63 or email ibneadam041@gmail.com for queries.

This is a recurring annual procurement for prison dietary supplies covering eight staple food items in large quantities (up to 30,000 kg for FAQ). Scale is medium to large; the tender targets registered food suppliers and distributors capable of bulk delivery. Key challenge: tight delivery timeline (deliveries appear staggered throughout the contract period starting post-award) and stringent inspection/battery testing requirements that place quality assurance burden on the supplier. The 2% CDR guarantee and performance security requirements indicate the department's focus on contract compliance.

Who can bid: Bidders must be registered with tax authorities (Income Tax, Sales Tax) and EPADS portal of PPRA. Suppliers, authorized dealers, distributors, companies, and sole proprietors are eligible. Not eligible: blacklisted entities, firms with conflict of interest in tender preparation, and unauthorized government enterprises. Typically, food suppliers must hold business registration and trade licenses from relevant municipal or provincial authorities.