I Don’t See the Vendor I Want to Use on Mohave. What Do I Do Now?
by Mohave Contacts
With all of the thousands of businesses and vendors operating in Arizona and servicing public agencies, it happens from time to time that the vendor you want to use does not hold a Mohave contract. But what should you do?
“Mohave can help.”
Ask the vendor to reach out to us at Mohave. Mohave will provide them with the information to register on our third-party solicitation platform: OpenGov Procurement. By the vendor contacting us, Mohave can find out more about the vendor and the products and services that the vendor provides. If Mohave has contracts for the products and services the vendor can provide, Mohave can advise the vendor of the next opportunity to respond to a solicitation. If Mohave does not have a solicitation for the products and services that the vendor provides, Mohave can review the possibilities of issuing a new solicitation in the future.
Mohave attempts to make the process as easy as we can for the vendors to find the information to sign up on the OpenGov Procurement website. However, it sometimes happens that a vendor might feel that since they registered, they now have a Mohave contract. This is not the case. If you are not sure the vendor has a Mohave contract, reach out to us and we will help.
The contracts that Mohave has awarded have come from our members’ needs and past usage. With our ever-changing procurement environment, our members’ needs change and opportunities for new solicitations present themselves. Please reach out to us at contracts@mesc.org if you don’t see a contract for what you need, or a vendor that has not been awarded. We may know of alternate contract vendors covered under a Mohave contract that provide similar products or services.
Important Update: Temporary Changes to School Milk Flavors
by ASPIN Team
Mohave/ASPIN wants to provide an important update regarding temporary changes to available school milk flavors. Due to the national carton shortage, Shamrock Farms was recently informed their supplier will be consolidating cartons to focus on the three core school milk flavors. This adjustment is necessary to ensure a continued and stable supply of these core flavors throughout the remainder of the year. While Mohave/ASPIN and Shamrock Farms understand this may not be ideal, it is a proactive measure to guarantee the consistent presence of milk in cartons in schools.
During this period, Shamrock Farms will not be able to offer other fat levels or flavors in 8-ounce cartons. However, Mohave/ASPIN wants to assure our members we are committed to maintaining the availability of fat-free chocolate, 1% chocolate, and 1% white milk. These flavors will transition to a generic non-branded carton in mid to late February. We understand the importance of a diverse selection of milk options for members and apologize for the inconvenience this will cause. Hopefully, these adjustments will be for the short term. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your support and understanding.
- Mohave / ASPIN tamih@mesc.org
- Shamrock Farms CustomerCare@shamrockfoods.com
- Shamrock Foods shamrockschoolsupport@shamrockfoods.com
Cold Snap Affecting Produce
by ASPIN Team
As the winter chill hits the desert, the produce industry is feeling the effects. Cooler temperatures have prompted the sourcing of various produce items including bell peppers, cucumbers, and berries from Mexico. As temperatures plunge into the 30s, Arizona encounters a phenomenon known as “lettuce ice”. Markon (the supplier for Shamrock’s lettuce) is proactively collaborating with growers to pack orders in advance to minimize potential disruptions to the supply chain and ensure a consistent flow of produce to consumers.
The impact of cold snaps has both short-term and long-term effects on the quality, yield, and shelf-life of delicate crops. Members may experience variations in quality prompting the need for thorough checks upon delivery. Growers will continue to implement strategic measures to safeguard the integrity of produce.
