SBE: IFB for Purchase of IL Local Ground Beef

The Illinois State Board of Education awarded a contract to Bland Family Farm for the procurement of locally sourced ground beef for distribution to Illinois schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. The contract, identified as 26-586SBE-CHFED-P-95007, was awarded on February 19, 2026, with a contract value of $159,800.00 and a completion date of June 30, 2026. The ground beef must meet strict specifications including 100 percent pure beef at an 85/15 fat ratio or leaner, USDA Choice or Prime grade, wet-aged, hormone-free, and frozen. All cattle must be raised on Illinois farms and processed at facilities that are either USDA-inspected or state-inspected and located within Illinois. The product must be packaged in 40-pound cases and delivered to the designated state warehouse in Granite City, Illinois, with all deliveries required by June 15, 2026.

Bland Family Farm was selected as one of three awarded vendors through a competitive sealed bidding process based on lowest price per pound. The contract was awarded with an initial term of three months, commencing upon execution and concluding on June 30, 2026. The State of Illinois reserved the right to make multiple awards to primary and secondary vendors to ensure full expenditure of the budgeted $3 million maximum contract value. The vendor is required to submit preliminary source disclosure documentation prior to first delivery and a final source and volume report within 10 business days of final delivery, with invoicing due within 5 business days of each warehouse delivery.