25-1002-SS-KK943_Notice_of_Intent.pdf

This is a Notice of Intent issued by Lake County Schools in Florida regarding solicitation 25-1002-SS-KK943 for lunchroom supplies and equipment for warehouse stock. The procurement addresses the school district's need for specialized supplies compatible with the Ekon-O-Pac bagging system currently installed across all district schools serving 43,000 students. The requested supplies include EPAC Sealing Tape, cold bags in multiple sizes, ovenable bags, and specialized film designed exclusively for the existing bagging equipment. The solicitation was posted on October 2, 2025, with a response deadline of October 13, 2025, at 2:00 PM. The School Board of Lake County is scheduled to award this contract on November 10, 2025, to Ekon-O-Pak, the sole recommended vendor. No specific contract term or renewal options are identified in the notice.

This is a sole source procurement classified due to the unique and incompatible nature of the required supplies with alternative bagging systems or manufacturers. Ekon-O-Pac, LLC, based in Gallatin, Tennessee, is the exclusive vendor authorized to supply these specialized materials, with all products manufactured in the United States. The total acquisition cost is estimated at $45,000.00. No set-aside designations or restrictions on respondent organizations are noted in the procurement. The sole source classification is justified by the fact that alternative packaging supplies cannot integrate with the district's existing equipment, and switching to alternative methods would require increased manual labor and extended preparation time, thereby reducing operational efficiency in food preparation workflows across the district.