RFP FNW 24 25 129_Final.pdf

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES

Request for Proposals (RFP) No: RFP FNW 24 25 129

Title: Management and Implementation of Certified Food Safety Training for School Food Service

Stephanie Bergozza, Procurement Officer 407 S. Calhoun Street, SB-8 Mayo Building

Tallahassee, FL 32399-0800 Bids@FDACS.gov

Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3), Florida Statutes, or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, Florida Statutes. Protests must be filed with the Agency Clerk, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The Holland Building, 600 South Calhoun Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399.

mailto:Bids@FDACS.gov

ADVERTISEMENT NUMBER: RFP FNW 24 25 129

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Statement of Purpose

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS or Department) issues this Request for Proposals (RFP) to establish a contractual service agreement for the management and implementation of Certified Food Safety Training for School Food Authorities (SFA) in maintaining compliance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “School Nutrition Program Professional Standards” (7 CFR 210.30), which can be viewed at the following link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/03/02/2015- 04234/professional-standards-for-state-and-local-school-nutrition-programs-personnel-as-required-by-the. The specific services being sought under this RFP are set forth herein.

This RFP and all activities leading toward contract issuance are conducted pursuant and subject to Chapter 287, Florida Statute (F.S.), and Rule Chapter 60A-1, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). The Department intends to make a single award or to make no award, as determined to be in the best interest of the State.

1.2 Timeline

All required actions must be completed by the date and time indicated on the Timeline below.

This Timeline will be strictly adhered to in all actions relative to this RFP unless modified by the Department by written addendum posted on the Vendor Information Portal (VIP) located at:

https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/. The VIP will be the single resource for all RFP public notices and information in accordance with Rule 60A-1.021, F.A.C.

EVENT DATE/TIME (ET) LOCATION

Release of RFP June 6, 2025 Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/search/bids

Last day for written inquiries to be received by the Department.

No questions will be accepted after this date.

June 13, 2025

5:00PM

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Email: Bids@FDACS.gov

**ALL EMAILS SHOULD CONTAIN THE

SOLICITATION NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT

LINE OF THE EMAIL**

Anticipated Posting of Written Responses to Vendor Inquiries

June 20, 2025 Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/search/bids

Sealed Proposals Due July 8, 2025

5:00PM

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

407 S. Calhoun Street, SB-8 Mayo Building Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800

Public Meeting for Opening of Proposals

July 9, 2025

10:00AM

Teleconference Number: (888) 585-9008 Conference Room Number: 407 639 217

Evaluation Phase (Anticipated)

July 2025

Notice of Agency Decision/ Intent to Award

(Anticipated) TBD Vendor Information Portal https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/search/bids https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/03/02/2015-04234/professional-standards-for-state-and-local-school-nutrition-programs-personnel-as-required-by-the https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/03/02/2015-04234/professional-standards-for-state-and-local-school-nutrition-programs-personnel-as-required-by-the https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/03/02/2015-04234/professional-standards-for-state-and-local-school-nutrition-programs-personnel-as-required-by-the https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/ https://vendor.myfloridamarketplace.com/search/bids mailto:Bids@FDACS.gov

1.3 Addenda to the RFP

The Department reserves the right to make changes to this RFP by posting addenda on the VIP.

Interested parties are responsible for monitoring the VIP for any posted addenda.

1.4 Definitions

The following definitions apply to this RFP document:

1) Business day: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, inclusive, except for State holidays specified in Section 110.117, F.S., or State closures designated by the Department.

2) Contract: An agreement between the Department and a Vendor as a result of this RFP.

3) Vendor: A Respondent that is awarded and executes a Contract with the Department.

4) Proposal: A formal submission provided to the Department in response to this RFP.

5) Respondent: A Vendor that submits a Proposal to the Department in response to this RFP.

6) School Food Authority (SFA): A governing body which is responsible for the administration of one or more schools and has the legal authority to operate the Program therein or be otherwise approved by Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to operate the Program. School Food Authorities include public schools, private and charter schools, and Residential Child Care Institutions (RCCI).

7) Vendor Information Portal (VIP): The self-service portal where vendors can register, receive electronic purchase order information, and receive information on upcoming solicitations.

8) Vendor: A provider of commodities and/or contractual services, as those terms are defined in

Section 287.012, F.S., to the Department.

1.5 Procurement Officer

The Procurement Officer for this RFP is:

Stephanie Bergozza Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Email: Bids@fdacs.gov

The Procurement Officer is the sole point of contact for questions and all other matters relating to this solicitation.

**ALL EMAILS TO THE PROCUREMENT OFFICER SHOULD CONTAIN THE SOLICITATION

NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE EMAIL. **

Respondents to this solicitation or persons acting on their behalf may not contact, between the release of the solicitation and the end of the 72-hour period following the agency posting the notice of intended award, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, any employee or officer of the executive or legislative branch concerning any aspect of this solicitation, except in writing to the Procurement Officer or as provided in the solicitation documents. Violation of this mailto:Bids@fdacs.gov provision may be grounds for rejecting a response.

1.6 Scope of Work

A Vendor awarded a Contract pursuant to this RFP will perform services as described in Exhibit A, Scope of Work.

The scope of work includes the administration certified food safety training for managers and food handlers, delivering training on-site or web-based, administering training exams post-training, and completing reports for the department.

1.7 Term

The anticipated term of the contract shall be effective upon execution of the resulting Agreement, and shall expire on June 30, 2028, unless cancelled earlier in accordance with the terms of the contract.

The initial term of the Contract awarded pursuant to this RFP will be three (3) years. Upon agreement of the Parties, the Contract may be renewed for an additional three (3) years in accordance with Section 287.057(14), F.S. Notwithstanding the term described herein, the Contract may be terminated in accordance with Article 7 of the Contract.

1.8 General Instructions and Special Instructions

Pursuant to Rule 60A-1.002, F.A.C., the General Instructions to Respondents, PUR 1001, are incorporated in this RFP by reference. There is no need to return this document with Proposals.

This RFP document constitutes the Special Instructions to Respondents. In the event of a conflict between the terms in PUR 1001 and this RFP document, the RFP document will take precedence over all terms in the PUR 1001 unless a conflicting term in the PUR 1001 is required by any section of the Florida Statutes, in which case, the term contained in the PUR 1001 shall take precedence. Specific references to MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) usage for this RFP as stated in paragraphs 3 and 5 of the PUR 1001 are not applicable.

1.9 Conflicts and Order(s) of Precedence

All Proposals are subject to the terms of the following provisions of this RFP, which in case of conflict shall have the following order of precedence:

1) Addenda, in reverse order of issuance,

2) Exhibit A, Scope of Work,

3) RFP, including attachments and exhibits (other than Exhibit A, Scope of Work),

4) PUR 1001, General Instructions to Respondents, and

5) PUR 1000, General Contract Conditions.

1.10 Mandatory Requirements

The Department has established certain requirements with respect to submissions to be submitted by Respondents. The use of “shall”, “must” or “will” (except to indicate simple futurity) in this RFP indicates a requirement or conditions from which a material deviation may not be waived by the Department. A deviation is material if, in the Department’s sole discretion, the deficient Proposal is not in substantial accord with the RFP requirements, provides an advantage https://dms-media.ccplatform.net/content/download/2934/file/PUR%201001%20General%20Instructions%20to%20Respondents.pdf https://www.dms.myflorida.com/content/download/2934/11780/PUR_1001_General_Instructions_to_Respondents.pdf https://dms-media.ccplatform.net/content/download/2933/file/PUR%201000%20%28General%20Contract%20Conditions%29.pdf to one Respondent over other Respondents, or has a potentially significant effect on the quantity or quality of service. Material deviations cannot be waived. The words “should” or “may” in this RFP indicate desirable attributes or conditions but are permissive in nature. A deviation from, or omission of, such a desirable feature will not in itself cause rejection of a Proposal.

1.11 No Social, Political, or Ideological Interests Considered

In accordance with Section 287.05701, F.S., the Department will not request documentation of or consider a Vendor’s social, political, or ideological interests when determining if the Vendor is a responsible Vendor or give preference to a Vendor based on the Vendor’s social, political, or ideological interest.

SECTION 2 SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS

2.1 MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) Registration

Each Vendor desiring to sell commodities or contractual services as defined in Section 287.012, F.S., to the State is prequalified to do so and shall register in the MFMP system, unless exempted under Rule 60A-1.033(3), F.A.C. Information about the registration process is available and registration may be completed on the VIP website. Interested persons lacking internet access may request assistance from the MFMP Customer Service at (866) 352-3776.

Vendors should register for the following United Nations Standard Products and Services (UNSPSC) Class/Group Commodity Code(s) pertaining to this RFP:

• 85151504 – Food preparation counseling or control services

• 85151505 – Food research services

• 85151604 – Nutrition project evaluation

• 85151705 – Evaluation of food aid nutritional impact

• 86101500 – Agriculture and forestry and other natural resources training services

• 86101504 – Agriculture vocational training services

2.2 Question-and-Answer Period

Vendors may submit written questions regarding the solicitation to the Procurement Officer by the deadline listed in Section 1.2, Timeline. Oral questions or questions submitted after the deadline may not be acknowledged.

Questions topics may include, but are not limited to, requests for clarification regarding the terms, conditions, or requirements of the RFP or its attachments, or any processes described in those documents. If terms included in the Contract are impractical or, for legal or operational reasons, impossible, Vendors are encouraged to submit questions drawing attention to those issues.

**PLACE THE SOLICITATION NUMBER IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF ALL EMAILS

CONTAINING QUESTIONS. **

The Department requests that Vendors submit questions in the following format:

Question # Vendor Name RFP Section RFP Page # Question

Questions do not constitute a formal protest of the specification or of the solicitation.

The Department will answer timely submitted questions though an addendum posted on the VIP.

SECTION 3 PROPOSAL SUBMISSION

3.1 Proposal Format

To expedite the evaluation process, it is essential that Respondents follow the format and instructions contained herein.

The Department is requesting a combination of physical original and digital copies of Proposals for this RFP. Hard copies and electronic (USB) copies must be divided into volumes containing the information below. The Respondent’s Proposal should clearly identify each Volume and Tab, as listed below, with an index tab or other similar type of identification. All pages should be sequentially numbered. Each Proposal should be prepared simply and economically, providing a concise, straightforward delineation of the Respondent’s capabilities to satisfy the requirements of this RFP. Respondents are encouraged to focus on completeness and clarity in their Proposals.

Elaborate bindings, colored displays, and promotional material are discouraged.

Proposals should include all requested forms and information listed below. Failure to provide all of the requested information may result in disqualification of the Proposal or a zero-point score for the relevant evaluation criteria. See Section 4, Proposal Evaluation, for information regarding how the Department will evaluate Responses.

VOLUME I: GENERAL INFORMATION & PRICING (No Points Awarded for this Section)

TAB A General Information

The Respondent must provide:

1. A completed and signed ATTACHMENT D – FDACS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM.

The signed original of this form must be included in the original hard copy of the Proposal package.

2. A completed and signed ATTACHMENT E – CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT. The signed original of this form must be included in the original hard copy of the Proposal package.

3. A completed, signed, and notarized ATTACHMENT F – NON-COERCION FOR

LABOR OR SERVICES AFFIDAVIT. The signed and notarized original of this form must be included in the original hard copy of the Proposal package unless the Respondent is a governmental entity.

4. The Respondent’s Award Preference Documentation (if any). See Section 5.2, Award

Preferences, for more information. Failure to provide the documentation requested below will result in the applicable preference not being applied to the Respondent.

a. Certified Minority Business Enterprise: The Respondent must provide a copy of its certification to receive this preference.

b. Drug-Free Workplace Program: The Respondent should provide a signed

ATTACHMENT G – CERTIFICATION OF DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

PROGRAM to receive this preference. The signed original of this form must be included in the original hard copy of the Proposal package.

c. Certified Veteran Business Enterprise: The Respondent must provide a copy of its certification pursuant to Section 295.187(5), F.S., to receive this preference.

5. A completed and signed ATTACHMENT H – FORM PUR 7801 should be included in the vendor bid response.

Certification and attestation forms marked as required in ATTACHMENT H – FORM PUR 7801, MUST be submitted to the FDACS Contract Manager within 10 business days of the effective date of the purchase order or contract. The Vendor shall submit the completed forms required in the Vendor Certification Form to the FDACS Contract Manager.

6. A completed and signed ATTACHMENT I – FOREIGN COUNTRY OF CONCERN ATTESTATION. The signed original of this form must be included in the original hard copy of the Proposal package.

TAB B Price Response (50 Points Possible)

The Respondent must provide a completed and signed EXHIBIT B – PRICE SHEET. The Respondent’s pricing shall encompass all services the Respondent is offering to provide in response to this RFP in the format provided by the Department.

VOLUME II: TECHNICAL RESPONSE

TAB A Statement of Qualifications (50 Points Possible) The Respondent should provide:

1. A detailed narrative of the Respondent’s qualifications that explains its organization’s ability to carry out the required services.

2. An organizational chart that identifies the Respondent’s personnel who will perform the services, if awarded; their roles and responsibilities; and their background, experience, and further explanation why each person is suitable for their designated role, and the services more generally. Include applicable information regarding trainings, certifications, and licenses held by the identified personnel or sub-vendors.

3. A description of the percentage of time the personnel identified by the Respondent will be available to provide the services required under this RFP. Explain how the Respondent will balance its other workload/projects to ensure service will be provided to the Department as required.

4. (If applicable) Provide the sub-vendors the Respondent proposes to use (other than those required to be utilized through vendor lists managed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection) on ATTACHMENT J – LIST OF SUBVENDORS. For each sub-vendor proposed, provide a brief narrative of the sub-vendor’s proposed roles and responsibilities. Sub-vendors not yet known do not need to be listed. If sub-vendors are not yet known, identify how sub-vendors will be utilized.

The Respondent must have determined, to its own complete satisfaction, that each listed sub-vendor has been successfully engaged in this particular type of business for a reasonable length of time and is qualified both technically and financially to perform the phase of this work listed herein. The Department shall have the right to examine the qualifications of any sub-vendor and to request additional documentation of a sub-vendor’s technical and financial qualifications. The Department reserves the right to request proof of any licenses or certifications required of sub-vendors. The Department, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to prohibit the use of any sub-vendor that does not satisfactorily meet the business experience, technical, or financial qualifications necessary to perform the services sought in this RFP.

TAB B Relevant Experience / Past Performance (50 Points Possible)

The Respondent:

1. Should provide a narrative of the Respondent’s prior relevant experience providing services similar to those sought in this RFP. The narrative should reflect the Respondent’s ability to perform the services sought in this RFP and provide relevant examples of performing similar services.

2. Shall provide a completed ATTACHMENT K – REFERENCES. References should be at least three (3) customers for whom the Respondent has listed from this section of examples of prior relevant experience within the last five (5) years. References must be current or former clients of the Respondent. The Respondent may include the Department as one of the three references. The Department will not accept sub-vendor/proposed personnel or personal references of a member of the Respondent as a substitute for customer references. References should also be included in the Respondent’s Relevant Experience / Past Performance narrative. If the Respondent does not provide the information requested on ATTACHMENT K – REFERENCES for three (3) references, the Respondent will be deemed non-responsive, and its Proposal will not be considered for award

The Department reserves the right to contact each customer reference to verify the information provided and validate the performance of the Respondent

TAB C Approach and Methodology (100 Points Possible)

The Respondent should provide a full description of the Respondent’s plan for carrying out the services sought in this RFP. Respondents must provide a narrative describing in detail how it will meet or exceed all services listed in the Exhibit A, Scope of Work.

VOLUME III: REDACTED PROPOSAL (if applicable)

If a Respondent considers any portion of the documents, data, or record submitted in response to this solicitation to be exempted by law from disclosure as a public record, the Respondent must provide Department with a separate “Redacted Copy” of its Proposal at the time of Proposal submission.

Any Proposal content submitted to Department which is asserted to be exempted by law from disclosure as a public record shall be clearly marked “exempt,” “confidential,” or “trade secret” (as applicable), with the statutory basis for such claim of exemption specifically identified in writing on each and every such page. Failure to segregate and so clearly identify any such content shall constitute a waiver of any claimed exemption as applied to the portion of the Proposal or other document in which the content is set forth.

IF A RESPONDENT FAILS TO SUBMIT A REDACTED COPY WITH ITS PROPOSAL AS

DESCRIBED HEREIN, THE DEPARTMENT IS AUTHORIZED TO PRODUCE THE

ENTIRE DOCUMENT(S), DATA, OR RECORDS SUBMITTED BY THE RESPONDENT

IN ANSWER TO A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST. THE STATE OF FLORIDA DOES

NOT CONSIDER PRICE TO BE CONFIDENTIAL.

3.2 Contract Terms and Conditions

A draft Contract is provided as ATTACHMENT L - CONTRACTUAL SERVICES AGREEMENT- DRAFT. By submission of a Proposal, the Respondent agrees to the State of Florida contract conditions set forth therein. In the case of conflict between the PUR 1000 General Contract Conditions and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Contractual Service Agreement, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Contractual Service Agreement shall prevail, unless the conflicting term in the PUR form is required by any section of the Florida Statutes, in which case the term contained in PUR1000 shall take precedence.

This document does not need to be returned with your Proposal. Respondents must not submit additions, objections, or modifications to this draft Contract with their Proposals.

3.3 Respondent-Generated Terms

The Department objects to and shall not consider any different or additional terms or conditions submitted by a Respondent, including any appearing in documents attached as part of a Respondent’s Proposal. In submitting a Proposal, Respondent agrees that any additional or different terms or conditions, whether submitted by Respondent intentionally or inadvertently, shall have no force and effect and shall be grounds for rejecting a Proposal. Respondent’s failure to agree to comply with the Department’s terms and conditions, including those specifying information that must be submitted with a Proposal, shall be grounds for rejecting a Proposal.

The purchase order or contract issued by the Department as a result of this RFP shall incorporate all terms and conditions identified herein. No oral agreements or representations shall be valid or binding upon the Department or the Respondent unless expressly contained herein or by a written addendum to this RFP published on the VIP by the Department.

3.4 Cost of Preparation

Neither the Department nor the State of Florida is liable for any costs incurred by a Vendor in response to this RFP.

3.5 Instructions for Proposal Submission

The following submission instructions apply to all Proposals:

1) Respondents must submit:

Volume I, Tabs A and B

• 1 hardcopy original

• 1 digital copy on USB drive (individual files for Tab A and B)

Volume II, Tabs A, B, and C

• 1 hardcopy original

• 1 digital copy on USB drive (individual files for Tabs A, B, and C)

Volume III (if applicable)

• 1 digital copy on USB drive

(individual file for Volume III)

Note: All digital copies may be submitted on the same USB drive.

2) All Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope/package with the relevant RFP number clearly marked on the outside of the envelope/package. Department staff will not be held responsible for the inadvertent opening of a Proposal if it is not properly sealed, addressed, or identified.

3) Proposals must be delivered to the address listed below by the date and time listed in the

Timeline.

407 S. Calhoun Street, SB-8 Mayo Building Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800

Proposals may be delivered by United States Postal Service (USPS) mail, courier (FedEx/UPS), or hand delivered; however, Vendors are cautioned shipment via USPS may not be guaranteed to be received by the Department on the scheduled due date / time.

Electronic (email/fax) submission of Proposals will not be accepted for the RFP.

4) It is the Respondent’s responsibility to assure its Proposal is delivered to the proper place and time as stipulated in Section 1.2, Timeline.

5) Proposals received late (after the due date and time listed in the Timeline) will not be accepted, nor considered. A Proposal being postmarked or clocked in by FedEx, UPS or U.S. Postal Service does not constitute the Proposal being received in the Purchasing Office, and such evidence will not be accepted by the Department.

6) A Respondent will not be permitted to modify its Proposal after submission unless the

Department, at its sole discretion, has made a request for additional information.

3.6 Public Records

Ad all documents submitted in response to this RFP shall be considered public record pursuant to Chapter 119, F.S.

3.7 Withdrawal of Proposal

A submitted Proposal may be withdrawn by submitting a written request for its withdrawal to the Department. The withdrawal request must be signed by an authorized representative of the vender and must be received within 72 hours after the submission date indicated in the Timeline.

Any submitted Proposals shall remain valid for 90 days from the submission date.

3.8 Disqualification of Respondents

More than one (1) Proposal from an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, or association, under the same or different names, will not be considered. Reasonable grounds for believing that a Respondent is interested in more than one Proposal for the same work will cause the rejection of all Proposals in which such Respondents are believed to be interested.

If there is reason to believe that collusion exists among the Respondents, any or all Proposals will be rejected. No participants in such collusion will be considered in future solicitations for the same work. Falsifications of any entry made on the Respondents’ offer will be deemed a material irregularity and will be grounds for rejection.

3.9 National Defense Authorization Act

By submission of a Proposal, the Respondent hereby represents and warrants that it shall comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.204-25, prohibition on contracting for certain telecommunications and video surveillance services or equipment pursuant to the National Defense Authorization Act. Failure to comply or if the Respondent knowingly provides funds to any entity prohibited from receiving a contract or award pursuant to the Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.204-25, shall be cause for unilateral cancellation of the Department’s purchase order or contract. Sub-vendors shall be verified through the General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Excluded Parties List at https://sam.gov/SAM/.

3.10 Cooperation with Inspector General

By submission of a Proposal, the Respondent understands its duty, pursuant to Section 20.055(5), F.S., to cooperate with the Inspector General in any investigation, audit, inspection, review, or hearing, in the event Respondent is awarded the Contract. The Respondent will comply with this duty and ensure that subcontracts issued under the Contract, if any, impose this requirement, in writing, on its sub-vendors.

SECTION 4 PROPOSAL EVALUATION

4.1 Public Opening

The Public Opening for this RFP will be conducted at the date, time, and location (via teleconference) noted in the Timeline. During the Public Opening, Proposals will be physically opened, and the names of Respondents will be announced. Respondents are not required to attend.

4.2 Special Accommodations

Any person with a disability requiring special accommodations at the Public Meeting for Opening of Proposals shall contact the Procurement Officer at least five (5) working days prior to the event. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact this office by using the Florida Relay https://sam.gov/SAM/

Services which can be reached at (800) 955-8771 (TDD) or visit https://www.ftri.org/relay for assistance.

4.3 Proposal Administrative Review

Each Respondent shall submit a Proposal that conforms to all mandatory requirements as outlined in this RFP solicitation. A Proposal that does not conform to the requirements, or contains material deviations from the specifications, will be rejected as non-responsive and not reviewed further. Material requirements of this RFP are those without which adequate analysis and comparison of Proposals is impossible, or those that affect the competitiveness of Proposals.

The Department seeks to maximize competition and reserves the right to seek clarification from Respondents to obtain non-material information to complete a responsiveness review. A Respondent’s failure to provide required information may cause the Respondent to be deemed non-responsive and therefore be disqualified from further consideration.

Non-responsive Proposals may include, but are not limited to, those which:

1) fail to utilize, complete, and/or submit the mandatory prescribed forms;

2) include terms and conditions contrary to the requirements of this solicitation;

3) do not contain authorized signatures; and

4) are not in conformance with the requirements and instructions contained herein.

4.4 Evaluation Procedure

Responsive Proposals will be evaluated and scored as provided in the table below.

200 Points Available

Price Response (Scored by Procurement Officer) Price Response (Volume I, Tab B) Up to 50 Points Available

Technical Response (Scored by Evaluators) Statement of Qualifications (Volume II, Tab A) Up to 50 Points Available Relevant Experience / Past Performance (Volume II, Tab B) Up to 50 Points Available Approach and Methodology (Volume II, Tab C) Up to 100 Points Available

A. Price Response Score (50 Points Possible)

The Procurement Officer will calculate each Respondent’s Price Response Score as described below using the Respondent’s completed EXHIBIT B – PRICE SHEET.

Initial Term Points (25 Points) + Renewal Term Points (25 Points) = Price Response Score

The Procurement Officer will utilize the Total Average Sum for A. Original Term, and B. Renewal Term to determine the Original and Renewal Term Points.

Original Term Points (25 Points Possible) The Respondent with the lowest Initial Term Price will receive 25 Initial Term Points. Other Respondents’ Initial Term Scores will be calculated as follows:

(Lowest Respondent’s Total Average Sum) / (Respondent’s Total Average Sum) = Y

Y x 25 = Original Term Points https://www.ftri.org/relay

Renewal Term Points (25 Points Possible) The Respondent with the lowest Renewal Term Price will receive 25 Renewal Term Points.

Other Respondents’ Renewal Term Scores will be calculated as follows:

(Lowest Respondent’s Total Average Sum) / (Respondent’s Total Average Sum) = Z

Z x 25 = Renewal Term Points

B. Statement of Qualifications Score (50 Points Possible)

The appointed evaluation committee will utilize the point system set forth in ATTACHMENT M, EVALUATOR SCORE SHEET, to individually score responsive Proposals. For each responsive Respondent, the Procurement Officer will average the Respondent’s scores from each evaluator to determine the Respondent’s Technical Response score.

C. Total Points

For each Respondent, the Procurement Officer will add the Respondent’s Price Response Score and Technical Response Scores to determine that Respondent’s Total Calculated Price Point Total. Respondent’s will be ranked in order from highest to lowest based on the total tabulation of Statement of Qualifications, Relevant Experience, and Fixed Price points.

SECTION 5 AWARD

5.1 Basis of Award

A Contract may be awarded to the responsible and responsive Respondent(s) that the Department determines will provide the most advantageous offer to the State based on points awarded. The Department intends to award one (1) Contract under this RFP but reserves the right to make no award at all.

In the event the selected Respondent is subsequently unwilling to execute a contract or is found not to be responsible or responsive, the Department, at its sole discretion, may proceed with the next highest-scored Respondent.

An award from this advertisement does not constitute an official purchase order or contract, agreement, or commitment on behalf of the State.

5.2 Award Preferences

If the total awarded points for two or more Respondents is equal, the Department shall determine the order of award in accordance with Sections 287.057(12), 287.087, and 295.187(4), F.S.

5.3 Rejection of Proposals

The Department reserves the right to reject any and all Proposals, when such rejection is in the interest of the State of Florida, and to reject the Proposal of a Respondent who the Department determines is not in a position to perform the contract.

Respondents whose Proposals, past performance, or current status do not reflect the capability, integrity, or reliability to fully and in good faith perform the requirements of the Contract may be rejected as not being responsible vendors as defined in Section 287.012, F.S. The Department may request additional information pertaining to the Respondent’s ability and qualifications to accomplish all services described in this RFP as deemed necessary during the RFP or after contract award.

5.4 Protest Procedures

Pursuant to Section 120.57(3), F.S., a Notice of Protest or Formal Written Protest must be filed with the Department’s Agency Clerk. Filings may be made physically at:

The Holland Building 600 South Calhoun Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399

Physical filings received after regular Business Hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., ET) will be filed the next Business Day. Failure to file a protest within the time prescribed in Section 120.57(3), F.S., or failure to post the bond or other security required by law within the time allowed for filing a bond shall constitute a waiver of proceedings under Chapter 120, F.S.

5.5 Modification after Contract Execution

During the term of the Contract, the Department may unilaterally require changes (altering, adding to, or deducting from the Specifications) provided such changes are within the general scope of this solicitation.

The Respondent may request an equitable adjustment in the price(s) or delivery date(s) if the change affects the cost or time of performance. Such equitable adjustments require the express written approval of the Department’s contract manager or designee and a written contract amendment.

5.6 MyFloridaMarketPlace (MFMP) Transaction Fee

The State of Florida, through the Department of Management Services, has instituted MFMP, a statewide eProcurement system pursuant to Section 287.057(24), F.S. All payments issued by Agencies to registered Vendors for purchases of Commodities or Contractual Services under Chapter 287, F.S., shall be assessed the Transaction Fee of one percent (1%) of the total amount of the payments received from the State or Eligible Users, as prescribed by Rule 60A-1.031, F.A.C., or as may otherwise be established by law.

Vendors shall pay the Transaction Fee and are subject to automatic deduction of the Transaction Fee when automatic deduction becomes available. Vendors shall submit any monthly reports required pursuant to Rule 60A-1.031, F.A.C. All such reports and payments are subject to audit.

The Department will have grounds for declaring the Vendor in default if the Vendor fails to comply with the payment of the Transaction Fee or reporting of payments, which may subject the Vendor to being suspended from business with the State of Florida.

5.7 Vendor Substitute W-9

The Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS) requires all vendors that conduct business with the state to electronically submit a Substitute W-9 Form to https://flvendor.myfloridacfo.com. Forms and answers to frequently asked questions are https://flvendor.myfloridacfo.com/ located on that website once a registration has been completed. DFS may assist vendors with questions and may be contacted at (850) 413-5519, or FLW9@myfloridacfo.com.

The awarded Respondent must have a valid W-9 on file with the DFS prior to issuance of a Contract. This may be completed by the Respondent post-award.

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mailto:%20FLW9@myfloridacfo.com

EXHIBIT A – Scope of Work

Objective

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services seek to establish a contractual service agreement for the management and implementation of Certified Food Safety Training for School Food Authorities (SFA) in maintaining compliance with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “School Nutrition Program Professional Standards” (7 CFR 210.30).

The scope of work includes the administration of the certified food safety training program development for food managers and food handlers, delivering training on-site or web-based, administering training exams post-training, and completing reports for the department.

1.1. Administration of the Certified Food Safety Training Program

The vendor shall receive, process, schedule, and confirm SFA training requests via email, web contact, or telephone. The contactor shall collect the following information from the SFA:

1) School district or county.

2) Contact person’s name, phone number, and email address.

3) Course name, training date, and time.

4) Number of attendees, training location, and shipping address.

The contactor shall coordinate scheduling between SFAs and instructors.

1.2. Certified Food Safety Training Requirements

The vendor shall provide an official book or learning materials to each class participant in the respective language (American English, Spanish, and Creole) for the respective course. The vendor is responsible for purchasing, shipping, and if necessary, retrieving unused books. The vendor shall provide a proctor, if required by the course standards. FDACS will allow the use of any food safety training provider approved by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the state of Florida.

1) The vendor shall provide all training materials for participants for certified food safety training course, either hard copy or electronic, as the training course requires.

2) The vendor shall administer a pre-test prior to the start of the course.

3) The vendor shall provide participants with a course review prior to exam and multiple opportunities to test if the participant’s exam score is less than 70%.

4) Immediately following the administration of the course, the Vendor shall administer to course participants a course evaluation, collect the results, and send them to FDACS as part of the monthly report referenced in Section 1.3 below.

5) A minimum of five (5) participants is required for certified food safety training courses.

6) The certified food safety course maximum number of participants shall meet the guidelines required by the certifying agency.

7) The vendor shall not be responsible for providing meeting spaces for any training.

8) The training locations and accommodations shall be provided by the SFAs.

1.3. Reporting

A. The vendor shall provide monthly reports to the Department by the 20th day of the month following service delivery. Reports shall include the number of courses taught, name of the SFA receiving the training, the name of the instructor who taught the course, written description summarizing results of pre- and post-tests, and instructors’ evaluation scores for each course in Microsoft Excel format. All sign-in sheets, participant’s pre- and post-tests shall be submitted as scanned Microsoft Word or PDF documents. Participant’s pre- and post- tests, instructor evaluations, and sign-in sheets shall be submitted with the monthly report in accordance with ATTACHMENT A, REQUIRED MONTHLY REPORTS.

B. If any instructor’s evaluation is below a 75% satisfaction rate in two (2) or more consecutive offerings of a training course, the vendor will notify the Department within seven (7) calendar days of the name of the instructor and the affected course(s). The vendor shall submit recommendations for corrective action to the Department for approval for each instructor and affected training course(s) within 14 calendar days. The Department will review and approve recommendations within seven (7) calendar days of submission. Any approved recommendations must be implemented within 30 calendar days from receipt of approval by the Department.

C. If a complaint is received regarding an instructor, the vendor will notify the Department within one (1) business day of the complaint. The Department will review and provide feedback within five (5) days. The Department reserves the right to deny the subcontracting of any instructor to this Contract if a complaint is found to be egregious or in which the instructor has displayed behavior unbecoming of a representative of the Department.

D. The vendor shall provide a training dashboard for state agency access to monitor training usage and progress, and exam results for each staff under the sponsorship and/or school district.

EXHIBIT B – PRICE SHEET

DESCRIPTION

INITIAL CONTRACT

TERM FEES

RENEWAL CONTRACT

TERM FEES

Monthly administration cost for the training program

Cost for training - Certified food safety trainings for managers in English and Spanish (minimum of 5 participants) per training per training

Cost for training – Food handler trainings for staff in English and Spanish (minimum of 5 participants) per training per training

(INITIAL TERM PRICE)

(RENEWAL TERM PRICE)

By affixing signature to this PRICE SHEET, vendor acknowledges reading and agrees to accept all terms, provisions and conditions contained in this Request for Proposal.

VENDOR NAME:

SIGNATURE (MANUAL):

SIGNATURE (PRINTED):

ATTACHMENT A

STATE OF FLORIDA

DIVISION OF FOOD, NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

REQUIRED MONTHLY REPORTS

Presented below are the reports, preferably in an electronic format such as Microsoft Excel, which will be submitted to the Department along with the monthly invoice. These reports will provide information on course participation and effectiveness which will be analyzed for future training development.

Monthly Course Participation Report

The monthly course participation report will include the following data points and be submitted every month along with the vendor’s invoice.

• Name of course and which School Food Authority (SFA) requested it.

• Number of expected attendees and number of attendees in attendance.

• Name of instructor who conducted the training.

Instructor Evaluation Report

The instructor evaluation report will include the following data points and be submitted every month along with the vendor’s invoice.

• Date of training and SFA that requested the training.

• The name of the instructor and the title of the training given.

• Results of the instructor evaluation.

ATTACHMENT B

USDA PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS LEARNING OBJECTIVE

The USDA has developed learning objectives for each topic of the four areas of focus: Nutrition, Operations, Administration, and Communications/Marketing. All Food, Nutrition, and Wellness (FNW) training courses must meet at least one of the learning objectives listed on the following pages.

2000 - Operations Objective

2600 - FOOD SAFETY AND HAZARD ANALYSIS CRITICAL CONTROL POINT(HACCP) TRAINING

Course attendee will be able to effectively utilize all food safety program guidelines and health department regulations to ensure optimal food safety.

2610 Practice a HACCP-based program.

2620 Practice general food safety procedures.

2630 Practice federal, state, and local food safety regulations and guidance.

2640 Promote a culture of food safety behaviors in the school community.

ATTACHMENT C

EXAMPLE OF

DIVISION OF FOOD, NUTRITION AND WELLNESS

TRAINING COURSE OFFERINGS

Food Safety Courses

• Food Manager Certification Training

In-person or web-based; 8 hours

Food Manager Certification Program is an ANSI- accredited, complete solution that delivers consistent food safety training to employees. Trainees will learn basic food safety practices for preparing and serving food. This is an in-person or web-based course that covers five key areas:

o Basic Food Safety o Personal Hygiene o Cross-contamination and Allergens o Time and Temperature o Cleaning and Sanitation

Audience: All school nutrition professionals.

• Food Handlers Training

In-person or web-based; 4 hours

The course identifies the necessary good practice, including legal requirements, that must be applied to the storage and cooking of food, as well as the basic principles of good practice needed to keep food areas/kitchens clean and safe.

Audience: All school nutrition professionals.

ATTACHMENT D

FDACS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

AND CONSUMER SERVICES

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Solicitation Number: RFP FNW 24 25 129 Solicitation Title: Management and Implementation of Certified Food Safety Training for School Food Service

PROPOSAL DUE:

July 8, 2025, by 5:00PM

SUBMIT PROPOSAL TO:

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Procurement Office 407 S. Calhoun Street, SB-8 Mayo Building Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800

Respondent Name:

**If a fictitious name is used, include registered name (e.g., XYZ, Inc. DBA ABC):

Respondent Mailing Address: Phone Number:

Toll Free Number:

Email Address: Fax Number:

FEID Number: Type of Business Entity (Corporation, LLC, partnership, etc.):

Respondent Contacts: Provide the information requested below for the Respondent’s primary contact and, if available, secondary contact.

These individuals must be available to be contacted by telephone or attend meetings as may be appropriate regarding the solicitation.

PRIMARY CONTACT SECONDARY CONTACT

Contact Name and Title: Contact Name and Title:

Address: Address:

Phone Number: Phone Number:

Fax Number: Fax Number:

Email Address: Email Address:

By signing and submitting this Acknowledgement Form:

1. The Respondent verifies that it has read and complies with all terms and conditions contained in this solicitation and that the product and/or services offered by the Respondent will conform to the specifications of this solicitation without exception.

2. The Respondent certifies that the signature provided by the Respondent below is provided by an authorized representative who can legally bind the Respondent.

Authorized Signature:

Date of Signature:

Name of Authorized Signer:

Title of Authorized Signer:

ATTACHMENT E

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

I, _______________________, as an authorized representative of ______________________________

(Respondent), pursuant to Section 287.057(19), Florida Statutes, certify that no member of the

Respondent’s organization, nor any person having interest in the Respondent’s organization, has done any of the following:

1) Participated in the drafting of this solicitation;

2) Received a contract that was not procured pursuant to Section 287.057(1)-(3), Florida Statutes, to perform a feasibility study concerning the scope of work contained in this solicitation; or

3) Developed a program for future implementation concerning the scope of work contained in this solicitation.

Signature of Authorized Representative Date

Printed Name

Management and Implementation of Certified Food Safety for School Food Service

Title

RFP FNW 24 25 129

Solicitation Number

WILTON SIMPSON

COMMISSIONER

I, _____________________________________________, having been duly sworn, hereby affirm:

1. Pursuant to section 787.06(13), F.S. when a contract is executed, renewed, or extended between a nongovernmental entity and a governmental entity, as defined in section 287.138(1), F.S., an officer or a representative of the nongovernmental entity must attest under penalty of perjury that the nongovernmental entity does not use coercion for labor or services as defined in section 787.06, F.S.

2. I am an officer or representative of ___________________________________ (nongovernmental entity), a legal entity organized under the laws of the State of ______________________, with its principal place of business located at _____________________________________________________________________.

3. Pursuant to section 787.06(13), F.S., I hereby attest, under penalty of perjury, that the nongovernmental entity does not use coercion for labor or services as defined in this section 787.06(2), F.S.

4. I understand that any false statement made in this affidavit may subject me and the nongovernmental entity to legal consequences.

5. I declare that the information provided herein is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Executed this ______ day of _______________, 20_______.

Signature

Printed Name

Title Position

Nongovernmental Entity Name

STATE OF _________________

COUNTY OF________________________

Sworn to or affirmed and signed before me by means of physical presence or online notarization this

________ day of _______________, 20_____ by ___________________________________________ who is personally known to me or who produced _________________________ as identification.

Notary Public

(Notarial Seal) Printed Name

ATTACHMENT F

NON-COERCION FOR LABOR OR SERVICES AFFIDAVIT

ATTACHMENT G

Bureau of General Services

CERTIFICATION OF DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE PROGRAM

Pursuant to Section 287.087, Florida Statutes, whenever two or more bids, proposals or replies that are equal with respect to price, quality and service are received by the state or by any political subdivision for the procurement of commodities or contractual services, a bid, proposal or reply received from a business that certifies that it has implemented a drug-free workplace program shall be given preference in the award process.

In order to have a drug-free workplace program, a business shall:

1) Publish a statement notifying employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession, or use of a controlled substance is prohibited in the workplace and specifying the actions that will be taken against employees for violations of such prohibition.

2) Inform employees about the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace, the business's policy of maintaining a drug-free…