26-011 (GL) Taco and Chalupa Shells

The San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD), the third largest public school system in Bexar County, Texas, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of taco and chalupa shells on an as-needed basis. The procurement encompasses three items to be awarded on an all-or-none basis to a single vendor: 5,000 packages of whole grain taco shells (200 shells per package), 2,500 packages of whole grain chalupa flat shells (200 shells per package), and 1,200 six-pound boxes of tortilla chips. All products must comply with USDA and Texas Department of Agriculture nutrition standards, including whole grain rich certification (at least 50 percent whole grains by weight), zero grams of trans fat per serving, sodium compliance standards, and a minimum seven-day shelf life. Vendors must submit proposals through the Bonfire Portal by March 19, 2026, at 2:00 PM Central Standard Time, with product samples due by March 24, 2026, between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Deliveries must be made to various school cafeterias, Alamo Stadium, and the Sports Complex between 6:30 AM and 2:00 PM on requested dates, with all pricing quoted F.O.B. destination with prepaid shipping and handling. The evaluation criteria include purchase price (40 points), vendor references and reputation (5 points), quality of goods (10 points), extent to which goods meet District needs (10 points), total long-term cost (10 points), vendor location or employment in Texas (4 points), and other relevant factors (20 points). The contract shall be valid for one year from Board of Trustees approval with options to renew for four additional one-year periods, with the District reserving the right to renegotiate pricing during renewals.

Vendors are required to provide CN labels, signed product formulation statements, nutrition facts, and ingredient statements, along with three non-SAISD references demonstrating vendor capability and reputation. Interested vendors must meet federal and state compliance requirements, including criminal background checks, debarment and suspension verification, and conflict of interest questionnaires. A bid bond or cashier's check equal to five percent of the total bid amount is required for bids exceeding $10,000. While the RFP does not specify set-aside designations, evaluation criteria include bonus points (1 point) for SWMBE or HUB certification, which encourages participation from small, minority, women-owned, and historically underutilized businesses. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documentation. The District is exempt from Texas state and local sales taxes and makes no quantity guarantee, reserving the right to terminate the contract for convenience with 30 days' written notice or for default immediately upon breach. No specific award value or budget range is disclosed in the RFP documentation.