26-017 Purchase of Produce Items

The Muscogee County School District is soliciting sealed bids for the purchase and direct delivery of fresh produce items to support its School Nutrition Program under ITB 26-017. The procurement encompasses approximately 60 produce line items across multiple categories including fresh fruits, vegetables, and eggs, with estimated annual quantities ranging from 50 cases for cantaloupe to 1,500 cases for bananas and apples sliced. All produce must be delivered weekly in fresh, first-class condition compliant with federal standards, with proper refrigeration maintained during transport via company truck on designated days. The evaluation will be based on the lowest responsive, responsible bid calculated as a dollar markup above the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Market News Index Price for the higher price range as of March 27, 2026, with vendors permitted to offer negative markups for items consistently purchased below the index price. Pricing must be provided on both per-unit and per-case bases and must include all charges for purchasing, packing, and delivery to specified school locations. Key deadlines include April 6, 2026, for written questions, April 10, 2026, for posted answers, and April 27, 2026, at 1:00 PM EST for bid submission, with contract award scheduled for June 29, 2026, and work beginning July 1, 2026. The contract period runs from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, with prices remaining firm and fixed throughout, and the Board may renew the contract in one-year increments for a maximum total of three years.

Bidders must demonstrate significant insurance coverage requirements including comprehensive general liability of $2,000,000, automobile liability of $1,000,000, workers' compensation per Georgia statutory requirements, and umbrella coverage of $2,000,000. All vendors must certify compliance with the Buy American Act, provide debarment status certification, demonstrate federal work authorization requirements under Georgia law, and attest to non-collusion provisions and various civil rights and environmental regulations. No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, incumbent vendors, or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. Other government entities, including Chattahoochee, Marion, Harris, and Webster Counties, are permitted to piggyback off this annual contract subject to their local policies, which may expand the contract's scope and value. Payment terms are Net 30 upon receipt, inspection, and acceptance of materials, with electronic payment as the preferred method, and the district is tax-exempt and will not pay interest, late fees, or penalties. No specific award value or budget range is provided in the available documents.