26-023 Purchase of Milk and Dairy Products

Muscogee County School District in Columbus, Georgia is soliciting sealed bids through Invitation to Bid 26-023 for the purchase and direct delivery of milk and dairy products to all schools within the district. The procurement encompasses sixteen distinct dairy product line items, including multiple varieties of milk (1% lactose-free, 1% shelf-stable, chocolate fat-free, chocolate lactose-free, chocolate shelf-stable, skim, strawberry fat-free, strawberry lactose-free, and whole milk), buttermilk, heavy whipping cream, cottage cheese, and sour cream in various package sizes ranging from half-pint containers to five-pound containers and gallons, with estimated annual quantities varying from 200 to 7,000 units depending on product type. Successful vendors must arrange weekly order placement and direct delivery to school kitchen receiving areas during specified delivery windows: elementary schools between 6:30 AM and 1:00 PM Monday through Friday, and middle and high schools between 7:00 AM and 2:00 PM Monday through Friday, with high schools prohibiting Thursday deliveries. All products must be delivered via company truck, excluding less-than-truckload and third-party carrier arrangements. 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 not to exceed three years total. Bid submission deadline is May 29, 2026, at 11:00 AM EST, with written questions due by May 11, 2026, and answers posted by May 13, 2026. Award will be determined based on the largest number of lowest delivered prices, with price being the primary but not sole evaluation factor, and contract award is anticipated in June 2026.

Vendors must comply with the Buy American Act (7 CFR 210.21(d)), requiring purchases of domestic commodities and products processed in the United States containing over 51 percent domestically grown agricultural components. All successful bidders must provide proof of general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, automobile liability coverage of $1,000,000 combined single limit per accident, Georgia statutory workers' compensation coverage, and a $2,000,000 umbrella policy, with the district named as additional insured on all liability policies. Payment terms are Net 30 upon receipt, inspection, and acceptance of materials with proper itemized invoices, with electronic fund transfers as the preferred payment method. The procurement documents do not specify a budget range or award value; however, pricing should include all costs for purchasing, packing, and delivery to designated locations. Other government entities including Chattahoochee, Marion, Harris, and Webster Counties may piggyback off this contract within their local policies. The Muscogee County School District is tax-exempt, and bids must remain valid for 60 days after opening.