Amana Academy West School Food Service

Amana Academy West, a school food authority in Mableton, Georgia, is requesting proposals for food service management company services for the 2023-2024 school year under RFP, with proposals due April 14, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. and a mandatory pre-proposal meeting on March 23, 2023, at 9:30 a.m. The food service management company must be incorporated or licensed in Georgia and willing to be listed on the Georgia Department of Education's utilized vendor list.

The scope encompasses comprehensive food service management at a single location (5540 N. Allen Road, Mableton, GA 30126) covering the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, After-School Care Program, Seamless Summer Option, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, a la carte services, adult meals, and catering. The RFP is structured as a fixed-price-per-meal contract; the food service management company must propose a fixed rate per meal for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and a la carte items, calculated assuming no USDA donated commodities are available, though the company will receive credits for market value of USDA foods received. The food service management company is responsible for purchasing beginning inventory and applying for and maintaining the food service permit. The school retains control of menu approval, pricing, and free and reduced-price eligibility determinations. Preference will be given to Georgia-grown and locally-sourced products with delivery within 24 hours of harvest.

The contract commences July 1, 2023, with school meal service beginning August 8, 2023, for a one-year term with four optional one-year renewal periods and a three-month extension available only for unprecedented natural disasters or USDA waivers. The food service management company must maintain general liability insurance with a combined single limit of $1,000,000 and comply with all federal Child Nutrition Program regulations.

Evaluation criteria are weighted at 100 points: cost and financial proposal (20 points), service capability plan (18 points), taste test (10 points), halal offerings (7 points), personnel management (7 points), experience and references (6 points), business practices (5–6 points), student involvement (6 points), innovation (5 points), and promotion of school food service (5 points). A mandatory taste test is scheduled for March 28, 2023. Written questions are due March 29, 2023, at 12:00 p.m. Proposals are firm offers valid for 90 days. Contract award is contingent on approval by the Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Division.