Cafeteria produce products

OCM BOCES is conducting a comprehensive procurement for cafeteria produce products across 32 school districts in Onondaga, Cortland, and Madison Counties, New York. The Request for Bid (RFB-226-27) seeks to establish a three-month contract for produce procurement from December 1, 2025, through February 28, 2026, with potential extensions. The procurement is geographically divided into three zones and multiple sub-zones, allowing vendors to bid on specific areas. Vendors must supply a wide variety of domestic produce items, including apples, bananas, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, grapes, melons, and tomatoes, with strict requirements that all produce meet U.S. Grade No. 1 or higher standards. Key qualifications include current HACCP certification, transportation via refrigerated trucks, and the ability to meet a minimum $100 order per delivery. Bids will be received until 1:30 p.m. on October 21, 2025, with a public bid opening at the OCM BOCES location in Liverpool, NY. Evaluation criteria include product quality, pricing, delivery capabilities, and compliance with Buy American requirements for school nutrition programs.

The procurement does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Vendors must provide detailed information about their fleet size and refrigerated truck capacity, and demonstrate the ability to deliver to specific school district locations. The Board reserves the right to award contracts by sub-zone or aggregate items, providing flexibility in vendor selection. While specific award values are not explicitly stated, the comprehensive nature of the bid covering 32 school districts suggests a potentially significant contract value. Pricing must be F.O.B. delivery location with no additional charges, and must include all shipping, handling, and distribution costs. The contract includes provisions for price escalation/de-escalation and allows for potential one-year extensions. Vendors must maintain professional conduct during deliveries and be prepared to replace any non-conforming products immediately.