Charter School Institute - Ice Cream

The Charter School Institute School Food Authority in Colorado is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to procure Smart Snack Approved ice cream products for the 2026-2027 school year serving four participating charter schools with approximately 4,000 students and an estimated 2,200 daily lunch services. The required deliverables include school cones, stick bars, sandwiches, twisters, ice cream cups, juice/slush cups, and ice cream bunkers in specified weekly quantities across four school sites: The Academy of Charter Schools (two Westminster locations), Pinnacle Charter School K-8 (Federal Heights), and Pinnacle Charter School HS (Thornton). Vendors must submit complete bid packages via email to IleneAgustin@csi.state.co.us by May 7, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., with bid awards to be announced by May 22, 2026. The contract term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with options to renew for up to four additional one-year terms upon mutual agreement. Bids must be submitted on a firm fixed-price basis with F.O.B. destination delivery terms, and vendors with minimum order requirements must disclose this information. Award decisions will be based on a weighted criteria system: bid price (21 points), quality and specification adherence (20 points), service and maintenance capability (20 points), delivery and completion record (20 points), and past experience (19 points). All bidders must submit signed certifications addressing debarment and suspension status, anti-collusion affidavits, lobbying certifications, and vendor information forms.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular organization types, disadvantaged enterprises, or minority-owned businesses. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement document. The Charter School Institute reserves the right to award to the most responsive bidder meeting outlined criteria and may select a higher-priced bid if deemed in the schools' best interest. Delinquent deliveries may incur penalties of one percent of the delinquent goods' price for each ten-day delay period, deducted from the accepted bid price. Delivery schedules will be arranged between the awarded vendor and each school's food service manager during working hours. No specific budget range or award value is provided in the available documentation.