Direct-to-home meal kits

Dinwiddie County Public Schools in Virginia is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP #26-040926) for direct-to-home delivery of summer non-congregate meal kits to children ages 1 to 18 during the summer 2026 period, running from June 1 through August 21, 2026. The procurement seeks a vendor to deliver customizable meal kits meeting USDA nutritional standards, with bidders able to propose either Option A (seven 10-day kits plus one 7-day kit) or Option B (eleven 7-day kits), each containing breakfast and lunch components designed for approximately 4,006 eligible students participating in the Community Eligibility Provision. All meal components must be shelf-stable with expiration dates extending through at least September 15, 2026, and meals must comply with Buy American provisions. Delivery is required via USPS, UPS, or FedEx on a weekly or 10-day cycle, one to two days prior to the intended service period. Qualified vendors must provide three verifiable references and a valid business license, and may be required to present orally to the evaluation committee. Evaluation criteria include pricing for 2026 meal kits inclusive of all shipping and handling (25 points), the two-week alternating menu structure (20 points), school system references (15 points), delivery plan with tracking and re-delivery procedures (15 points), experience with Summer Food Service Program direct-to-home delivery (10 points), nutritional information (10 points), and value-added programming (5 points). The deadline for questions is April 15, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., and proposals must be received by April 20, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. via hard copy delivery, email to bids@dcpsnet.org, or through the Virginia eVA system.

This procurement does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular business classifications or disadvantaged enterprises; the opportunity is open to qualified vendors meeting the stated requirements. The contract is available to other public agencies in Virginia under the Southside Co-Op cooperative procurement authority pursuant to Virginia Code Section 2.2-4304. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the procurement documentation. The School Division will negotiate with two or more fully qualified offerors and will make award decisions based on best value rather than price alone, reserving the right to reject any or all proposals or cancel the RFP. The initial contract term runs from June 1, 2026, through August 21, 2026, with potential renewal for up to four additional one-year periods; price adjustments during renewals are limited to the Services category of the CPI-W Consumer Price Index. Specific budget or award values are not disclosed in the RFP materials.