Farm to School Food Hub Aggregation

The Maryland State Department of Education is requesting bids for centralized sourcing, procurement, and distribution of unprocessed or minimally processed local food to Local Education Agencies participating in the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program under IFB R00B5600179, with bids due June 11, 2025.

The scope encompasses 25 fruit and vegetable items including apples, peaches, strawberries, asparagus, bell peppers, broccoli, carrots, corn, lettuce varieties, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes in specified pack sizes. Bidders may respond for one or more of four regions: Eastern Shore (9 counties), Central Maryland (6 counties plus Baltimore City), Western Maryland (4 counties), and Southern Maryland (3 counties). Delivery spans December 2025 or January 2026 through June 2026 based on seasonal availability. The service encompasses approximately 1,400 public school locations statewide. All unit prices must be inclusive of delivery and associated costs. Prices remain static for three months, after which adjustments tie to the Agricultural Marketing Service index. Bidders must identify whether products are sourced within 400 miles of delivery sites and whether they meet optional nutrient management criteria.

Addendum 1 with Q&A responses and an Acknowledgement Form were posted November 5, 2025 and must be acknowledged with proposal submission. Required bid documents include a standardized price form with regional breakdowns, an optional products price form, invoicing templates, and a sample contract establishing operational responsibilities, quality assurance, logistics management, and compliance with MSDE and federal nutrition standards. The Professional Services Supplemental document outlines service delivery expectations, quality assurance standards, reporting requirements, and performance metrics for managing the food hub aggregation function across multiple school districts.