Food, Paper, and Chemical Bid SY2027

Candler County Board of Education School Nutrition Program is requesting bids for food, paper, and chemical products to support the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program for School Year 2027, with sealed bids due June 12, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at 33661 Ga. Hwy 129 South, Metter, Georgia. Written questions are due May 30, 2026.

All food products must meet the Buy American Act requirement of over 51 percent U.S. agricultural content. Vendors must comply with HACCP food safety requirements, debarment and suspension verification for contracts exceeding $25,000, lobbying certifications for bids over $100,000, and E-Verify compliance.

The scope encompasses hundreds of line items across bread, milk and dairy, pizza components, cereal, ice cream, produce, chemicals, and paper supplies. Specifications establish detailed nutritional standards aligned with USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program requirements, including whole grain-rich products, sodium limits effective July 1, 2027, yogurt sugar restrictions (maximum 12 grams of added sugar per 6 ounces by October 1, 2025), and breakfast cereal requirements (maximum 6 grams of added sugars per dry ounce by October 1, 2025). Vendors must provide detailed product descriptions including case counts or weights and submit a completed Item Inventory spreadsheet via email.

Delivery is FOB to two designated school locations: Metter PreK-8th Complex and Metter High School. All pricing must include packing and transportation with no separate fuel surcharges permitted. The SFA will award contracts to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder on a line-item basis and reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

The contract period commences July 27, 2026 and terminates July 16, 2027, with optional extension up to three months at the same bid pricing by mutual written agreement and renewal for up to four additional one-year terms based on vendor performance. All bid prices must remain firm for ninety days from the contract award date; thereafter, price escalation or de-escalation requests may be submitted quarterly supported by USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports or Consumer Price Index data. Price increases exceeding five percent may result in the SFA sourcing alternative products from other vendors. Award is anticipated by July 10, 2026. Payment will be made within thirty days of invoice receipt following product inspection and acceptance. Contact the Candler County School Nutrition Director, K. Dennis, at kdennis@metter.org or (912) 685-2360.