Food Service Sanitation Program - Student Nutrition Services

Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS) in Florida is seeking proposals through Request for Proposals 25614-RFP-DST for a comprehensive food service sanitation and cleaning supply program serving approximately 212 self-operating Student Nutrition Services (SNS) kitchens across the district. The procurement encompasses all chemicals, dispensers, procedures, training materials, signage, and support products necessary to maintain sanitation standards in K-12 school food service areas, with required deliverables including twelve line items of sanitation products (anti-bacterial hand soap, disinfectants, degreasers, quaternary sanitizers, pot and pan detergent, freezer cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, descaler, sanitizer buckets, thermometer probe wipes, and sanitizer test strips) in specified annual quantities. The contractor must provide monthly site visits on a 20 school-day rotation, initial and ongoing training on safe food handling and OSHA compliance, bilingual English and Spanish safety data sheets and instructional materials, computerized monthly service reports, and emergency re-supply within 24 business hours, with support products including dispensers, spray bottles, test kits, sanitizer logs, posters, and employee training materials provided at no additional cost. Proposals must be received by March 10, 2026, at 5:00 PM ET, with technical questions due by February 20, 2026; evaluation will be based on qualifications and experience (20 points), scope of work understanding (25 points), service requirements (20 points), and cost/value (35 points). Qualified proposers must demonstrate three years of experience providing similar commodities and services, authorization to do business in Florida, E-Verify compliance, proof of insurance with specified coverage limits, three business references, and compliance with all applicable federal funding requirements under USDA 2 CFR Part 200 standards.

This solicitation contains no explicit set-aside provisions for disadvantaged enterprises or restricted organizational types; however, HCPS encourages affirmative contracting steps to include small, minority, and women-owned businesses in accordance with federal procurement requirements. Proposers must complete multiple compliance certifications including drug-free workplace certification, non-collusion affidavits, debarment and suspension certifications, compliance with the Buy American provision for domestic product preference, and certifications regarding foreign entities of concern as mandated by Florida Statute 287.138. The contract replaces an expiring agreement (RFP 20128A-DST-KJ) with the current usage provided in the HCPS Usage Report for the 2025-2026 fiscal year documenting historical consumption patterns at participating facilities. The contract term begins July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with automatic renewal options for up to four additional one-year periods plus temporary renewal extensions not to exceed 180 days. The estimated annual contract value is $400,000, funded 100 percent by the United States Department of Agriculture with no state, local, or non-federal funding sources, and all pricing must remain firm for the initial contract term with price increase requests requiring 120 days' advance notice and supporting documentation such as Producer Price Index information or manufacturer price lists. The estimated award date is June 2, 2026, and a Phase 1 public meeting is scheduled for April 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM via Microsoft Teams, with all future updates posted on the HCPS public notices webpage.