Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program - Student Nutrition Services

Hillsborough County Public Schools in Tampa, Florida is soliciting proposals for a cost-plus "fixed fee per case" contract to deliver fresh, high-quality specialty fruits and vegetables to approximately 18 elementary school sites participating in the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP), with potential expansion to 20 schools in the 2026-2027 school year. The FFVP is a federally funded grant program that distributes free fresh produce to all enrolled kindergarten through fifth-grade students two days per week outside of regular breakfast and lunch service. Qualified vendors must supply raw, pre-cut, pre-packaged produce items in 50-unit cases with a minimum of seven days remaining shelf life, delivered on Mondays and Tuesdays between 6:00 AM and 2:30 PM, with the objective of serving a variety of fruits and vegetables in their natural state without additives or dips, introducing students to produce varieties they may not otherwise encounter, and promoting healthy snacking habits. Core vendor requirements include a minimum of three years of experience in produce distribution, a current Florida business license, GAP certification, monthly menu development coordination, weekly invoicing within seven days, and monthly price and usage reporting. The initial contract term runs from September 1, 2026 through May 1, 2027, with automatic renewal for up to four additional one-year periods subject to appropriation and performance. The RFP was broadcast on February 11, 2026, with technical questions due by February 25, 2026, an addendum date of February 26, 2026, and proposals due by March 11, 2026 via www.myvendorlink.com, with a review date of March 12, 2026 and an estimated award date of August 4, 2026. Evaluation criteria include pricing competitiveness, vendor experience and qualifications, produce quality and freshness standards, delivery reliability, and compliance with all federal USDA food safety and quality control requirements.

No specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises are identified in the procurement documents, though the district encourages affirmative contracting with small and minority-owned businesses as a federal funding requirement under 2 CFR Part 200. All proposers must comply with extensive federal and state certifications and requirements, including USDA drug-free workplace certification, anti-lobbying certifications, non-collusion affidavits, debarment certifications, non-discrimination compliance, and adherence to the Buy American provision with phased non-domestic food purchase caps of 10 percent (2025-26), 8 percent (2028-29), and 5 percent (2031-32) of total commercial food costs. Additionally, vendors must comply with Florida Statutes Section 287.138 prohibiting contracting with entities of foreign countries of concern and provide affidavits certifying domestic business ownership and control. Special requirements include designation of two drivers with permanent MacDill Air Force Base passes for delivery to Tinker K-8 School. The estimated annual budget is $600,000, funded entirely by USDA grant awards with zero non-federal financing. The contract structure employs a cost-plus model where vendors submit a firm fixed fee per full case covering inside delivery and freight to all participating school sites, with proposed pricing for sample menu items due with the proposal and actual pricing determined by open-market costs subject to district office approval two weeks prior to each month's menu. The fixed delivery fee must remain firm for at least one year from the contract effective date, after which vendors may request price increases with supporting documentation. Contractors exceeding the $100,000 contract threshold are subject to Davis-Bacon Act wage standards and must comply with civil rights requirements, clean air and water pollution act provisions, and contract work hours and safety standards. A public meeting is scheduled for April 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM via Microsoft Teams videoconference to discuss solicitation requirements and FFVP objectives.