Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Snacks

The Madison Metropolitan School District's Food & Nutrition department is seeking bids for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks for the 2023-2024 school year through a Request for Bid (RFB). The procurement targets approximately 5,100 servings of fresh produce snacks weekly for elementary students participating in the USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program. All products must be sourced within 400 miles of Madison and within Wisconsin, with vendors required to provide detailed documentation of product origin. The bid requires submission of one original and three copies by September 19, 2023, at 2:00 PM CST, with the initial contract term running from October 1, 2023, through November 30, 2023, and potential for two additional three-month renewals. Evaluation criteria will be weighted across several key areas: cost (40%), geographic preference (15%), sample distance documentation (10%), traceability documentation (15%), diverse-owned business certification (5%), and references (15%). Vendors must deliver ready-to-eat produce that is inspected, cleaned, processed, and packaged with clear labeling including delivery date, farm of origin, and "best by" date.

The procurement includes specific requirements for vendor qualifications, such as maintaining commercial liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 and providing traceability documentation upon request. There is a preference for diverse-owned businesses, with 5% of evaluation points dedicated to this certification. The District offers a $0.20 per pound discount on organic produce for scoring purposes, which may provide an advantage to vendors offering organic options. The contract is subject to federal grant funding approval from the Department of Public Instruction, and if Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program federal grant funds are not received, the bid may not be awarded. Vendors must comply with affirmative action requirements and submit certification regarding debarment and suspension status. While a specific contract value is not explicitly stated, the weekly requirement of 5,100 produce servings suggests a potentially significant annual contract value. The District is exempt from federal excise tax and Wisconsin state sales tax, which may provide additional financial considerations for potential bidders.