Fresh Produce Delivery for Food and Child Nutrition Services

Dallas Independent School District (DISD) is seeking proposals for Fresh Produce Delivery for Food and Child Nutrition Services through a district-wide, as-needed procurement. The Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks vendors to provide fresh produce to approximately 230 school cafeterias and a central kitchen, with deliveries required on school days between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. The contract term is one year, with two potential one-year extensions, not to exceed three years total. Vendors must electronically receive and fulfill weekly orders transmitted on Tuesdays for the following week's menu items, with detailed delivery schedules organized by school. Evaluation criteria will include purchase price, vendor reputation, quality of goods and services, extent to which goods meet District needs, vendor's past relationship with the District, impact on MWBE compliance, and total long-term cost. The proposal is due on January 29, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Central Time, and will be conducted in accordance with Title 2 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 200, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Texas Department of Agriculture requirements.

The District has established an aspirational Small Business Enterprise (SBE) goal of 30 percent of total dollar value for all district contracts, with proposal scoring including up to 20 percentage points for SBE compliance. Eligible certifications include 8(a) certification, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, Small Business Enterprise, Veteran-Owned Small Business, and Woman-Owned Small Business designations. The District has specific requirements for produce, including a goal to purchase 35% locally grown products from within Texas and a preference for agricultural commodities produced in the United States. All products must meet state and municipal Health Department requirements, possess certified HACCP plans, and pass microbiological testing standards. While no specific budget range was explicitly stated, vendors will be compensated based on monthly average landed cost of produce plus markup and delivery charges per stop. The procurement may utilize local, state, federal, and grant-funded programs, including USDA nutrition program funding, and encourages participation from all vendors, including sole source providers.