Fresh Produce for Child Nutrition

Northside Independent School District (NISD), the fourth-largest public school system in Texas serving 83 elementary schools, 21 middle schools, 13 high schools, and specialty schools across the San Antonio area in Bexar County, is seeking sealed bids for the supply of fresh produce for child nutrition through RFP 2026-048. Vendors must supply USDA Child Nutrition Reimbursable-compliant fresh produce items for delivery to all district campuses five days per week (Monday through Friday) between 6:00 AM and 2:00 PM during the school year (August 10, 2026 through May 26, 2027) and summer school sessions, with delivery quantities subject to change based on district needs. All proposals must include costs for shipping, handling, pre-cooling, palletization, brokerage, freight, and delivery, with pricing based on USDA Specialty Crops Terminal Markets Standard Reports and monthly price adjustment notices required. Vendors must utilize properly insulated, temperature-controlled refrigeration equipment, comply with USDA Buy American Standards when applicable, and prioritize Texas-grown produce through the "Harvest of the Month" program. Required qualifications include an active Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Program certification demonstrating compliance with USDA and state and local food safety standards, certificates of insurance naming NISD as additional insured, completion of all mandatory certifications and forms, compliance with federal EDGAR requirements and FERPA confidentiality standards, and compliance with USDA non-discrimination policies. Evaluation criteria include purchase price (35%), extent of goods meeting district needs (25%), quality of goods and services (15%), total long-term cost (10%), other relevant factors (10%), proposer reputation (5%), and prior relationship with the district. The proposal submission deadline is Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM (CT) via the Bonfire Portal, with an opening date of May 6, 2026. The contract term runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with options to renew for two additional one-year periods, and award is subject to Board of Trustees approval and contingent upon available funding.

The RFP does not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to particular types of organizations, disadvantaged enterprises, or small businesses, indicating the procurement is open to qualified vendors meeting the stated requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. Vendors must provide electronic portal access for invoice management and submit invoices weekly via email to CNSInvoices@nisd.net to integrate with the district's existing procurement and payment systems. This contract replaces RFP 2024-059, which expires June 30, 2026, and all vendors are required to respond to the new RFP to maintain their business relationship with NISD, though no minimum purchase guarantee is expressed or implied. The budget range or possible award value is not specified in the available documentation.