Fresh Produce Products for the 26-27 school year for Cleveland County Schools Nutrition Program

Cleveland County Schools Child Nutrition Program issued a Request for Proposal on January 16, 2026, seeking fresh produce products to supply all 24 schools within the district for the 2026-2027 school year, serving approximately 15,000 children with average daily attendance. Proposals are due no later than 1:00 PM on February 16, 2026, at the Child Nutrition Office located at 400 West Marion Street, Shelby, North Carolina 28150. The contract will run from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with the option to extend for four additional one-year periods upon written agreement by both parties. Vendors must deliver all fresh produce weekly between 7:00 AM and 1:30 PM directly to individual school locations, ensuring products arrive fresh, clean, and wholesome. All prices must remain firm for the one-year contract period and include distribution, financing, production losses, analysis costs, waste, labor, overhead, and transportation to each school. The procurement evaluation will consider price, student acceptability of products, delivery frequency, delivery fees, availability, processing fees, refunds, and rebates, with award made to the most responsive and responsible bidder whose offer is advantageous to Cleveland County Schools. Proposers must submit completed product quote sheets with nutritional data, specification sheets with product photos, product samples, and ingredient statements.

Vendors must comply with North Carolina Senate Bill 961 requirements prohibiting trans-fatty acids and meet "Buy American" standards, with substantially more than 51 percent of processed products containing domestically grown agricultural commodities. All vendors must provide evidence of comprehensive general liability insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000, property damage insurance, workers' compensation insurance, and automobile liability insurance. Required certifications include debarment certification, drug-free workplace certification, non-collusion certification, and criminal background check compliance documentation. The RFP does not identify any existing incumbent vendors, current contractors, or set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises. The contract is contingent upon the availability of appropriated funds, and Cleveland County Schools reserves the right to cancel any order or terminate the contract with thirty days' written notice. No specific budget range or award value is provided in the procurement documents.