Fresh produce - provide and deliver

The Salt Lake City School District (SLCSD) is soliciting competitive bids for the provision and delivery of fresh produce to multiple schools throughout the district under Bid #DH2647-FPD. This Invitation for Bid (IFB) procurement encompasses the delivery of 60 produce line items—including fruits, vegetables, and prepared produce products—to 38 SLCSD facilities consisting of 23 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, 5 high schools, and specialized educational facilities. The solicitation specifies substantial annual quantities, including items such as 2,050 cases of Gala apples, 2,860 cases of bananas, 8,140 bags of chopped romaine lettuce, and 6,400 individually wrapped fruit and vegetable portions for the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). Contractors must deliver all items on an F.O.B. destination basis with all transportation and handling costs borne by the vendor, and must maintain commercial general liability insurance of at least one million dollars per occurrence and three million dollars aggregate, as well as workers' compensation insurance for all employees and subcontractors. Bidders must submit both base bids and alternate bids electronically through the Bonfire/U3P platform by April 1, 2026, with all questions submitted in writing through the same system; the submission system will close precisely at the deadline and will not accept late submissions. The contractor must comply with all USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program regulations, prioritize locally grown and seasonal produce, coordinate with the district on product selection to avoid menu repetition, and maintain flexibility to include seasonal varieties. Upon award, the contractor will be required to provide a one-year warranty that all items perform according to specifications and are free of defects, with remedies including repair, replacement, or full refund at no cost to the District.

The solicitation documents do not identify any specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, women-owned businesses, or other protected classifications; however, all vendors must certify they are not debarred or suspended from federal contracts and must comply with Utah's E-Verify employment status verification system. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed in the procurement documents. Contractors must procure all necessary permits and licenses, maintain records for six years following final payment, and permit audit access by state and federal auditors. All contracts are governed by Utah law with venue in Salt Lake City's Third Judicial District Court, and are subject to Utah Code §63G-6a-1203, which voids certain contract clauses including those requiring indemnification, binding arbitration, non-Utah jurisdiction, automatic renewals, or insurance beyond state requirements. The solicitation documents do not specify an overall contract award value or budget range; however, contractors should note that the SLCSD does not guarantee any minimum purchase quantities and that more than 85 percent of certain asterisk-marked products are historically supplied by the Department of Defense when government funds are available.