IFB 002-26 Produce, Fruit, and Vegetables

Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS), a Georgia school district serving over 52,000 students across 67 schools, issued Invitation for Bid (IFB) 002-26 to procure fresh produce, fruits, and vegetables on an as-needed basis for school meal services including breakfast, lunch, and snacks. The solicitation encompasses 145 line items ranging from common produce such as apples, bananas, lettuce, and tomatoes to specialty items including dragonfruit, jicama, and heirloom tomatoes, with estimated quantities varying from 20 to 1,500 cases per item annually. All deliveries must be made to approximately 62 CCPS locations Monday through Friday during specified time windows (6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., depending on school type), with all items meeting USDA Grade No. 1 or U.S. Fancy specifications and domestic origin requirements under the Buy American Act. Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of three years of experience supplying produce to school districts similar in size to CCPS and must comply with all federal nutrition program requirements including HACCP plans, food recall procedures, and food safety certifications. The pre-bid conference was held on October 9, 2025, via Zoom, with a deadline for submission of questions by October 17, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EST. Bid submissions were required by November 7, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. EST through the Bonfire portal, with the initial contract term commencing within ten calendar days of the Notice to Proceed and running for one year with two optional one-year renewal periods, terminating on June 30 of each fiscal year. All pricing is F.O.B. Destination, inclusive of packing and transportation to individual schools.

The CCPS Small Local Business Enterprise (SLBE) Program applies to this procurement with a 15% contracting goal for goods or services, or bidders must demonstrate good faith efforts if the goal cannot be met. All bidders are subject to E-Verify requirements, debarment certification, criminal background checks, and insurance requirements including $1,000,000 general liability and automobile liability coverage. The award notice issued on January 16, 2026, indicates that Royal Food Service Inc. was selected as the contract recipient; however, the Notice of Award references IFB 002-25 and designates the contract for Food Safety and Manual Sanitation Services rather than produce procurement, suggesting potential documentation cross-referencing or numbering discrepancies in the solicitation materials. The contract carries a not-to-exceed value of $3,250,000.00 for the initial one-year period. The contract is subject to a non-appropriation clause allowing termination if funding becomes unavailable, and CCPS reserves the right to terminate for convenience with 30 days' written notice or for cause with 10 days' notice if performance standards are not met. Payment will be made within 30 days of satisfactory delivery, with invoices required to be submitted within 90 days of service delivery to the School Nutrition Department at 218-B Stockbridge Road, Jonesboro, Georgia.