IFB Food Distributor Contract

The Dawson County Board of Education, on behalf of the Mountain Area Group (MAG) consortium and its member school districts (Dawson, Fannin, Gilmer, Lumpkin, Pickens, and Stephens County, Georgia), requested sealed bids for a school nutrition food distributor contract under IFB # 2022-DCSNP-MAG-8010-01, with bids due April 21, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. and public opening on April 22, 2022 at 9:00 a.m.

The scope encompasses food distribution and school nutrition products—fresh, frozen, and canned items detailed in Attachment B—with delivery to multiple school sites across the six-county region. Bidders must quote a single fixed fee per shipping carton in dollars and cents, with all fees covering overhead, profit, and handling charges. Prices include packing and transportation to designated school locations and exclude federal excise tax and state sales tax. The distributor must maintain HACCP plans, provide 24/7 recall accessibility, participate in the Net Off Invoice (NOI) system where applicable, submit monthly utilization reports by the 15th of each month, and deliver products in refrigerated trucks Monday through Friday between 5:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

The initial contract term runs from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023, with extension options of up to three months at the same pricing and renewal options of up to four additional one-year terms by mutual written agreement. Pricing must remain firm through December 31, 2022, with price adjustments permitted every six months thereafter upon submission of third-party market documentation, provided total bid value does not exceed federal purchasing caps. Payment terms are net 30 days from invoice receipt following product inspection and acceptance.

Bidders must comply with the William F. Goodling Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act (Buy American requirements), USDA standards, HACCP protocols, E-Verify authorization, debarment and suspension verification, and lobbying certifications for bids exceeding $100,000. Insurance requirements include general liability of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate. The award date was set for approximately April 27, 2022. The MAG will award to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all specifications and terms, subject to available budget funds and approval by member boards of education. Written questions and alternate product submissions were due April 1, 2022; samples were received April 11–12, 2022. Beth Thompson at the Dawson County School Nutrition Program (706-253-1700 ext. 322 or beththompson@pickenscountyschools.org) fielded inquiries.