IFB - Milk Bid Dawson County Schools

Dawson County Schools and Lumpkin County Schools jointly issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for milk and dairy products to supply their school nutrition programs serving approximately 8,200 students across twelve schools (seven in Dawson County with 4,600 students and five in Lumpkin County with 3,600 students). The procurement seeks bids for various milk products including whole milk, 2% milk, 1% milk, fat-free milk, skim milk, buttermilk, heavy whipping cream, and sour cream in pint, quart, and gallon sizes. All bid prices must be firm and include packing and transportation to individual school delivery sites with no separate fuel charges permitted. The contract period runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with options for a three-month extension at the same pricing and potential renewal by mutual written agreement, typically structured as one year with options for up to four additional one-year renewals based on vendor performance. Prices shall remain fixed for thirty days following contract award, after which escalation or de-escalation adjustments may be requested quarterly based on third-party market documentation such as USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports or Consumer Price Index data. The written question deadline is April 13, 2026, with bids due May 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the School Nutrition Department in Dawsonville, Georgia, and public bid opening scheduled for May 6, 2026. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting all specifications within approximately sixty days of bid opening, with no pre-bid meeting scheduled.

Vendors must maintain appropriate insurance coverage, comply with Buy American provisions, provide HACCP documentation, possess E-Verify authorization, and meet all federal and state compliance requirements including debarment verification, non-collusion affidavits, and civil rights certifications. The School Food Authority reserves the right to provisionally source products from alternative vendors if price increases exceed 5% of the awarded price. No specific set-aside designations or disadvantaged enterprise restrictions are identified in the solicitation documents, nor are any incumbent vendors or current contractors listed. The contract is contingent upon available budget funds and approval by both school boards. No specific budget range or award value is provided in the available documentation; however, the contract covers annual milk and dairy product supply for over 8,200 students across twelve schools, suggesting a substantial procurement value.