GRO42 - K-12 School Nutrition Products

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Operational Services Division (OSD) is procuring a statewide contract (GRO42) for K-12 School Nutrition Products, focusing initially on Category 1: Produce, which includes fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs. The procurement will be conducted in three phases, with Phase I for Produce being released first, followed by Groceries in Summer 2025 and Locally Sourced Foods in Winter 2025. Bidders must provide comprehensive pricing for a market basket of 73 primary produce items, including both organic and non-organic options, with specific requirements for pack sizes, grades, and New England-grown products. Vendors must have a minimum gross annual revenue of $100,000, demonstrate food safety certification, implement a HACCP program, and provide a Continuity of Operations Plan. Evaluation criteria include price (25 points), Supplier Diversity Plan (25 points), business industry component (25 points), business references (20 points), and environmentally preferable products (5 points). Key dates include a bidders conference on December 3, 2024, with bid responses due by January 8, 2025, and an estimated contract start date of February 1, 2025. The initial contract term is two years, with potential for two three-year renewals, totaling a maximum of eight years.

The contract includes a mandatory 1% Supplier Diversity Plan commitment, requiring vendors to engage with certified diverse businesses such as MBE, WBE, SDVOBE, VBE, DOBE, and LGBTBE. Small Business Purchasing Program participants with revenue under $250,000 over the past three years are exempt from Supplier Diversity Plan requirements. The estimated contract value is $64 million, based on purchasing data from 96 Massachusetts school districts in 2022-2023. Pricing will be structured as "do not exceed maximum rates" fixed for six months, with authorized price adjustments in May and November. Vendors must indicate a percentage cost-plus markup for items not listed in their maximum rate price file. The contract incorporates environmental specifications, requiring vendors to identify products with certifications such as USDA Organic, locally sourced, non-GMO, fair trade, and sustainable certifications. A 1% Contract Administration Fee will be payable to the Operational Services Division, and the contract includes standard Massachusetts state contract provisions covering areas such as payment terms, confidentiality, and liability limitations.