Lamar County School Nutrition Program: INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) SY 2027

The Lamar County School District in Georgia is conducting a competitive sealed-bid procurement for its School Nutrition Program for fiscal year 2027, organized into six separate Invitations for Bid (IFBs) issued on April 20, 2026, with a deadline of May 20, 2026. The procurement seeks direct delivery suppliers across multiple product categories: IFB #1 covers dairy products, fruits and vegetables, chips, crackers, cookies, snacks, grain products, entrees, staples, and beverages; IFB #2 addresses fresh bread; IFB #3 focuses on milk and dairy products; IFB #4 encompasses fresh produce; IFB #5 includes paper and chemical products; and IFB #6 specifies Georgia-grown ground beef. The bid spreadsheet details extensive product specifications with estimated quantities ranging from 24 to 1,000 cases across categories, incorporating 16 dairy items, 92 fruit and vegetable items, 47 snack items, 76 grain products, 55 entree items, and various staple products, all requiring compliance with USDA Child Nutrition standards including whole grain requirements, sodium limits, and smart snacks compliance. Bidders must submit sealed bids via mail or hand delivery to the Lamar County School District Purchasing Department using a USB flash drive containing the Bid Response Form in Excel format accompanied by a hardcopy, with explicit rejection of faxed, emailed, or reformatted submissions. The sealed envelope must be marked with IFB number 2027-2026 and the applicable IFB type, and late bids will not be considered for evaluation.

The solicitation documents do not specify designated set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises, minority-owned businesses, or other restricted categories, nor do they identify incumbent vendors or current contractors in the available materials. The procurement emphasizes domestic preference where applicable, particularly for dairy, fresh produce, and protein products, and allows for "Approved Equal" alternatives, providing bidders flexibility in product sourcing while maintaining nutritional standards. No specific award values or budget ranges are disclosed in the provided documentation, and similarly, no information regarding existing infrastructure, technology integration requirements, or site visit schedules is available in the materials. The district has indicated that comprehensive specifications, terms, conditions, and individual bid requirements are contained within invitation-to-bid packets available on the purchasing website or by USPS mail request upon request. The school district assumes no responsibility for bids not received by the specified deadline and will not consider late submissions in bid evaluation.