Lincoln County Schools - Child Nutrition IFB Juice Products

Lincoln County Schools in North Carolina is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for juice products to support its Child Nutrition program for the 2026-2027 school year. The procurement seeks shelf-stable, 100% full-strength juice products with a minimum six-month shelf life that contain no additives, preservatives, or artificial colors. All juice products must comply with Child Nutrition Meal Pattern requirements, providing minimum servings of 1/2 cup for fruit or vegetable juice or 3/4 cup for fruit juice. Vendors must submit sealed bids by April 1, 2026 at 2:30 PM, with the bid opening scheduled for 3:00 PM on the same date. The procurement requires all products to comply with the "Buy American" provision, meaning products must be produced and processed in the United States with more than 51% of agricultural commodities sourced domestically. The bid documents outline specific item quantities and pricing details, though the exact contract award amount and total volume requirements are not specified in the available documentation.

While the IFB documents do not explicitly reference set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting eligible bidders to specific organization types, the "Buy American" provision represents a significant requirement that effectively restricts eligibility to suppliers capable of sourcing and processing juice products domestically. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation, nor are there references to required technology integration or existing infrastructure considerations. The procurement documents do not identify a specific contract award value or budget range. Interested vendors should consult the complete IFB documentation for detailed specifications regarding product quantities, pricing requirements, and any additional evaluation criteria that may influence bid competitiveness.