Local Beef Bid for Buncombe, Caldwell, Haywood, and Henderson County Schools

Haywood County Schools, in collaboration with Buncombe, Caldwell, and Henderson County Schools, is requesting bids for local North Carolina ground beef (80/20 lean-to-fat ratio) for federally funded School Nutrition Programs, with bids due June 4, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. This is a local-vendor requirement — beef must be raised and harvested within North Carolina and sourced from GAP-certified vendors recommended by the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project or the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Beef must come from humanely raised, vegetable-fed cattle with no antibiotics, added hormones, or fillers. Packaging is either four five-pound chubs or two ten-pound chubs per twenty-pound case. The estimated total quantity for the school year (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027) is 72,360 pounds: Buncombe County 41,800 pounds, Caldwell County 12,560 pounds, Haywood County 8,000 pounds, and Henderson County 10,000 pounds. Delivery must occur between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., with all transportation and delivery costs included in the bid price. Vendors must provide complete nutrient information sheets within 30 days of award.

The contract runs one year with an option to extend up to four years based on mutual agreement, service performance, and pricing review. Bid prices are firm and fixed for the entire contract period. Award is on a lowest-responsive-responsible-bidder basis to a single vendor. Bids are to be delivered to Alison Francis at Haywood County Schools in Clyde, North Carolina. Award notification is expected June 9, 2026.

Vendors must maintain minimum general liability insurance of $1 million combined single limit, workers' compensation coverage, and property damage insurance. Required qualifications include a minimum of one year of food business experience, a current North Carolina business license, an HACCP plan, food recall procedures, Buy American compliance, and sex offender registry verification for all personnel accessing school property. Payment is made by the 26th of the month following receipt and inspection.