Milk, Dairy & Juice Products

The School Board of Pinellas County, Florida is requesting bids on milk, dairy products, and individual juice portions for delivery to approximately 117 district facilities under ITB 26-JG-021, with bids due June 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

The procurement is structured in three product groups: Group A (milk with fixed fees and monthly price fluctuation tied to Florida Fluid Milk Report Class I raw milk prices and Federal Milk Order #6, Zone #2); Group B (firm fixed prices on dairy products including yogurt, cheese, sour cream, and creamers); and Group C (firm fixed prices on juice products in 4-ounce and 6-ounce formats, all requiring 100% juice content and calcium fortification). All juice products must be available in fresh, frozen, or shelf-stable formats. Group A milk includes eight line items covering white 1% low-fat, chocolate fat-free, skim, lactose-free, whole, and buttermilk in half-pint and half-gallon sizes. Group B includes nine dairy items with two-year estimated quantities ranging from 20 cases of cream cheese to approximately 1.5 million individual yogurt cups. Group C includes six mandatory juice line items with two-year estimated quantities from 100 units (orange juice, 6 oz.) to 148,000 units (tropical blend, 4 oz.); vendors may propose up to five optional limited-time juice flavors for potential school-site purchase.

The estimated contract value is approximately $22.5 million for the initial two-year period including renewal options, though actual purchases may vary. The contract term runs August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2028, with three optional one-year renewal periods by mutual consent and supplemental unilateral extension rights for up to three thirty-day periods. Price escalation at renewal is permitted only if the percentage change does not exceed the previous 12 months' CPI-U, with 60 days' written notice required. Deliveries occur on an alternating schedule (three days one week, two days the following week) between 7:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to all operational school facilities; newly constructed schools and replacement facilities may be added during the contract period with advance notice.

Bidders must submit product samples with containers, nutritional information, and ingredient lists prior to June 11, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. to Julie Kalach, Food Distribution Specialist, at Walter Pownall Service Center, 11111 S. Belcher Road, Largo, Florida 33773. Samples will be evaluated for taste acceptability, packaging, product freshness, quality, and nutritional compliance. All bidders must meet Jessica Lunsford Act Level 2 background screening requirements for personnel with access to school grounds or student contact. Award will be made on an "all or none" basis to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, though the District reserves the right to delete items and award the balance. Pricing must remain firm throughout the initial two-year contract period with all freight and handling charges included. The successful bidder may not sublet the contract and must operate its own delivery vehicles and maintain appropriate refrigeration and warehouse capacity for at least two weeks' inventory. Vendors must comply with all federal, state, and local food safety regulations and USDA Buy American requirements where applicable. Questions are due May 29, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Bid evaluation occurs June 11–16, 2026; Notice of Intent to Award is scheduled for July 7, 2026; and School Board approval is estimated for July 14, 2026. Contractors must obtain general liability ($1 million per occurrence / $5 million aggregate for contracts $500,000 and over), automotive liability ($300,000 combined single limit), and workers' compensation insurance within ten working days of award with the School Board named as additional insured.