Milk &Dairy Products

The School Board of Seminole County, Florida, issued Invitation to Bid 25260070B-VG to procure Milk & Dairy Products for the Red Apple Dining Department and School Culinary Programs serving 56 school locations throughout the district. This procurement seeks a responsive and responsible bidder to supply Grade A, pasteurized, homogenized, Vitamin D enriched milk products that comply with Federal and State regulations, including the National School Lunch Program's Buy American provisions and Florida Department of Health standards. The deliverables encompass 15 line items including white 1% milk in multiple formats (8 oz cartons and 1-gallon containers), whole milk, chocolate milk in 8 oz cartons, 1-gallon containers, 5-gallon containers, and twist-cap formats, shelf-stable milk products, flavored milk varieties, orange juice, cottage cheese, and sour cream in both single-serving and bulk formats, with annual usage estimates ranging from 30 units for 5-gallon chocolate milk containers to approximately 3.17 million units for 8 oz chocolate milk cartons. Bidders must submit samples of twelve units for each line item (unless already pre-approved products are specified) by 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Red Apple Dining, with samples addressed to Victoria Gonzalez at the Seminole County Public Schools Educational Support Center. The bid submission deadline is April 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST via WebEx, with a voluntary pre-bid meeting scheduled for February 24, 2026, at 10:00 AM EST via WebEx. The contract will be awarded on an all-or-none, by-lot, by-partial-lot, or by-item basis to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, with an initial two-year term and an optional two-year renewal period. All pricing must be quoted FOB inside delivery to Seminole County with twice-weekly deliveries, using January 2026 FMO pricing, and bidders must submit electronically via VendorLink along with certifications including drug-free workplace, debarment, conflict of interest, scrutinized company status, and lobbying disclosure affidavits, current Health Department inspection reports, and proof of active business entity registration.

The solicitation documents do not specify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting bidder eligibility based on disadvantaged enterprise status or organization type; however, all bidders must be registered as active business entities in Florida or as foreign corporations and must demonstrate compliance with all regulatory and certification requirements. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The procurement requires all milk products to meet specified standards for non-fat milk solids, milk fat content, and bacteria counts, with specific restrictions including prohibitions on high fructose corn syrup in certain products and requirements that chocolate milk meet nutritional parameters without higher butter fat or sugar content alternatives. The contract is effective upon Board approval or May 12, 2026, whichever is later, and the School Board reserves the right to cancel with 30 days' notice before the end of any fiscal year. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the available solicitation materials; however, the estimated annual usage quantities provided in the Price Schedule (Exhibit B) serve as the basis for pricing calculations. The Notice of Intended Decision will be posted on April 27, 2026, with Board approval scheduled for May 12, 2026.