Petite Bananas

Madison Metropolitan School District Food & Nutrition Department is requesting bids for petite bananas under RFB 4162, with bids due July 29, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. Central Time. The District projects weekly usage of 70–90 cases during school sessions and estimates annual contract value at $78,000 for a contract term from September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Scope requires single petite banana units in 150-count case packs, sized 5" to 5.5" in length at ripeness stages 3.5 (half green/half yellow) through 4.5 (mostly yellow with green tips) per the Chiquita banana color guide. Delivery must be made to the Food Production Center at 4711 Pflaum Road, Madison, Wisconsin between 5:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, with variable delivery days typically limited to no more than two per week. All bananas must arrive at an internal temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit or above. The District requires a minimum 98 percent fill rate on orders and mandates that the distributor provide a comparable substitute within 24 hours at the same price per serving if rejection occurs due to distributor handling. Bidders must submit a HACCP plan prior to award and provide one hardcopy original and one electronic version on memory stick.

Evaluation weighs cost at 40%, organization's ability to meet service and support requirements at 20%, organization qualifications and experience at 15%, diverse-owned business firm documentation at 5%, past experience with MMSD at 10%, and references at 10%. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. Contractors must maintain one million dollars minimum liability insurance coverage and comply with all applicable safety requirements and OSHA standards. The District qualifies for governmental and educational discounts, which must be reflected in unit pricing. Non-exempt vendors must comply with affirmative action requirements unless employing 15 or fewer employees or meeting other specified exemption criteria.