Processed Foods Using USDA Commodities

The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is soliciting proposals to establish state contracts for processing USDA Donated Foods into end products for Local Education Agencies, with a pre-bid conference on November 10, 2026 and proposals due December 3, 2026. Bidders must be licensed to do business in Washington and hold either a USDA National Processing Agreement or an approved in-state processor agreement for Washington. The solicitation includes no formal set-aside, though it encourages participation by certified minority and women's business enterprises and veteran-owned businesses.

Scope covers processing bulk USDA commodities into end products for distribution to LEAs participating in the National School Lunch Program, including cheese omelets, French toast sticks, breakfast burritos, garlic cheese toast, sauces, frozen vegetables, tater tots, hash brown patties, beef patties, chicken nuggets, chicken patties, and popcorn chicken. Pricing must be submitted on a cost-per-serving basis, with FOB Destination freight prepaid to Washington state warehouse locations and net 30 payment terms. Successful bidders must attend the Annual Washington OSPI/WSNA USDA Food Show on February 3, 2027, and provide taste-test samples by January 5, 2027.

The total estimated value is not to exceed $3 million annually, with no volume commitment from OSPI, and first-year estimates run approximately $23,296 to $466,221 per product line. The initial term runs July 1, 2027 through June 30, 2028, with OSPI holding sole-discretion options to extend four additional years through 2031-2032 based on satisfactory performance and funding availability. The contract is contingent on federal Food Distribution Program funding for participating schools. Evaluation criteria allocate 50 points to cost per serving, 35 points to acceptability based on taste and appearance, and 15 points to sodium levels, with up to 6 preference points for products tested and containing no PCBs using EPA Analytical Method 1668c.

Questions and the pre-bid conference are optional, with the pre-bid conference held via Zoom at 1:00 p.m. PST on November 10, 2026. Proposals are due by 10:00 a.m. PST on December 3, 2026. The apparent successful bidder will be announced January 18, 2027, with contract execution targeted for January 27-29, 2027. The solicitation lists Franklin, Grant, Grays Harbor, Chelan, and Yakima counties as jurisdictions.