PSD Produce - August and September 2025

Poudre School District (PSD) in Larimer County, Colorado, is seeking electronic bid responses for a fresh produce procurement contract covering the period from August 7 through September 29, 2025. The Invitation for Bid (IFB 26-750-001) solicits qualified suppliers to provide a comprehensive range of fresh fruits and vegetables for the district's Child Nutrition Warehouse located in Fort Collins. Suppliers must maintain an office and distribution center within a 90-mile radius of Fort Collins and provide a dedicated sales representative. Key requirements include maintaining a 98% order/delivery fill rate with no more than 5% defective or rejected items, and submitting an approved HACCP and recall procedures plan. The procurement covers extensive produce categories, including apples, berries, citrus, melons, and precut produce items, with specific USDA grade specifications and packaging requirements. The bid was posted on June 26, 2025, with questions due by July 3, 2025, and bids closing on July 10, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time. The award will be made to the responsive, responsible supplier bidding on the highest number of items with the lowest aggregate cost.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Suppliers must meet rigorous qualifications, including maintaining precise product quality standards, with all individual bags required to be stamped with a use-by date and products meeting specific criteria of being mature, clean, well-formed, and free from decay. The district serves over 32,000 students across 60 schools and is fully accredited by the Colorado Department of Education. Pricing must remain firm for the entire awarded period, with any proposed changes requiring pre-approval. Invoicing will be electronic with Net 30 payment terms, and the district will issue blanket purchase orders to open budget funds. While specific total contract value is not disclosed, the bid includes detailed usage projections, ranging from 10 cases of certain items to 2,700 cases of others, suggesting a substantial procurement opportunity for the selected vendor. The comprehensive nature of the bid and specific logistical requirements, including daily delivery windows from 6:15 AM to 2:00 PM Monday through Friday, indicate a complex and structured procurement process.