PSD Produce - June and July 2025

Poudre School District R-1 is seeking electronic bid responses for a fresh produce procurement contract covering the period from June 2nd through July 31st, 2025. The Invitation for Bid (IFB 25-750-012) is soliciting qualified suppliers to provide a comprehensive range of approximately 50 different fresh fruits and vegetables to be delivered to the Child Nutrition Warehouse in Fort Collins, Colorado. Vendors must maintain an office and distribution center within a 90-mile radius of Fort Collins and provide a dedicated sales representative. The district requires a 98% order/delivery fill rate with less than 5% defective/rejected items, and all produce must meet specific USDA grade standards including U.S. Extra Fancy, U.S. #1, or U.S. Fancy grades. Key evaluation criteria include responsiveness, supplier responsibility, and the ability to bid on the highest number of desired items with the lowest aggregate cost. The solicitation timeline includes a question deadline of April 30, 2025, with final bid submissions required by May 7, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Preferred delivery windows are between 6:15 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on Mondays, with acceptable delivery times ranging from 6:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The procurement documents do not explicitly mention any set-aside designations for disadvantaged businesses or specific restrictions on bidder types. Pricing must remain firm for the entire contract period, with prior approval required for any price changes. The district will issue blanket purchase orders to open budget funds, and invoices must be submitted electronically using the accurate bid pricing. While specific budget ranges are not detailed in the available documents, the procurement covers a substantial variety of produce items with varying quantities, suggesting a potentially significant contract value. Suppliers must ensure all individual product bags are stamped with a use-by date and that produce meets stringent quality requirements, including being mature but not overripe, clean, well-formed, and free from decay. The contract appears to be a competitive bid process allowing suppliers to quote on specific highlighted items, with the ultimate goal of securing a reliable fresh produce supply for the school district's food service operations during the summer months of 2025.