Receipt, Handling, Storage and Optional Distribution of USDA Foods- Service Area 1, Region 1

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is seeking competitive bids for a contract to manage receipt, handling, storage, and optional distribution of USDA Foods for Service Area 1, Region 1, which includes 12 counties such as Escambia, Bay, Calhoun, and others. The solicitation is an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the National School Lunch Program, with an anticipated contract period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and potential for three one-year renewals. The selected contractor must provide warehouse facilities meeting specific temperature and storage requirements, capable of handling approximately 24,155 dry cases, 2,000 dry special care cases, 2,000 refrigerated cases, and 26,489 frozen cases during the contract period. Key qualifications include registering for the USDA Web Based Supply Chain Management system, possessing a current food establishment permit, providing a $50,000 performance bond, and maintaining comprehensive insurance coverage. The bid is due on June 27, 2025, at 5:00 PM, with a public bid opening on June 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM via teleconference, and the contract will be awarded to the responsive and responsible vendor with the lowest Case Price Grand Total.

The solicitation does not explicitly mention specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. The contractor will be responsible for receiving, storing, and optionally distributing USDA Foods to approximately 166 recipient agencies across the specified service area, with strict requirements for temperature control, stock rotation, and detailed reporting. While specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the contract will be structured on a fixed price per case basis for dry, special dry, refrigerated, and frozen items. The procurement appears to be open to qualified food distribution vendors with the infrastructure and capabilities to manage large-scale food storage and distribution for educational institutions. The estimated volume and comprehensive requirements suggest a significant operational commitment, with potential annual contract values likely in the range of several hundred thousand to over a million dollars, depending on case volumes and pricing.