Region 10 ESC-Multi-Region Purchasing Coop Milk Full Service Delivery Bid Opportunity for SY25-26

Region 10 Education Service Center is conducting a multi-region purchasing cooperative solicitation for milk full-service delivery for the 2025-2026 school year, targeting 244 member districts across multiple jurisdictions. The Request for Proposal (RFP) #2025-01 seeks comprehensive dairy product procurement through an electronic bid process using the Bonfire platform, with a contract term from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and potential for four one-year renewals. Vendors must provide milk and dairy products that strictly comply with USDA and state nutritional regulations, including the Buy American Provision, specific requirements for trans fats, added sugars, and whole grain standards. The solicitation includes a complex pricing mechanism utilizing an "escalator and de-escalator" bid structure based on Raw Milk Class I and Base Skim Milk Class I pricing, with price adjustments only considered when raw milk prices change by at least $0.10 per hundredweight. Key procurement dates include a pre-recorded bidder's conference on March 13, 2025, bid opening at 6:00 a.m. CST on the same day, a question deadline of April 10, 2025, and bid closing on April 11, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. CST, with evaluation to be completed by April 30, 2025.

The solicitation does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations or restrictions for disadvantaged enterprises. Vendors must provide comprehensive documentation including detailed nutritional information, CN labels, and meet extensive federal and state nutritional guidelines for school nutrition programs. While the RFP does not specify an exact award value, the broad scope covering 244 member districts suggests a significant procurement opportunity with potential substantial contract value. Prospective bidders must demonstrate capability to provide high-quality, nutritionally compliant dairy products across multiple school districts, with precise pricing mechanisms and the ability to adjust pricing based on raw milk market fluctuations. The electronic bid submission through the Bonfire platform indicates a technology-driven procurement process that requires vendors to have robust digital submission capabilities and comprehensive understanding of school nutrition product requirements.