Request for Bid for Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program

The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) in Wisconsin is soliciting bids for Request for Bid 4014, seeking fresh, local produce snacks for elementary students participating in the USDA Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program. The procurement calls for approximately 4,750 servings of produce to be delivered weekly on Thursdays during the period from September 10, 2018, through November 30, 2018, with potential extensions for two additional three-month periods. Required produce items include sweet potatoes, kohlrabi, carrots, spinach, radishes, cabbage, beets, spring mix lettuce, sweet pepper strips, snap peas, and grape or cherry tomatoes, all of which must be cut and packaged to specific dimensions. All products must be sourced within 150 miles of Madison and within Wisconsin, with vendors required to provide comprehensive documentation of product origin, distance, and traceability. The bid evaluation will be based on multiple criteria: product specification compliance (10%), distance documentation (10%), traceability documentation (10%), geographic preference (30%), and cost (40%). The submission deadline is June 7, 2018, at 2:00 PM CST, with the contract award contingent upon receiving federal grant funding from the Department of Public Instruction by the end of July.

The procurement offers a 5% preference for certified diverse-owned businesses and provides a $0.20 per pound pricing advantage for bids including organic produce options to encourage sustainable sourcing. While no specific incumbent vendors are mentioned, the contract allows for potential full academic year extension through mutual agreement. The bid is open to vendors who can meet the strict local sourcing requirements and provide detailed documentation of product origins and delivery methods. MMSD reserves the right to award the bid in whole or in part, depending on what is deemed most advantageous to the district. Though specific budget ranges are not explicitly stated, the requirement for 4,750 weekly servings suggests a significant procurement value. Vendors must be prepared to deliver goods to MMSD prior to payment authorization and comply with all specified product quality and documentation requirements. The procurement emphasizes local, potentially organic produce, with a clear preference for vendors who can demonstrate close proximity to Madison and comprehensive traceability of their agricultural products.