Request for Proposal - Fresh Produce

Central Point School District #6 in Oregon is issuing a Request for Proposal for the supply and delivery of fresh produce to support meal programs across nine school sites (one high school, two middle schools, and six elementary schools) for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and potentially through 2031. The procurement encompasses over 40 regular produce line items including broccoli, lettuce, carrots, peppers, potatoes, apples, bananas, grapes, and seasonal fruits, as well as approximately 30 specialized items for the federally-funded Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP). The district requires weekly produce deliveries 48-49 weeks annually, with preferred Monday or Tuesday delivery to five designated locations beginning no later than 6:00 AM at the warehouse. Qualified vendors must demonstrate five years of produce distribution experience, maintain assigned delivery and sales representatives, provide responsive customer service, and maintain GAP/GHP certifications and USDA handling practice compliance. Pricing must be submitted on a firm fixed-price basis using the provided Excel spreadsheet with F.O.B. destination pricing that includes all delivery and handling charges, subject to weekly escalator/de-escalator adjustments based on USDA AMS Terminal Market of San Francisco pricing. The evaluation committee will assess proposals using a weighted rubric: 50 points for cost competitiveness, 25 points for delivery and reliability, 12 points for product quality and food safety, 8 points for school nutrition experience and references, and 5 points for farm-to-school and local sourcing initiatives. Proposals are due electronically or by mail on March 16, 2026, at 11:00 AM, with committee reviews scheduled for March 17-18, interviews potentially conducted March 19-20, and contract award anticipated by April 22, 2026. The contract period runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, with four optional one-year renewals available through June 30, 2031.

The RFP documents do not explicitly identify set-aside designations or restrictions limiting responses to specific categories of disadvantaged enterprises, suggesting the opportunity is open to qualified vendors meeting the stated experience and certification requirements. Vendors must provide certificates of insurance with combined single limits of $2,000,000 for auto liability and commercial general liability with $4,000,000 annual aggregate coverage, along with suspension and debarment certifications, federal compliance certifications, and civil rights assurances. Payment terms are net 30 from the end of the month in which purchases are summarized, with payment due within 30 days of receipt of both product and invoice. The district estimated annual spending of approximately $302,000 based on fiscal year 2024-2025 data compiled from spring, summer, and fall 2025 volumes plus winter 2026 purchasing activity, which serves as the projected budget range for the contract period. No incumbent vendors or existing infrastructure integration requirements are identified in the available documentation. The district has allocated separate funding for the Department of Defense Fresh Program and USDA Pilot Program, indicating dedicated revenue streams available for specialized procurement categories beyond standard produce ordering.