Request for Proposal - Produce

Catawba County Board of Education, through its School Nutrition Department, is soliciting bids under Invitation for Bid SY 2026-2027 Produce for fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and locally grown seasonal produce for school year 2026-2027, with bids due November 9, 2026 at 9:00 AM. Vendors must hold GAP and GHP certifications, which is the central qualification filter. Pricing is also structured under North Carolina Purchasing Consortium (NCPA) Lot 4, a consortium purchasing vehicle for school food service, and the bid spreadsheet is titled Catawba County NCPA Lot 4.

Eligibility conditions include USDA Buy American compliance with documentation provided on request, and non-domestic produce origins must be specified on bid spreadsheets and approved by the School Nutrition Director if changed during performance. Vendors must maintain traceability, recall procedures, lot identification, and temperature logs. Produce must carry at least seven days of shelf life from delivery and meet USDA Grade No. 1 when applicable, free from decay, clean, properly packed, and properly refrigerated. Vendors must run criminal background checks on all employees and comply with North Carolina's Lunsford Act.

Section I covers roughly 70 line items, from apples and bananas to zucchini, with estimated bid quantities from 50 to 5,200 cases. Sections II and III list items for price documentation on file, and Section IV lets districts add up to 15 produce items or alternate pack sizes. Delivery occurs on Tuesdays or Thursdays between 6:30 AM and 2:00 PM to 31 school sites across Catawba County. Quoted prices must include all transportation and delivery and be net of taxes, with brand information and code numbers for each item. The county may award to a single bidder for all goods and services or to multiple vendors, and may order greater or lesser quantities than estimated. Payment is net 30 days after invoice approval. The IFB sets pricing from November 16, 2026 through July 31, 2027, while the NCPA worksheet lists an August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027 contract period and deliveries beginning the week of February 23, 2026. Bidders should confirm the controlling dates with the issuer.

Evaluation is based on total program cost, with a maximum of 100 points. Award information will be emailed to all bidders upon completion.