RFP 2023-3. 5, GEC Cheese Processing

The Georgia Education Cooperative (GEC) is requesting proposals for processed cheese distribution services on behalf of 32 participating member school districts, with sealed proposals due May 19, 2023 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gordon County School Nutrition Program office in Calhoun, Georgia. GEC anticipates awarding contracts to multiple vendors.

The scope is processing USDA cheese into products approved by the Georgia Department of Education Food Distribution. Vendors must comply with the Buy American Act, requiring processed cheese products to consist of over 51% domestically sourced agricultural commodities by weight or volume. All selected vendors must maintain workers' compensation insurance, general liability of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate, and personal injury coverage at the same limits. Vendors must maintain records for five years following final payment, submit food recall and biosecurity policies, and provide certificates of debarment and suspension.

The contract term runs July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, with the option for up to four additional one-year renewals contingent upon mutual agreement and vendor compliance. Bid prices must remain firm for the entire contract period in accordance with the escalation/de-escalation clause, which allows GEC to request price adjustments 30 days prior to renewal based on published market indices, with any approved increases remaining firm for one year.

Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: overall cost (45 points), taste test results (25 points), quality of cheese (15 points), and nutritional value (15 points), for a total of 100 possible points. Proposals must include five copies (one original and four copies) with price quotes completed on USDA SEPDS forms. GEC reserves the right to accept or reject any proposals and to award by line item to multiple vendors as deemed appropriate for achieving best value. The contract includes immediate termination provisions for loss of required licenses or certifications, failure to comply with confidentiality laws, or provision of materially false statements.