RFP 2026-0500-0260 Child Nutrition Programs Administrative Review

The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (DEED) issued RFP 2026-0500-0260 to procure professional services from a qualified contractor to conduct Administrative Reviews (ARs) for USDA nutrition programs administered by school districts and Residential Child Care Institutions throughout Alaska. The contractor will be responsible for performing 18-25 National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP) reviews annually, 15-20 Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) reviews annually, and 4-7 Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) reviews per summer, with reviews required to be completed by June 1 for SNP programs and September 30 for CACFP and SFSP programs. Key objectives include ensuring program integrity and compliance while providing technical assistance to program sponsors across Alaska's vast 365-million-acre geography with extreme climate variations and limited population. The contractor must employ a dedicated project manager for the entire contract period and be prepared to travel extensively throughout all regions of Alaska using various transportation modes, including commercial and smaller aircraft, with all travel expenses included in the cost proposal. Required qualifications include demonstrated expertise with all USDA child nutrition programs, and offerors must not have current or pending business relationships with Alaska school districts. The pre-proposal question deadline is March 14, 2026, proposals are due by 3:00 PM Alaska Standard Time on March 25, 2026, and contract award is expected by April 7, 2026, with work commencing in April 2026 and extending through September 30, 2027, with four optional renewal periods available through September 30, 2031.

Subcontractors and joint ventures are not permitted for this procurement, restricting participation to individual firms or organizations capable of independently performing all required services. Offerors holding a valid Alaska business license prior to the proposal deadline may qualify for Alaska Bidder Preference (5%), Alaska Veteran Preference (5%, not to exceed $5,000), or Alaska Military Skills Program Preference (2%, not to exceed $5,000). The RFP does not identify an incumbent vendor or current contractor. The total estimated budget for this procurement is $1,290,000, divided equally across five possible contract periods, with proposals exceeding this maximum amount deemed non-responsive. This is a fixed-price contract with payment based on a negotiated schedule contingent upon contract approval by the Commissioner of DEED and legislative appropriation, with payments made within 30 days of invoice receipt. Professional liability insurance with minimum limits of $500,000 per claim and annual aggregate is required. Offerors must provide their own workspace and bear all direct and indirect costs associated with contract performance, including travel expenses, hourly rates for personnel, direct expenses, supplies, overhead, and profit margins.