RFP #27 - 11 Ice Cream and Frozen Desserts

Walker County Board of Education, on behalf of the Georgia Educational Cooperative, is requesting proposals for ice cream and frozen dessert products to service 26 participating GEC school districts across Georgia representing approximately 338 schools, with sealed proposals due July 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. and a mandatory taste-testing event on July 14, 2026.

The scope encompasses multiple frozen dessert product categories including novelties, ice cream cups, frozen dessert bars, and bulk ice cream in five-gallon tubs across 18 different product specifications. The successful vendor must supply and maintain frozen dessert merchandisers at all school locations at no additional cost, with equipment repair service required within two business days and credit issued for product loss due to equipment malfunction. All products must include nutritional analysis documentation, Smart Snack approval certification, and labeling compliant with federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requirements. The RFP requires compliance with Buy American provisions for food products, HACCP food safety protocols, debarment and suspension verification, and civil rights and non-discrimination requirements.

The contract runs from August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2027, with options for extension up to three additional months at the same pricing and renewal for up to four additional one-year terms based on vendor performance. All pricing must remain firm for six months from contract award, with subsequent price adjustments permissible on a six-month basis only upon documented market changes verified by third-party sources such as USDA Agricultural Marketing Service reports or Consumer Price Index data.

Evaluation allocates 40 points for product evaluation based on taste testing, 45 points for cost, and 15 points for vendor references and service satisfaction. Payment is made within 30 days of invoice receipt for properly delivered and accepted goods, with all delivery costs and transportation included in quoted prices. Written questions are due July 6, 2026. The RFP was posted June 17, 2026.