SBE: IFB for Purchase of IL Local Ground Beef

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB #26-586SBE-CHFED-B-50199) to procure locally sourced ground beef for distribution to Illinois schools participating in the National School Lunch Program. The procurement is administered by the State of Illinois with jurisdiction in Madison County, Illinois. The solicitation seeks ground beef derived exclusively from cattle raised on Illinois farms or ranches and processed at USDA-inspected facilities located within Illinois. Required product specifications include 100% pure beef with no fillers or additives, an 85/15 fat ratio or leaner, USDA Choice or Prime grade, hormone-free, wet-aged beef, frozen at 0°F or below, and delivered in 40-pound vacuum-sealed cases. Three mandatory delivery windows are established: January 31 to February 15, 2026; March 15 to March 31, 2026; and May 15 to May 31, 2026, with a non-negotiable final delivery deadline of June 15, 2026. All products must be delivered to a designated state warehouse in Granite City, Illinois, with contractors required to coordinate delivery appointments at least five business days in advance. Contractors must submit preliminary source disclosure documentation identifying all processing facilities and supplying farms prior to the first delivery, with updated lists required within ten business days of any changes, and a final source and volume report due within ten business days following the third delivery window. Bidders must submit pricing on a per-pound basis inclusive of all costs including procurement, processing, packaging, storage, and delivery, and must specify the total pounds they can provide within the project timeline. The contract evaluation prioritizes the lowest priced responsive and responsible bidder meeting all specified criteria, with ISBE reserving the right to make multiple awards to reach the total budget cap. Written questions must be submitted by December 17, 2025, and bids are due by January 8, 2026, through the BidBuy electronic procurement system. The contract term commences upon execution and concludes June 30, 2026, with no renewal options specified.

The procurement may be subject to a Small Business Set-Aside if designated on BidBuy, potentially requiring bidders to be registered with the Illinois Small Business Set-Aside Program at the time bids are due. Bidders may be single vendors aggregating beef from multiple farmers or independent farmers, with no restrictions on bidder type provided all requirements are met. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. All bidders must submit either a Vendor Disclosure form (Forms A) or an IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure form, along with an Offer to the State of Illinois form and applicable certifications. Contractors must maintain general commercial liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, auto liability coverage of $1,000,000, and workers' compensation insurance as required by law. The total maximum contract value does not exceed $3 million, with ISBE allocating approximately this amount to procure as many pounds of locally sourced ground beef as possible within budgetary constraints. The exact total quantity cannot be predetermined, as the final purchase amount will depend on winning bid prices and the agency's effort to maximize pounds procured within the $3 million budget constraint. No specific federal funding percentages are identified in the solicitation documents, though the procurement may be partially or totally funded with federal funds, with the percentage and dollar amount to be disclosed upon notice of award.