SBE: IFB for Purchase of IL Local Ground Beef

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB 26-586SBE-FINAN-B-51138) on February 17, 2026, to procure locally sourced ground beef for distribution to Illinois schools participating in the National School Lunch Program, with a contract value not to exceed $3 million and a deadline of March 3, 2026. The procurement seeks ground beef that meets strict specifications: 100% pure beef with no fillers or additives, an 85/15 fat ratio or leaner, USDA Choice or Prime grade, wet-aged, hormone-free, and frozen in 40-pound cases with vacuum-sealed packages bearing official federal or state inspection marks. All cattle must be raised on Illinois farms or ranches and processed at USDA-inspected facilities within the state, with delivery required to a designated warehouse in Granite City, Illinois by June 15, 2026, and contract performance ending June 30, 2026. Bidders must complete and submit the Offer to the State of Illinois form, Price Submission Form (Attachment B) with per-pound pricing inclusive of all costs, a List of Farmers, Processors, and Distributors (Attachment C) detailing the complete supply chain, and either a Vendor Disclosure or IPG Active Registered Vendor Disclosure form. The award methodology ranks bids from lowest to highest price per pound and selects vendors sequentially until cumulative bids reach or approach the $3 million maximum, potentially resulting in full awards to some vendors and partial awards to others. Written questions regarding the solicitation must be submitted by February 19, 2026. Vendors must maintain General Commercial Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate, Auto Liability insurance of $1,000,000 per occurrence, and Worker's Compensation insurance as required by law.

This procurement contains no minority business set-asides, women-owned business requirements, or veteran-owned business preferences; however, vendors may claim Illinois Business Preferences and Domestic Product Preferences if applicable by completing required affidavits or documentation. The solicitation does provide for disclosure of minority, women, disadvantaged, and veteran ownership status in the Vendor Disclosure form, though such status is not required for eligibility. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation documents. All bids must remain firm for 180 days from opening, and no bid bonds or performance bonds are required. A $15 fee for the Minority Contractor Opportunity Initiative will be deducted from the first check issued to awarded vendors for contracts of $3,000 or more. The contract is subject to availability of appropriated funds and may be partially or wholly funded with federal funds, with the specific percentage and dollar amount disclosed upon notice of award. ISBE reserves the right to make multiple awards to both primary and secondary vendors based on competitive pricing and may terminate the contract for cause, convenience, or insufficient appropriations.