School Nutrition Grocery Products

DeKalb County School District is requesting bids on school nutrition grocery products under ITB 24-397, with bids due February 14, 2023 at 2:00 PM and a virtual public bid opening at 3:00 PM the same day. This is an all-or-none bid structure — bidders must submit pricing for the complete product list rather than individual line items, and only food distributors are eligible; direct bids from manufacturers are not accepted.

The scope covers nine product categories: applesauce (unsweetened), fruit cocktail, mandarin oranges, peaches, pears, pineapple, green beans, loaded baked mashed potatoes, and sweet potatoes, with estimated annual usage ranging from 800 to 17,136 cases by item. All products must be domestic unless unavailable or prohibitively priced, meet United States Grade A (Fancy) standards, and comply with Buy American Act requirements under 7 CFR 210.21(d). Delivery is F.O.B. Destination with freight prepaid to the Sam A. Moss Service Center in Tucker, Georgia. All items must be palletized on 40" x 48" x 4" four-way pallets not exceeding 2,500 pounds, shrink-wrapped with no mixed items per pallet.

The contract term runs from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024, with renewal options for up to four additional years through June 30, 2028, subject to awardee consent and written confirmation. Prices are firm F.O.B. Destination; price escalation or de-escalation is permitted only at the July 1, 2024 renewal anniversary based on documented manufacturer cost changes, with 30 days' notice required. Award goes to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder meeting specifications within available appropriated funds, with no guarantee of purchase volume.

Bidders must submit one original, one duplicate copy, and one flash drive in sealed containers with proper labeling to DeKalb County School District Purchasing Department, 1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard, Stone Mountain, Georgia 30083, Attention: Carla L. Smith. Required documentation includes audited financial statements for 2020 and 2021, valid business licenses, a minimum of four references, nutritional information for each product, food recall procedures, biosecurity policies, completed Immigration and Security Certification and E-Verify affidavits, and certificates of insurance with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 annual aggregate. Payment is made within 30 days of invoice receipt and approval. The contract is subject to cancellation or termination for convenience by DCSD at any time. Sutherland's FoodService, Inc. has been selected as the apparent successful vendor pending Board of Education approval.