School Nutrition Temperature Monitoring System

The Jones County School District School Nutrition Program is issuing an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for a Temperature Monitoring System to support school food service operations. The procurement solicits qualified vendors to provide electronic temperature monitoring equipment for refrigeration units serving school nutrition operations, including all associated software, installation, monitoring, training, maintenance, and technical support necessary for continuous compliance with federal, state, and local food safety requirements. The system must support both walk-in coolers and freezers with commercial food service grade equipment and must deliver complete installation with calibration and testing, data access via computer and mobile devices, automated temperature excursion alerts via text/email/mobile notification, and continuous audit trail documentation. Key deliverables include monthly monitoring service with 24/7 technical assistance and staff training at no additional cost, with all pricing submitted on both annual and monthly bases and including packing and transportation to seven designated school locations throughout Jones County. Vendors must demonstrate experience with K-12 or commercial food service operations and provide three references. The contract period runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with options for extension up to three months at the same bid pricing and potential renewal by mutual agreement for up to four additional one-year terms. Critical deadlines include May 7, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. for submission of written questions and May 22, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. for bid submission at 125 Stewart Avenue, Gray, Georgia 31032, with bid opening occurring the same day at 2:00 p.m. Award notification is expected within approximately 60 days of bid opening, contingent upon available budget funds and School Board approval.

The procurement contains no identified set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or specific restrictions limiting organization types from responding. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the solicitation materials. Vendors must maintain comprehensive liability insurance with minimum coverage limits of $500,000 per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate for general liability and must comply with federal regulations including Buy American provisions, debarment and suspension verification, equal employment opportunity standards, and E-Verify authorization requirements. All bid prices must remain firm for 365 days from contract award, with semi-annual price adjustments permitted only on a request basis supported by valid third-party market documentation, and the School Food Authority reserves the right to accept or reject price increase requests exceeding 10 percent of the awarded price. Payment will be made within 30 days of receipt of properly invoiced goods following inspection and acceptance. The specific funding source and contract award value are not specified in the bid documents.