Texas Farm Fresh Strategic Plan

The Texas Department of Agriculture is requesting proposals for a comprehensive Texas Farm to School and Early Care Strategic Plan under RFP 5510000628, with proposals due September 8, 2026 at 3:00 PM CT, and a pre-proposal webinar on August 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM CT. The contract carries mandatory VetHUB subcontracting plan requirements and DEI compliance attestation under Executive Order 14151 and Texas Governor's Executive Order GA-55.

The scope requires environmental scans and root cause analyses, assessment of farm-to-school strategic plans from other states and organizations, development of a comprehensive statewide strategic plan with clear goals and strategies, and an implementation structure with supporting workplans. Deliverables include weekly status reports, monthly status meetings, and detailed project plans addressing project organization, dependencies, schedules, and risk mitigation. Respondents must demonstrate past performance, financial stability over the past five years, and provide three references from entities served within the past three years.

All respondents must submit a completed VetHUB Subcontracting Plan regardless of whether subcontracting is anticipated, as TDA estimates contract value will exceed $100,000. Primary subcontracting categories include Child Care Services, Food Programs, Agricultural Management Services, Food Management Services, and Marketing Services. Respondents using subcontractors must document good faith notification efforts to at least two VetHUB vendors per opportunity with a minimum seven-business-day response window.

Evaluation criteria are weighted as follows: Respondent Past Performance, Qualifications & Experience (30 percent), Proposed Plan for Providing Services (40 percent), and Reasonableness of Proposed Cost (30 percent). The contract runs from the effective date through December 31, 2027, with renewal options available for three additional one-year periods through 2029. Cost proposals must include all labor, materials, tools, supplies, equipment, and travel. Contractors must comply with NIST SP 800-53 or TX-RAMP data security standards, maintain required insurance coverage, and attest to financial and organizational capacity. Questions are due August 17, 2026 at 3:00 PM CT.