Ulster county united school district food bid - grocery (COOPERATIVE)

Ulster County BOCES is conducting a cooperative grocery bid (Bid #26-2) for multiple school districts including Highland, Kingston, Marlboro, New Paltz, Onteora, Rondout Valley, and Saugerties, covering food procurement for the period from July 1st, 2025 to June 30th, 2026, with an option for a one-year extension. The procurement seeks comprehensive grocery items across multiple categories including beverages, condiments, dairy, frozen foods, meats, produce, spices, and bakery products, with strict requirements for product quality and nutritional standards. Vendors must provide items meeting Buy American requirements (minimum 51% U.S. content), submit nutritional analysis within 20 days of award, and ensure dairy products have at least 30 days until expiration. The bid opening is scheduled for April 16th, 2025 at 1:00 PM at the Ulster County BOCES Administration Building, with deliveries required twice weekly to various school locations. Evaluation criteria include consistent pricing, compliance with nutritional guidelines, product availability, and adherence to specific packaging and ingredient restrictions.

The procurement does not explicitly indicate specific set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises, though it demonstrates a strong preference for New York State products across multiple food categories. Vendors must comply with comprehensive performance standards, with potential contract cancellation for recurring issues such as back orders, damaged goods, or delivery failures. The bid allows for a single price adjustment every three months with required manufacturer invoice documentation. While specific budget ranges are not detailed, the comprehensive nature of the bid suggests a substantial annual food procurement contract covering multiple school districts. Vendors must demonstrate capabilities in large-scale food distribution, meet nutritional school meal requirements, and provide consistent, high-quality products across diverse food categories. The cooperative nature of the bid suggests potential for significant volume-based purchasing and potential cost efficiencies for participating school districts.