ECE/Head Start – Bulk Food/Product Purchase and Delivery for Nutrition Services

The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation is soliciting proposals for a Prime Vendor to provide bulk food and product purchase and delivery for nutrition services supporting Head Start sites in Omak, Inchelium, Keller, and Nespelem, Washington. The initial contract term runs from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2026. The selected vendor will be responsible for regular weekly deliveries, with up to two deliveries per school per week. To ensure student safety, deliveries are conducted on a dark delivery schedule after hours, and no deliveries are permitted between 10:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. without prior approval. The vendor must also be capable of fulfilling will call orders within 30 minutes of transport time. Strict quality and safety standards apply, requiring compliance with USDA, FDA, and HACCP guidelines. Frozen products must be delivered frozen solid at 0 degrees F or below, and chilled items must typically be maintained at 36 degrees F. Retail packaging is prohibited, and all products must be delivered F.O.B. destination. Additionally, the contractor must adhere to domestic preference requirements under 7 CFR 210.21(d), ensuring that at least 51 percent of processed products consist of domestic agricultural commodities. Proposals are due by October 30th at 4:00 p.m. PST and will be evaluated on a 100-point scale considering qualifications, experience with Tribal entities, staff expertise, and TERO certification. A strong preference is given to Indian-owned economic enterprises, with awards made to responsible Indian Bidders if their price is within 10 percent of the lowest non-Indian proposal. Required submission documents include a proposal cover page, a certification regarding debarment and suspension, and client references. Invoicing is permitted once per month with payment terms of 30 days upon receipt of approved invoices and goods.