Milk Products

The Cherokee County School District is soliciting sealed bids for the delivery of perishable milk products during the 2026-2027 school year under solicitation number 2026-03, with bids due by May 25, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. EDT. The contract requires consistent, three-times-weekly deliveries of Grade A milk and flavored dairy products, including ½ pint and gallon containers of white, chocolate, fat-free, and buttermilk varieties, to all school sites within the district, with deliveries restricted to weekdays between 6:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., excluding holidays. All products must be transported and stored at 40°F or below in sanitary, labeled containers and must comply with USDA Child Nutrition Program regulations, Interstate Milk Shippers standards, and Buy American provisions under the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act of 1998. Contractors must ensure a 97% or higher order fill rate, maintain superior health inspection ratings, and follow HACCP-based food safety practices. Deliveries must be verified and accepted by school personnel upon arrival, and all spoiled, thawed, or damaged products will be rejected at no cost to the district. The solicitation mandates strict compliance with administrative, financial, and personnel policies, including conducting criminal background checks on all delivery staff at the contractor’s expense, prohibiting unauthorized personnel substitutions, and requiring adherence to the Byrd Anti-Lobbying Amendment and drug-free workplace standards. All rebates, discounts, and credits must be credited directly to the district’s nonprofit school food service account and clearly documented on invoices. Bids must be submitted as two complete, sealed paper packages delivered by mail or hand to the district’s finance office; electronic submissions are not accepted. Contractors must also provide certifications regarding debarment status, affirmative action compliance, and compliance with federal nondiscrimination regulations. The district reserves the right to waive minor irregularities and award the contract based on the best overall interest, emphasizing product quality, reliability, and regulatory compliance over lowest price alone. Contracts will be firm-fixed-price, with performance continuing until delivery completion and administrative obligations fulfilled, and records must be retained for at least three years following final payment.