Request for Proposal - Produce

Catawba County Board of Education, through its School Nutrition Department, is soliciting proposals under solicitation number 161-07202026 for the supply of fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and locally grown seasonal produce to be delivered to individual school sites across Catawba County, North Carolina. The contract requires all products to meet USDA Grade No. 1 standards where applicable, be free from decay, clean, properly packed, and consistently refrigerated throughout transport and storage. Vendors must ensure a minimum seven-day shelf life from delivery date, provide GAP and GHP certifications, maintain traceability and temperature logs, and comply with Buy American provisions by documenting country of origin for all items. Deliveries are mandated on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6:30 AM and 2:00 PM, with products placed directly in designated storage areas at school locations in Newton, Maiden, Hickory, and other specified sites. The contract is structured as an indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price arrangement valid from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, with no guaranteed minimum order volumes but flexible quantities subject to the school district’s operational needs. All pricing must be submitted using the official Quote Sheet (Appendix A) and remain locked for the entire term. Vendors are required to have employees pass criminal background checks and comply with the Lunsford Act, prohibiting registered sex offenders from accessing school premises. Invoices must be submitted in duplicate to CCSN and are payable net 30 days after approval, though no electronic invoicing system is specified. Acceptance of deliveries occurs onsite by CCSN personnel, and payment is contingent upon successful inspection and formal sign-off. Deviations from specifications, product substitutions, or reformulations require prior written approval, and any non-compliant deliveries must be corrected or credited within 48 hours. The solicitation explicitly excludes socioeconomic set-asides and does not require UEI or CAGE codes, placing emphasis on product quality, logistical reliability, and adherence to food safety and security protocols.