Request for Proposal - Produce

The contract solicitation 161-07202026 issued by the Catawba County Board of Education in North Carolina seeks vendors to supply fresh fruits, fresh vegetables, and locally grown seasonal produce in compliance with USDA Grade No. 1 standards where applicable, ensuring all items are free from decay, clean, properly packed, and refrigerated. Deliveries are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6:30 AM and 2:00 PM at individual school sites across the county, with products required to have a minimum seven-day shelf life at time of delivery and be code-dated with country of origin clearly marked as USA. Vendors must hold valid Good Agricultural Practices and Good Handling Practices certifications, maintain traceability records, and comply with USDA Buy American provisions by prioritizing domestic sourcing. All employees performing work on school property are subject to criminal background checks and must comply with the North Carolina Lunsford Act, prohibiting registered sex offenders from engaging in any capacity on school grounds. Pricing details are not finalized in the solicitation, with all line items listed at $0 as quantities are provided only for planning purposes and not as guaranteed order volumes. The award will be made using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable methodology, with total program cost being the sole and decisive evaluation factor. No formal FAR clauses are incorporated into the contract structure, and no military packaging or labeling standards are referenced. Invoices must be submitted in duplicate to the Catawba County School Nutrition Department and are subject to net 30-day payment terms upon approval. Substitutions, reformulations, or deviations from approved product specifications require prior written approval from the agency, and shortages must be credited within 48 hours. The contract operates without fixed term dates but is anticipated to cover the 2026–2027 school year with no stated option periods. Proposals must include certification documents, delivery plans, traceability information, and a completed bid quote sheet, submitted via mail or email no later than July 30, 2026, at 9:00 AM to the designated office in Newton, North Carolina.