Supplemental Nutrition Services Prime Vendor

Spokane Public Schools has issued RFP 2-2627 to secure an additional food distributor to serve as a Supplemental Prime Vendor for nutrition services. This contract is intended for emergency, shortage, substitute, and contingency purchases to support district meal programs when the primary vendor is unable to fulfill requirements. The solicitation is awarded on an all-or-none basis to the most advantageous bidder who meets all critical minimum qualifications, including regulatory compliance with USDA, regional health, and federal food codes, as well as specific pricing completeness for the provided market basket. The initial contract term is expected to begin around September 1, 2026, and run through August 31, 2027, with the possibility of up to four one-year renewals, reaching a maximum duration of August 31, 2031. While the district anticipates an annual sales volume of approximately $605,000, it makes no guarantee of minimum purchase quantities. The scope of work involves delivering food and supply products, primarily via drop shipments to the district's main warehouse, with the ability to deliver to individual school sites as needed. Vendors must adhere to strict quality and safety standards, including maintaining frozen products at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below, ensuring all packaging meets USDA and FDA standards, and complying with the Buy American provision. Deliveries are generally scheduled Monday through Friday between 7:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., with a blackout period from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to ensure student safety. Evaluation of proposals will be based on a weighted scoring system: price (40%), service and references (25%), product quality (25%), and business stability (10%). Successful respondents must also maintain specific insurance coverage, including at least $1,000,000 per occurrence in general liability, and provide various certifications regarding debarment, affirmative action, and anti-lobbying.