Swallows Charter Academy (SCA) is soliciting proposals from qualified firms to enter into a contract with one food vendor to act as prime vendor to bid, receive, stock, and deliver grocery purchases such as frozen food, fresh and frozen meats, fresh produce, snacks, dry goods, canned goods, beverages, and miscellaneous other supplies to the school meal programs, as well as the SCA’s catering operation. The awarded prime food vendor and procurement agent for SCA must follow procedures consistent with 2 CFR Part 200.318-.326 and applicable program regulations.
The school is a relatively new SFA and serves approximately 800 meals a day, in grades K-12, through a scratch-cooking menu, emphasizing high-quality, nutritious, and locally sourced ingredients where feasible. The school projects to spend approximately $320,000 from selected prime vendor through the purchases of products for the food service department, including grocery, dairy, bread, paper products, small wares, commodity food, cleaners, chemicals and other miscellaneous items. Dairy, small wares, some produce, the majority of cleaners and chemicals (some cleaners and chemicals are listed) may be excluded from the prime vendor contract. The selected vendor will be expected to meet all requirements outlined in this RFP and deliver consistent, reliable service for the 2025-2026 school year, with the option for annual renewal upon mutual agreement
This is not an exclusive contract, and the school is free to purchase products from other sources when desired.
The purpose of the RFP is to get the best value for the school meal program. The school will accept proposals from distributors or organizations, such as group purchasing organizations that have direct contractual relationships with manufacturers.
Swallows Charter Academy utilizes the Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing System (RMEPS) at www.bidnetdirect.com/colorado/district70 to distribute official copies of the Request for Proposals (“RFP”) for use in preparing Proposals. Offerors will be required to register with the website to download the RFP documents and any addenda. If you experience problems with the RMEPS website, please call 1-800-835-4603, option #2 for assistance. There is no charge by Rocky Mountain E-Purchasing for this service. Offerors are required to acknowledge all addenda with their proposal. Offerors that do not acknowledge all addenda may be considered non-responsive.
Proposals must be submitted through RMEPS in order to be considered for award. All proposals must be submitted No Later than February 21, 2025 at 2:00 PM MT.
Any proposals received after the above closing time shall not be considered.
Questions are due via email to Dr. Kathryn Meyer at kmeyer@district70.org no later than February 17, 2025 by 12:00 PM MT.
The school does not obligate itself to accept the lowest or any other proposal. The school reserves sole discretion, to reject any or all proposals, re-advertise for proposals and to waive any or all formalities or irregularities in the proposal process. When considering proposals and determining whether a contract will be awarded and, if so, to which vendor, the School District may consider the price and such other factors relating to each proposal as the School District, in its sole discretion, deems to be appropriate.
Awards will be made within a reasonable time after the closing of the RFP. Specifications, information and requirements of this RFP are enclosed.
Dated at Pueblo West, Colorado the 7th day of February, 2025.
Pueblo County
Dr. Kathryn Meyer
Buyer – Director of School Services / CFO
