A. Project Objective Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) is seeking proposals from small organizations and individuals wishing to provide locally grown produce, grains, and other products for the School Nutrition program. Vendors who are interested in selling animal proteins (meats/dairy products), and produce farms whose annual gross sales exceed $1.5 million should not respond to this Request for Proposal. Such vendors are encouraged to apply to MPS’s Regional Sourcing RFP issued later this fiscal year. Minneapolis Public Schools or Special School District Number 1 (SSD #1) is a school district that is coterminous with the City of Minneapolis, Minnesota. With authority granted by the state legislature, the school board makes policy, selects the superintendent, and oversees the district's budget, curriculum, personnel, and facilities. Students speak ninety different languages at home and most school communications are printed in English, Hmong, Spanish, and Somali. The District covers over 70 school programs at 65 sites, with approximately 30,000 students and 3,200 teaching staff. RFP Primary Objective 1: To identify farms and organizations interested in collaborating with the District to supply its students with local food products in a way that is mutually beneficial to the District and farmers. With the goal of providing a firm timeline and preplanned purchases to help smaller farms plan their operations, preference will be given to submissions from proposers with a gross annual sales of less than 1.5 million dollars per year or aggregators working with such entities. Larger prospective vendors, or farmers offering animal proteins, processed dairy products, or other locally raised products that are not fresh produce, grains or beans, are encouraged to apply to the Regional Sourcing RFP issued later this fiscal year. RFP Primary Objective 2: Gain a thorough understanding of the Farm to School total proposed costs for school year 2025-26. RFP Primary Objective 3: Gain a thorough understanding of Farm to School relevant supplies available for school year 2025-26.
