R EQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP)
R FP 1007-26: Meat & Entrée
P roposal Deadline:
Star Center
Date Sent: March 6, 2026
O pen: March 7, 2026
C loses: April 3, 2025
T ime: 10:00P.M
Nutrition & Dining Services
212 Porter Pike
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42103
Proposal Submission Contact:
Melissa Smith, NDS Office Specialist
P hone: 270-904-8930
Email:m elissa.smith@warren.kyschools.us
*Reference proposal title in subject line of all emails
*Proposals m ust be e mailed to: m elissa.smith@warren.kyschools.us in excel format o nly. N o PDF’s, n o
handwrittencopies.P leaseusethee xcels heettos ubmityourquotes.Thisisforthee fficiencytoreviewthe
b ids/quotes.
Notice is hereby given that the Nutrition & Dining Services Department of the Warren County Board of Education of
Bowling Green, Kentucky (herein after called the Board of Education) will receive sealed proposalsforRFP1007-26:
M eat & EntreeF OR THE 2026-2027 SCHOOL YEAR,up tothe houro f 10:00 PM CST on April 3, 2026a t theSTAR
C enter, located 212 Porter Pike Bowling Green, Kentucky 42103.
You are invited to submit a sealed proposal, subject to the terms, conditions, instructions, and specifications of this
solicitation. Please read the instructions and specifications carefully. Failure to comply with these instructions may
d isqualify your proposal.
A ny Proposer who wishes their bid to be considered is responsible for making certain that the proposal is received by the
Nutrition & Dining Services at the Central Office (by mail or email—both listed above) by the proper time. No oral,
telegraphic, facsimile, or telephonic proposals or modifications will be considered. Proposals received after the scheduled
Submission Deadline will be returned unopened. It is the responsibility of the Proposer to see that any proposal submitted
shall have sufficient time to be received by Nutrition & Dining Services before the Submission Deadline. Late proposals
will be returned to the Proposer unopened. The receiving time in the Nutrition & Dining Services Office will be the
g overning time for acceptability of proposals. Proposals must bear original signatures and figures.
S pecifications:
C opies of this solicitation and proposal acceptances may be obtained by the Nutrition & Dining Services Office at 212
Porter Pike Bowling Green, Kentucky, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, or via email to the
p roposal submission contact indicated above, prior to the time and date specified for proposal deadline.
It is anticipated that this RFP 1007-26 will have multiple winners. This RFP is not winner (Vendor) take all.
Please be aware that, according to the terms of this contract and with the approval of the Warren County Board of
Education, amendments may be made as necessary by the Director of Nutrition for WCPS to address the needs of the
N utrition & Dining Program
P eriod of Contract:
T his Agreement shall be for the period July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2027.
T ABLE OF CONTENTS
S ECTION 1: INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING A PROPOSAL
3
S ECTION 2: EVALUATION
4
S ECTION 3: SPECIFICATIONS FOR SERVICE
4
S ECTION 4: GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
6
P ROPOSAL RESPONSE COVER SHEET
10
CERTIFICATION OF COMPLIANCE WITH SPECIFICATIONS
11
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
1 2
“PROHIBITION AGAINST CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, GRATUITIES, AND KICKBACKS 1 3
KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION NON-COLLUSION AFFIDAVIT
14
PRICING BID FORM
15
ATTACHMENT A
16
ATTACHMENT B
1 7
S ECTION 1: Instructions for Submitting a Proposal
1 . PRE-PROPOSAL INFORMATION AND QUESTIONS:
In preparing proposals, Proposers are advised to rely ONLY upon the contents of this RFP and accompanying
documents and any written clarifications or addendums issued by the Board of Education. If a Proposer finds a
discrepancy, error, or omission in the RFP package, or requires any written addendum thereto, the Proposer is
requested to notify the Proposal Submission contact noted on the cover of this RFP, so that written clarification
may be sent to all prospective Proposers. The Board of Education is not responsible for any oral instructions.All
questions must be submitted in writing to the Proposal Submission contact on or before March2 3, 2026. N o
contact regarding this document with other Board of Education employees is permitted.
2. SOLICITATION MODIFICATIONS/CLARIFICATIONS:
Clarifications, modifications, or amendments may be made to this solicitation at the discretion of the Board of
E ducation. Any and all modifications issued by The Board of Education will be emailed to all parties that have
requested a copy of this RFP. Copies of any issued modifications may also be obtained by contacting the
P roposal Submission contact noted on the cover of this RFP. It is the responsibility of the Proposer to obtain the
a vailable modifications and acknowledge any issued modifications on the Proposal Form for this solicitation, and
further submit the Form as part of the required submittal documents for this solicitation. If any changes are made
to this solicitation document by any party other than the Board of Education, the original document in the Board of
E ducation’s files takes precedence.
3.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION:
a ) Proposals must be submitted in excel format & marked“RFP 1007-26: Meat & Entree. NUTRITION &
DINING.
b) P ROPOSAL FORMAT
The Board is not liable for any costs incurred by Proposers before entering into a formal contract. Costs of
d eveloping the proposals or any other such expenses incurred by the Proposer in responding to the RFP, are
entirely the responsibility of the Proposer, and shall not be reimbursed in any manner by the Board.
c ) DOCUMENTS TO BE RETURNED:
Upon submittal vendor shall include the following in this order:
□ Cover Sheet
□ Signed Certification of Compliance with Specifications
□ C onflict of Interest Statement
□ G ratuities and Kickbacks Form
□ Non-Collusion Affidavit
□ Pricing Form
□ Completed Specs Document
□ S ubmit one (1) signed original proposal.
d) THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE ISA pril 3, 2026 by 10:00am,
Proposals received after the deadline will automatically prevent the reading of your proposal and will be
returned unopened.W e do not accept FAX proposals.T he Board of Education cannot assume the
responsibility for any delay as a result of failure of the mails to deliver proposals on time. The opening and
reading of a proposal does not constitute The Board of Education’s acceptance of the Proposer as a
responsible and responsive Proposer.
e) P roposalsm ustb edelivered/emailedto:m elissa.smith@warren.kyschools.usine xcelformato nly.N o
PDF’s or handwritten copies. For specs and excel sheet please email Melissa Smith.
SECTION 2: Evaluation
EVALUATION CRITERIA
T he Purchasing Administrator will first evaluate proposals as being responsive or non-responsive based upon the
specifications provided. Second, he/she will evaluate proposals based on the information provided in the vendor’s
proposal, and any other information requested in the evaluation process. The criteria for meeting the competitive range
(and points for each) will determine the highest evaluated proposal.
1 . T otal Pricing strategy (price to include delivery and installation as needed).
50%
2 . Vendor’s pricing of services.
30%
3 . V endor’s past performance with Warren County Schools
2 0%
Districto ro rganization of comparable size.
D iscussions may, at the Board of Education’s sole option, be conducted with responsible Proposers who submit proposals
d etermined to be reasonably susceptible of being selected for an award. Discussions may be for the purpose of
c larification to assure full understanding of, and responsiveness to, the solicitation requirements. If discussions pertaining
to the revision of the specifications are held with any potential offeror, all other potential offerors shall be afforded an
o pportunity to take part in such discussions. In conducting discussions, the Board of Education will not disclose information
d erived from proposals submitted by competing Proposers. A request Proposal based on revised specifications shall be
issued as promptly as possible. Revisions may be requested before award for obtaining best and final proposals.
Proposers shall be accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion and written revision of
proposals.
SECTION 3: Specifications for Service
SCOPE OF SERVICES AND REQUIREMENTS
● Proposals must be submitted in strict accordance with the specifications contained herein for each item.
● V endor shall indicate in the proposal schedule for each lot against which a proposal is submitted, the brand or trade
n ame by which the product offered is identified, and the packer of such product.
● In the event of an award, deliveries must be identified by brand or trade name as submitted by the vendor in the
proposal schedule, unless otherwise specifically approved or authorized.
● Deliveries should be made at the agreed upon time and date and must be made directly to the specified school.
● Deliveries shall be made of the item or items in the quantity specified by the ordering school(s).
● T he contractor will be responsible for the delivery of material in first-class condition at the point of delivery and in
accordance with good commercial practice.
● A ll products shall be in good condition at the time of delivery.
● All products delivered shall be in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Federal Occupational Safety and
H ealth Act (OSHA) in effect at the time of delivery.
Material Specifications:
Bidder shall indicate in the proposal schedule for each lot against which a proposal is submitted, the brand or trade name
by which the product offered is identified. The bidder shall indicate the packer of such product. In the event of an award,
d eliveries must be identified by brand or trade name as submitted by the bidder in the proposal schedule, unless otherwise
s pecifically approved or authorized.
S ECTION 4: General Terms and Conditions
ACCEPTANCE OF PROPOSALS
The Board of Education reserves the right to accept any proposal, to reject any or all proposals, to waive any irregularities or informalities in
p roposals received where such acceptance, rejection or waiver is considered to be in its best interest. The Board of Education, as one criterion,
a lso reserves the right to reject any proposal where evidence or information submitted by the Proposer does not provide satisfactory proof that
the proposer is qualified to carry out the details of the contract.
A DDENDUMS
C larifications, modifications, or amendments may be made to this solicitation at the discretion of the Board of Education. Any and all
a ddendums issued by the Board of Education will be mailed to all parties that have requested a copy of this Solicitation. Copies of any issued
a ddendums or modifications may also be obtained by contacting the Proposal Submission contact noted on the cover of this Solicitation. It is
the responsibility of the Proposer to obtain any available addendums and acknowledge any issued addendums on the Proposal Form for this
s olicitation, and further submit the Form as part of the required submittal documents for this solicitation.If any changes are made to this
s olicitation document by any party other than the Board of Education, the original document in the Board of Education’s files takes precedence.
A GREEMENT TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS
S ubmission of a signed proposal will be interpreted to mean the Proposer has agreed to all the terms and conditions set forth in the pages of
this solicitation unless otherwise indicated.
A UTHORITY OF THE AGENCY
S ubject to the power and authority of the Warren County Board of Education as provided by law in this contract, the Warren County Board of
E ducation shall in all cases determine the quantity, quality, and acceptability of the work, materials, and supplies for which payment is to be
m ade under this contract. The Board of Education shall decide questions that may arise relative to the fulfillment of the contract or the
o bligations of the Successful Proposer.
A WARDING OF CONTRACT(S)
T he Board of Education intends to award a single contract to the Proposer who is the most responsive and responsible Proposer receiving the
h ighest score from the evaluation process. Contracts may be awarded, in the judgment of the Board of Education, on the basis of initial offer to
the vendor who is determined to be the most responsive and responsible, and whose proposal is evaluated with the highest score, and where
the proposal meets all specifications, terms and conditions, and subject to all other provisions of this request for proposal, on a per item basis,
or on a total basis; whichever is deemed to be in the best interest of the board of education.
Discussions may, at the Board of Education’s sole option, be conducted with responsible Proposers who submit proposals determined to be
reasonably susceptible of being selected for an award. Discussions may be for the purpose of clarification to assure full understanding of, and
responsiveness to, the solicitation requirements. If discussions pertaining to the revision of the specifications are held with any potential offeror,
all other potential offerors shall be afforded an opportunity to take part in such discussions. In conducting discussions, the Board of Education
will not disclose information derived from proposals submitted by competing Proposers. A request Proposal based on revised specifications
shall be issued as promptly as possible. Revisions may be requested before award for obtaining best and final proposals. Proposers shall be
accorded fair and equal treatment with respect to any opportunity for discussion and written revision of proposals.
(1)N otification of Award:T he Proposer to whom theaward is made will be notified at the earliest possible date. Actual acceptance
o f the proposal by the Board of Education will be provided by written notice sent to the Proposer at the address designated in the
p roposal. Tabulations will be made by the Purchasing Department and each qualified vendor will be mailed a formal tabulation after
the Board of Education has taken official action.The Board of Education meetings are normally held on the third Thursday of each
month.
BASIS FOR PRICE QUOTATION
Unit prices quoted in response to this invitation shall be firm prices during the life of the contract, and are not subject to change due to changing
market conditions. Federal excise taxes of Kentucky sales and use taxes are not applicable to any purchase made for use by the Board of
Education. Bids should not include any such taxes. Exemption certificates will be furnished as required. This district's Kentucky sales and use
tax number is B367.
BILLING
The following terms shall be made a part of all transactions where invoices are involved with the Board of Education. Invoices to the Board of
Education shall include all applicable information including but not limited to, cost for labor, materials, quantities, delivery charges, equipment
rental, trade discounts, totals, overhead, and profit in order that the intent of the invoice is very clear. All invoices must show the board of
education’s purchase order number, date of delivery, and name of location and list of items or service delivered by item name.
It is imperative that invoices be submitted to the Board of Education in a timely manner. Therefore, invoices shall be submitted to the Board of
Educationn o later than 60 daysafter the servicesh ave been performed, the products have been delivered, and/or items have been installed,
unless special permission is granted by the Board of Education.
This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.