Smallwares Bid

Location:	Iowa
Posted:	Jun 12, 2026
Due:	Jul 9, 2026
Agency:	State Government of Iowa
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	89 - Subsistence (Food)
Solicitation No:	RFP-SEP-2026
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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2026-2027 Back to School Smallwares Invitation for Bid

Southeast Polk CSD Food & Nutrition Services Department is seeking quotes for smallwares. Terms, conditions and

specifications are listed below.

Bid terms & conditions:

1. Brand names have been used in some specifications to describe products. No substitutions from specified brands

will be allowed unless the vendor selected brand meets or exceeds the quality of the brand referenced. If no

brand is listed, distributor choice.

2. Quantity requests are based on our kitchen requests. Pricing for each. Please list in the notes if any case

discounts are available and what the case count and price would be. Final quantities ordered may change based

on case discounts.

3. The attached bid form must be used in submitting your price proposals, please also include your company's

quote document.

4. Include with bid proposal:

a. Company price quote

b. Attachment A: Suspension & Debarment Certification

c. Attachment B: Assurance of Civil Rights Compliance

d. Attachment C: Assurance of Non-Collusion

e. Attachment D: Certification Regarding Lobbying

f. Attachment E: Official Pricing Spreadsheet

5. The bid will be awarded based on all or nothing/bottom line bid.

6. All deliveries must be made by: Friday, August 14th

7. 24-hour notification before delivery of products. All deliveries must be received by Friday, August 14th. Due to

shipping challenges and late bid release, there may be delays. Communication is essential regarding late items.

All deliveries are to be made to:

SEP District Office

8031 NE University Avenue

Pleasant Hill, Iowa 50327

8. Bid release on June 10, 2026

9. Bids are due July 9, 2026 @ noon

10.Bids must be emailed to Sara Salvini (sara.salvini@southeastpolk.org)

11.Bid award by July 15, 2026

12.Direct all questions concerning the bid to Sara Salvini, Director of Food & Nutrition Services, 515-957-3431,

sara.salvini@southeastpolk.org

www.southeastpolk.org

Director Sara Salvini, M.S. • 8031 NE University Ave. • Pleasant Hill, IA 50327 • Phone: 515-957-3431 •

Fax: 515-957-3457

IFB Clarification process

The SFA reserves the right to contact a vendor for the purpose of clarifying price/package information to ensure

mutual understanding. The SFA will not consider information if the information materially changes the IFB the

Vendor submitted to the SFA. Failure to comply with requests for additional information may result in rejection of the

IFB as non-responsive.

Vendor Disqualification

Issuance of this IFB in no way constitutes a commitment by the SFA to award any contract or agreement. The SFA

reserves the right to accept or reject any part of any IFB and to accept or reject any and all IFBs without penalty.

This IFB is designed to provide the vendor with the information necessary to prepare a competitive bid. It is not

intended to be comprehensive and each vendor is responsible for determining the factors necessary for submission

of a comprehensive bid. An IFB may be rejected for various reasons, including but not limited to any of the following

reasons:

● The vendor fails to deliver the bid by the due date and time.

● The vendor fails to comply with requests for additional information for clarification purposes, or for

request for documents and references within the time specified.

● The vendor presents information requested by this IFB in a format that is inconsistent with the

instructions of this IFB.

● The vendor response limits the rights of the SFA.

● The vendor response materially changes the service requirements.

● The vendor states a service requirement cannot be met.

● The vendor fails to include information necessary to substantiate that it will be able to meet a product or

service requirement. A response of “will comply” or merely repeating the requirement is not sufficient.

Responses must indicate present capability; representations that future developments will satisfy the

requirement are not sufficient.

● The vendor rejects in whole or in part the Terms and Conditions of this IFB.

● Modifications, additions or changes to the Terms and Conditions of this IFB.

● The vendor submits bid with missing or inaccurate pricing information may be ineligible for evaluation

and selection for an awarded contract.

● Erasure or the use of typewriter correction fluid on the IFB is not acceptable. Prior to submission of the

IFB, errors may be crossed out, corrections entered and initialed by the vendor authorized contact.

● The vendor initiates unauthorized contact regarding the IFB with the SFA or employees/agents of the

SFA.

● The vendor fails to include any signature, certification, authorization, stipulation, disclosure, guarantee

or other item requested in this IFB.

● The vendor fails to disclose any matters that might be conflict of interest, real or apparent shall

constitute a material breach of the contract.

Regulations

All vendors submitting a IFB, agree to comply with all required contract provisions identified in program

regulations for programs operated (7 CFR Parts 210, 215, 220, 225, 226, as applicable), USDA Foods (7 CFR

Part 250), and Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal

Awards (2 CFR Part 200), respectively.

Equal Employment Opportunity

By submitting a response to the request for price quotations, the vendor has agreed to affirmatively cooperate

in the implementation of the policy and provision of Executive Order 11246; Executive Order 11375, and 41

CFR part 60. To comply the vendor will:

● Provide equal opportunity to all qualified persons to prohibit discrimination in employment on the basis

of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

● Will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion,

sex, or national origin.

● Employ and treat employees fairly during employment, which shall include, but is not limited to the

following: upgrading, demoting, or transferring, recruitment, layoff or termination, rates of pay or other

forms of compensation, and selection for training.

● By submitting a response, the vendor has agreed to affirmatively cooperate in the implementation of the

policy and provisions of Executive Order 11246, Executive Order 11375, and 40 CFR part 60.

Targeted Small Business Certification

Vendors owned, operated, and managed by women, minority persons, and individuals with disabilities or

service-connected disabled veterans are encouraged to respond to the solicitation. Please attach a copy of the

Targeted Small Business (TSB) certification issued by the Iowa Department of Economic Development. If the

business is not TSB-certified in Iowa, then business must provide documentation to meet the following

minimum requirements:

● Be located in the State of Iowa;

● Be operated for a profit;

● Have a gross income of less than $4.0 million computed as an average of the preceding three fiscal

years, and

● Be owned, operated, and actively managed by a female, a minority person, and a person with disability

or a service-connected disable veteran.

Termination for Cause

The School Food Authority (SFA) or the selected vendor may terminate the contract in whole, or in part, for any

reason. The reasons may include but are not limited to:

● Failure by one party to fulfill its obligations under the contract through no fault of the terminating party.

The terminating party will provide a reasonable opportunity to rectify the issues identified in product or

service performance prior to termination.

● In the event that no funds or insufficient funds are appropriated and budgeted for payments due to the

vendor. The SFA shall notify the vendor of such occurrence as soon as SFA’s designated individual is

notified of insufficient funds by the SFA administration.

Termination for Convenience

The School Food Authority may terminate the contract prior to the expiration of the agreed upon contract

duration or school year, without cause and without penalty. The SFA will provide thirty (30) days written

notification to the selected vendor.

Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C 7401-7671q) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C 1251-1387)

The vendor is required to comply with all applicable standards, orders, or regulations issued pursuant to the

Clean Air Act 42 U.S.C. 7401-7671q and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act as amended (33 U.S.C.

1251-1387). Violations must be reported to the Federal awarding agency and the Regional Office of the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6201)

The vendor agrees to comply with all mandatory standards and policies relating to energy efficiency which are

contained in the state energy conservation plan issued in compliance with the Energy Policy and Conservation

Act.

Protest Procedures

Per IAC Chapter 11.117.20 (8A) any vendor that filed a timely bid or proposal and that is aggrieved by an

award may appeal the decision by filing a written notice of appeal within five (5) calendar days of the date of

award, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, and legal state holidays. Protests must be in writing and provide

specific reasons with supporting documentation for the protest.

Vendors whose RFP has been filed in accordance with the requirements of this RFP may appeal the decision

by filing a written notice of appeal to: Kevin Baccam, CFO, Southeast Polk School District, 8031 NE University

Avenue, Pleasant Hill, Iowa 50327

A copy of the appeal shall also be submitted to the Issuing Officer. A notice of appeal must be filed within five

(5) business days. The appeal must clearly and fully identify all issues being contested by referencing the

page(s), section(s), line number(s) and/or the Notice of Intent to Award. A notice of appeal may not stay the

negotiations with the apparent successful vendor.

Contract Work Hours and Safety Standards Act (40 U.S.C. 3701-3708)

The vendor agrees to comply with 40 U.S.C. 3702 and 3704, as supplemented by Department of Labor

Regulations (29 CFR Part 5).

Insurance

The vendor awarded the contract shall maintain all necessary and proper insurance for the duration of the work

to be performed including Comprehensive General Liability Insurance, Property Damage Insurance, Workers’

Compensation Insurance, Employer’s Liability Insurance, and Automobile Liability Insurance. Should any

required insurance be cancelled before the expiration date, the issuing company will mail 30-days written

notice to the SFA. The awarded vendor shall meet the statutory requirements of the State of Iowa for workers’

compensation coverage and employer’s liability insurance.

Iowa Gift Law (Iowa Code Chapter 68B)

The gift law prohibits a public employee or that person’s immediate family member from accepting or receiving,

directly or indirectly, any gift or series of gifts from a “restricted donor.” A restricted donor is defined in the law

as a person or company who is or is seeking to be a party to a sale, purchase, lease or other type of contract

with the employer of the public employee. For more information on how the gift law applies to employees of a

SFA go to: Iowa Gift Law- legal lessons.

Examination of Public (Open) Records (Iowa Code Chapter 22)

The law states that any person shall have the right to examine and copy a public record and to publish or

otherwise disseminate a public record or the information contained in a public record. This includes all

documents related to food service procurement. A person should be allowed to examine the procurement

documents in the physical possession of the SFA free of charge. The examination and copying of the public

record will be done in the presence of the SFA’s designated authority. A request for a copy of procurement

documents received in writing, by telephone, or by electronic means (emails) must be fulfilled by the SFA. The

request for a copy of the procurement documents may be contingent upon the receipt of payment of expenses

to be incurred in fulfilling the request. The estimated expenses shall be communicated to the person requesting

the records. If the SFA copy equipment is used, the SFA shall provide a reasonable number of copies of the

procurement documents upon the payment of a fee. The fee for copying shall not exceed the actual cost of

providing the service. The copy of procurement documents must be done in the presence of the SFA’s

authorized designee. For more information go to: Iowa Code Chapter 22.

This is the opportunity summary page. It provides an overview of this opportunity and a preview of the attached documentation.