RFP 26-07 CWS Local Harvest

Location:	Minnesota
Posted:	Dec 18, 2025
Due:	Feb 2, 2026
Agency:	Minneapolis Public Schools
Type of Government:	State & Local
Category:	F - Natural Resources and Conservation Services
Solicitation No:	RFP 26-07
Publication URL:	To access bid details, please log in.

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MPS Local Harvest RFP 26-07

Request for Proposal (RFP) for

Local Harvest Food Products

RFP: 26-07

Minneapolis Public Schools - Special School District No. 1

1250 West Broadway Ave.

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55411-2533

Procurement

Issued: December 18th, 2025

Proposals Due: February 2nd, 2026, 2 pm

Minneapolis Public Schools

1250 W. Broadway Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55411

RFX@mpls.k12.mn.us

MPS Local Harvest RFP 26-07

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview

A. Project Objective

B. Schedule of Proposal

C. Mandatory Intention to Submit Proposals

D. Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Call

E. Submission of Written Questions

F. Changes to the RFP

G. Preparation of Proposal

H. Submission of Proposals

I. Withdrawal of Proposals

J. Evaluation and Selection Process

K. Effective Period of Proposals

L. Bid Reservations

M. Notifications of Unsuccessful Vendors

N. Contract Negotiations

O. Award of Contract

P. Contract Term

Q. Disposition of Proposals

R. Cost Incurred in Responding

S. Assignment

T. Causes for Termination

II.

Scope of Services

A. Project Background

B. Farm to School Program Goals

C. Culinary and Wellness Services Organization

D. Description of Expected Services

III.

MPS Appendix Documents

1. Selection Criteria Summary

2. Product Specifications Summary

3. Pricing Reference Sheet

4. Response Form (Please see separate document) MPS Local Harvest Response Form

2026-27

Minneapolis Public Schools

1250 W. Broadway Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55411

RFX@mpls.k12.mn.us

MPS Local Harvest RFP 26-07

SECTION I: OVERVIEW

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.

The District’s Farm to School and Local Harvest program is coordinated by the Culinary &

Wellness Services department. The program aims to provide students fresh, high-quality, local

farm products and education about local food, nutrition, and sustainable agriculture. The District

is particularly interested in partnering with small and medium sized farms, farms in which

families own or control decision making on the farm, and emerging farmers – including women,

people of color, immigrants, young and beginning farmers, Native Americans, and veterans.

More information about Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Culinary & Wellness Services and the

Farm to School Program can be found online: https://www.mpschools.org/departments/cws and

https://www.mpschools.org/departments/cws/true-food/farm-to-school.

The District intends to select multiple proposals to provide the necessary Local Harvest products.

To facilitate the submission and evaluation of proposals, this request for proposals provides

additional background information regarding MPS that will be relevant to submissions.

The majority of awarded products will be directly ordered by and delivered to the District’s prime

produce vendor, Russ Davis Wholesale/Liberty Fresh located at 653 Rice St, St. Paul MN 55103.

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 2026-27.

RFP Primary Objective 3: Gain a thorough understanding of Farm to School relevant supplies

available for school year 2026-27.

Minneapolis Public Schools

1250 W. Broadway Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55411

RFX@mpls.k12.mn.us

MPS Local Harvest RFP 26-07

B. Schedule of Proposal

1. Issue RFP:

2. Intention to Submit:

3. Mandatory Pre Bid Call:

4. Written Questions Due:

5. Responses to Questions:

6. Proposals Due:

7. Award bid – Selection:

8. Award Notification:

9. Implementation:

December 18th, 2025

January 9th, 2026, 4 pm CST

January 14th, 2026, 10 am CST

January 21st, 2026

January 23rd, 2026

February 2nd, 2026, 2 pm

February 11th, 2026

February 13th, 2026

July 1st, 2026

C. Mandatory Intention to Submit Proposals

In order for your organization to receive updates to this Request for Proposal, including

responses to submitted questions from all participating firms, please complete the submission

form located at: https://forms.gle/JbHFHQxpbV76Bs7w7 by 4:00 PM on January 9th, 2026. This

will allow the District to provide timely information to interested parties. This document is a

mandatory document, if this is not submitted by January 9th, 2026; the organization will not be

able to participate in Local Harvest Food Product RFP 26-07.

D. Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Call

The District will hold a mandatory pre-bid conference call on Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 at

10:00 AM Central Standard Time. The District will review the RFP process and answer any

questions at this time.

Connection information for the Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Call will be emailed by 10:00 am

Monday, January 12th, 2026 to all organizations who complete the Mandatory Intention to

Submit a Proposal Form. Participants should connect at 10:00 am Wednesday, January 14, 2026

Central Standard Time for the Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference Call.

E. Submission of Written Questions

All written questions about the RFP shall be submitted by e-mail by 4:00 p.m. Central Standard

Time on or before January 21st, 2026 to: RFX@mpls.k12.mn.us. The District will provide written

responses to questions from prospective Proposers no later than January 23rd, 2026 EOD. These

responses will be posted on the MPS Procurement website alongside the RFP. After January

21st, 2026, no additional questions or inquiries will be allowed.

F. Changes to the RFP

Vendors who are registered with MPS for this RFP via the intention to submit form will be

notified by email of any changes in the specifications contained in this RFP. If any changes are

issued to this RFP, a good faith attempt will be made to deliver the additional information to

those persons or firms who, according to the records of MPS, have previously received a copy of

and are registered (on the Intent to Submit form) with the District for this RFP.

G. Preparation of Proposal

1. For consistency and ease of response and evaluation, MPS has supplied a Response Form for

this RFP, also posted online. Please download and fill out this form as your response to this

notice. Be sure to carefully read and respond to each question clearly and concisely which

will aid and speed evaluation and awards.

2. Some questions in this RFP may require organizations to submit documents as an Appendix.

Applicants may wish to submit additional supplemental materials to support responses to

Minneapolis Public Schools

1250 W. Broadway Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55411

RFX@mpls.k12.mn.us

MPS Local Harvest RFP 26-07

questions. If an applicant intends to include supplemental materials, separate appendices

for each part must be developed. Each appendix should be clearly labeled (e.g., Appendix A:

Financial Records, etc.).

3. All appendix materials (e.g., sample letters, curricula, lesson plans, progress reports,

academic effectiveness data, etc.) must be labeled with the name of the organization and

reference the appropriate section and question (e.g., Section C: Description of Expected

Services 1a). Although there is no page limitation for the Appendix, the appendix should

not be excessive in length. Applicants should also ensure the appendix items are

appropriately described and referenced in the narrative section of the Response.

4. The Response must be submitted in the appropriate order. Each part of the Response

should be separated with a section divider page listing the title of the next part of the

Response that is enclosed. All Responses should follow the order below:

a. Response form

b. Appendix Materials

5. Additional circumstances that may lead to Responses not being reviewed and/or selected:

a. Response was received after the deadline, which includes not only the deadline

date but also after the deadline time.

b. Applicant does not intend to complete criminal history checks on employees when

required.

c. Applicant’s previous clients have significant complaints regarding the quality of the

Title services, communication issues, or other problems.

d. Any applicable section of the Response is missing or incomplete.

e. The Response does not meet length, font, or other formatting requirements.

H. Submission of Proposals

In order to be considered for selection, organizations must submit a signed physical or

electronic (.pdf) response to this solicitation no later than 2:00 p.m. on February 2nd, 2026.

Late proposals shall not be accepted.

1. To submit a proposal electronically

Electronic proposals (.doc or .pdf) are to be sent to and must be received by MPS at the

email addresses below prior to 2:00 PM on Monday, February 2nd, 2026:

a. Email proposals to MPS Procurement at: RFX@mpls.k12.mn.us

b. Subject to read: “RFP #26-07 Farm to School: BID FROM

“Company/Organization”

c. MPS will reply to sender that email was received and that documents (.doc

or .pdf) are viewable.

2. OR, to submit a physical proposal:

Mail or deliver one physical copy to:

Christopher Boyce

Director, Procurement

Minneapolis Public Schools

1250 West Broadway Ave.

Minneapolis, MN 55411

No other distribution of the proposal shall be made by the organization. It is the sole

responsibility of the organization to assure that the proposal is delivered to the designated

district office in Item H, above, prior to the deadline. No proposal received after the deadline will

Minneapolis Public Schools

1250 W. Broadway Ave

Minneapolis, MN 55411

RFX@mpls.k12.mn.us

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

RFP 26-07 CWS Local Harvest

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See also