FSMC RFP for ______Marion County School District___________________ 4/13/2026 ___________ (Date)
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP)
AND SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT
FOR
CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM
“FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY”
SERVICES FIRM PRICE PER MEAL
[December 2025 ART# 32170 ]
Invitation to Submit Proposal for
Food Service Management Company (FSMC)
RFP Reference Number: MCSDFSMC.002
RFP Release Date: April 13, 2026
Completed, sealed proposals must be submitted
no later than May 8, 2026 by 3:00pm ET
RFP Issued By:
Marion County School District
719 North Main Street
Marion, SC 29571
Dr. Kandace Bethea
Superintendent
843-423-1811
SCDE ART #23430
Page 1 of 122
FSMC RFP for ______Marion County School District___________________ 4/13/2026 ___________ (Date)
Contents
Index of Applicable Regulatory Citations and Policy Guidance ................................................................................................6
SECTION ONE – Definitions ....................................................................................................................................................8
SECTION TWO – General Information ..................................................................................................................................13
A. Intent ...........................................................................................................................................................................13
B. Procurement Method ...................................................................................................................................................13
C. Pre-Proposal Conference and/or Site Visit..................................................................................................................13
D. Proposal Submission and Award.................................................................................................................................14
E. Amendments ...............................................................................................................................................................15
F. Late Proposals .............................................................................................................................................................15
G. Final Discussions and Negotiations ............................................................................................................................15
H. Final Contract..............................................................................................................................................................16
I. Procurement Code of Conduct ....................................................................................................................................16
J. Approval of Publicity Releases ...................................................................................................................................16
SECTION THREE – Specific Requirements ...........................................................................................................................17
A. Contract Duration……………………………………...……………………………………………………………..17
B. FSMC Services……………………...………………………………………………………………………………..17
C. Per Meal Rate………………………………………………………………………………………………………...18
D. Menu System for Reimbursable School Breakfast......................................................................................................19
E. Menu System for Reimbursable School Lunch ...........................................................................................................20
F. Meal System for Reimbursable After-School Snack Program ....................................................................................20
G. Other Meal Pattern Requirements ...............................................................................................................................20
SECTION FOUR - Terms and Conditions
A. Scope and Purpose..........................................................................................................................................................24
B. Signature and Approval Authority..................................................................................................................................25
C. Free and Reduced-Price Meal Policy..............................................................................................................................25
D. USDA Foods ..................................................................................................................................................................26
E. Child Nutrition Program Operations ...............................................................................................................................28
F. Facilities, Equipment and Inventory ...............................................................................................................................29
G. Regulatory Compliance ..................................................................................................................................................31
H. Records and Record-keeping..........................................................................................................................................32
I. Personnel........................................................................................................................................................................33
J. Procurement ....................................................................................................................................................................35
K. Accounting Practices, Revenues, and Receipts ..............................................................................................................36
L. Guarantees ......................................................................................................................................................................36
M. Licenses, Fees and Taxes...............................................................................................................................................37
N. Insurance ........................................................................................................................................................................37
O. Proprietary Information ..................................................................................................................................................38
P. Term and Termination.....................................................................................................................................................38
SCDE ART #23430
Page 2 of 122
FSMC RFP for ______Marion County School District___________________ 4/13/2026 ___________ (Date)
Q. Additional Conditions ....................................................................................................................................................40
SECTION FIVE – SFA Appendices ........................................................................................................................................41
Appendix A ..........................................................................................................................................................................42
Appendix A-1 (Lunch) .........................................................................................................................................................43
Appendix A-2 (Breakfast) ....................................................................................................................................................44
Appendix A-3 (Afterschool Snacks) ....................................................................................................................................45
Appendix A-4 (Summer Meal Programs) ............................................................................................................................45
Appendix B ..........................................................................................................................................................................47
Appendix C ..........................................................................................................................................................................48
Appendix D ..........................................................................................................................................................................49
Appendix E...........................................................................................................................................................................50
Appendix F...........................................................................................................................................................................51
Appendix G ..........................................................................................................................................................................52
Appendix H ..........................................................................................................................................................................53
Appendix I............................................................................................................................................................................54
Appendix J............................................................................................................................................................................55
Appendix K ..........................................................................................................................................................................56
Appendix L...........................................................................................................................................................................57
Appendix M..........................................................................................................................................................................58
Appendix N ..........................................................................................................................................................................61
Appendix 0 ...........................................................................................................................................................................62
Appendix P...........................................................................................................................................................................63
SECTION SIX – Required FSMC Proposal Format and Attachments ....................................................................................64
SECTION SEVEN – Checklist for FSMC Attachments ..........................................................................................................66
Attachment A .......................................................................................................................................................................67
Attachment B........................................................................................................................................................................68
Attachment C........................................................................................................................................................................69
Attachment D .......................................................................................................................................................................70
Attachment E........................................................................................................................................................................71
Attachment F ........................................................................................................................................................................72
Attachment G .......................................................................................................................................................................73
Attachment H .......................................................................................................................................................................74
Attachment I .........................................................................................................................................................................75
Attachment K .......................................................................................................................................................................78
List of all SFAs ....................................................................................................................................................................78
Attachment L........................................................................................................................................................................79
Attachment M.......................................................................................................................................................................80
Attachment N .......................................................................................................................................................................81
Attachment O .......................................................................................................................................................................84
SCDE ART #23430
Page 3 of 122
FSMC RFP for ______Marion County School District___________________ 4/13/2026 ___________ (Date)
Attachment P ........................................................................................................................................................................90
Attachment Q .......................................................................................................................................................................91
Attachment R........................................................................................................................................................................93
Attachment R........................................................................................................................................................................94
SECTION EIGHT – Contract Authorization* .........................................................................................................................95
SECTION NINE – RFP Evaluation Criteria and Guidance .....................................................................................................96
General Guidance for Establishing RFP Evaluation Criteria ...............................................................................................96
List Names and Titles of Evaluation Committee Members..................................................................................................96
Evaluation Committee Guidance..........................................................................................................................................97
RFP Evaluation Scoring Sheet .............................................................................................................................................98
Evaluation Committee Checklist ..........................................................................................................................................99
SECTION TEN – Unallowable Contract Provisions..............................................................................................................100
SECTION ELEVEN – Monthly Consolidated Invoice Template ..........................................................................................101
SECTION ELEVEN – List of Potential Offerors...................................................................................................................103
SCDE ART #23430
Page 4 of 122
FSMC RFP for ______Marion County School District___________________ 4/13/2026 ___________ (Date)
Event/Activity
Schedule of Events
Event Date
Event Time
RFP Release Date *
Pre-proposal Conference Question Deadline (if applicable)
Pre-proposal Conference and/or Site Visit
Final Question Deadline (no questions accepted after this date)
Questions Answered by SFA in an Amendment to the RFP
Sealed Proposal Submission Deadline **
Proposal Receipt/Logging
Proposal Evaluation Completion Date
Winning Proposal Presented at Board Meeting
Notice of “Intent to Award” Posted
Proposed Contract Signature Date
Anticipated Contract Start Date for Selected FSMC
*10 days before Pre-Proposal Conference and/or Site Visit
**10 days after Pre-Proposal Conference and/or Site Visit
4/13/2026
4/23/2026
4/24/2026
4/27/2026
4/28/2026
5/8/2026
5/8/2026
5/14/2026
5/19/2026
5/20/2026
6/1/2026
7/1/2026
N/A
4:00pm
10:00am
1:00pm
4:00pm
3:00pm
3:00pm
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
NOTE: The most restrictive regulatory requirements must be followed in terms of timing for certain events
during the RFP and the Award Process.
Federal regulation citations concerning food service management company contracts can be found in 7 CFR Part
210 National School Lunch Program. State regulations regarding food service management companies can be
found in the South Carolina Code of Regulations, Section R 43-169.
Federal regulations require a minimum 21-day period between the advertisement of the solicitation and the due
date for responses. However, given the complexity of the process, the likelihood of questions from potential
offerors, and the need for site visitations, the SFA should plan on a minimum of 60 days between the
advertisement of the solicitation and the due date for responses.
SCDE ART #23430
Page 5 of 122
This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.