RFP 26-27-01 Nutrition Services - Snack Foods and Beverages

CHINO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL
Request for Proposal
No. 26-27-01
Nutrition Services-
Snacks and Beverages
Proposal Due Date: April 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

CHINO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
NOTICE CALLING FOR PROPOSALS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the School Board for Chino Valley Unified School District,
County of San Bernardino, State of California hereafter referred to as DISTRICT, is calling for
and will receive sealed proposals for:
RFP 26-27-01 Nutrition Services - Snack Foods and Beverages
up to but not later than April 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Proposals can be submitted at the Chino
Valley Unified School District, Purchasing Office, Second Floor, 13461 Ramona Avenue,
Chino, CA 91710.
Proposals will be applicable to the school districts named below, hereinafter referred to as the
"Inland Empire Buying Collective (IEBC)".
School District Participants:
1. Chaffey Joint Union High School District
2. Chino Valley Unified School District
3. Colton Joint Unified School District
4. Jurupa Unified School District
5. Moreno Valley Unified School District
6. Rialto Unified School District
7. Val Verde Unified School District
Each proposal must conform and be responsive to the Information for Bidders, the Specifications,
and all other documents comprising the pertinent Contract Documents. Contract Documents can
be obtained by visiting the District's website : https://chino.k12.ca.us/36621_4 , or by emailing
Kathy Casino (Kathy_Casino@chino.k12.ca.us ).
The contract will be awarded to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder meeting specifications.
The Chino Valley Unified School District reserves the right to reject any or all bids, to accept or
reject any one or more items of a bid or to waive any irregularities or informalities in the bids or
in the bidding.
No bidder may withdraw his bid for a period of sixty (60) days after the date set for the opening
of bids.
In the event of identical bids, the Governing Board may determine by lot which bid shall be
accepted per Public Contract Code 20117.
It is each bidder's sole responsibility to ensure its proposal is timely delivered and received at the
location designated as specified above. Any proposal received at the designated location after the
scheduled closing time for receipt of proposals shall be returned to the bidder unopened. The
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Chino Valley Unified School District is not responsible for proposals sent via U.S. Mail, UPS, and
Federal Express or by any other delivery service.
All proposals are due in the Purchasing Office by the posted or advertised closing date and time. It
is the bidders' responsibility to ensure that their proposal is delivered to the Purchasing Office,
13461 Ramona Avenue, Chino, CA 91710.
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NOTICE OF INTENT
It is the intent of the Inland Empire Buying Collective Purchasing Group (PY DISTRICT or
District) to award one or more contract(s) as a result of this Request for Proposals (RFP). Products
and/or services considered for award shall equal or exceed a minimum quality level of industry
standards as defined within this RFP, and shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local
technical, environmental, and performance standards and specifications.
The Inland Empire Buying Cooperative seeks to improve child nutrition and support a local,
sustainable food system by practicing Values Aligned Procurement (VAP). The Cooperative's
Values are listed below. Proposers' ability to meet the Collective's Values will be scored in the
Evaluation Criteria, Vendor Questionnaire, and Price List included in this RFP.
1. High Quality - IEBC requests samples of specific products from Vendors and utilizes IEBC
Nutrition Services Staff taste test results to determine products to purchase. Samples may be
requested after receiving proposals for any items, including equivalent items and brands, to ensure
quality. IEBC may reject proposals if products do not meet standards. All samples are evaluated
according to the scorecard (Attachment 3).
2. Fair Pricing - IEBC purchases products at competitive prices that maintain high quality and
meet item specifications, such as but not limited to Brand or Equivalent, geographic preference,
or Organic certified.
3. Supply Chain Transparency - IEBC prefers source identification of products to be available and
accessible to all member districts. This includes farm name and location for fresh produce and
grains, farm and processing locations for meat and poultry products, and manufacturing and
processing locations for multi-ingredient products whenever possible. Origin is required per the
Buy American Provision.
4. Local - IEBC purchases local products whenever possible. IEBC defines "Local" with a tiered
approach. IEBC prefers multi-ingredient products with many local ingredients by weight or
volume or that are processed/manufactured locally.
a. Tier 1 Local: San Bernardino County OR Riverside County grown, raised, processed,
and/or manufactured (more than 51% of ingredients grown within the counties for multi-ingredient
products).
b. Tier 2 Local: California grown or raised (more than 51% of ingredients grown within
the state for multi-ingredient products).
c. Tier 3 Local: California processed.
5. Meeting and Exceeding Nutrition Guidelines - IEBC procurement activities are conducted in
compliance with all applicable federal and state statutes, regulations, and agency guidance related
to nutrition standards and food purchasing, including but not limited to relevant provisions of the
California Health & Safety Code. IEBC will adhere to formally adopted definitions as issued by
authorized regulatory bodies.
6. Business Equity - The Co-op also prefers to support locally owned small businesses (a for-profit
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business that is independently owned and operated and is not dominant in its field on a national
basis), majority minority and/or woman-owned businesses, and/or disabled veteran-owned
businesses. At least 51% of the business must be minority-, woman- or disabled veteran-owned to
qualify.
VALUES-ALIGNED PROCUREMENT The districts in this Co-op participate in a variety of
values-aligned procurement and scratch cook programs such as Chef Ann Foundation's Values-
Aligned Purchasing Collective Project. As such co-op members expect our procurements, to the
extent practical and in compliance with federal and state procurement regulations, to advance a set
of values that go beyond the lowest priced food item and provide our students with foods that
support environmental sustainability, promote worker well-being, advance climate reliance,
reduce food waste, and/or support animal welfare. Examples of those items are locally grown,
organic, regenerative certified, preservative-free, sustainable goods and/or animal welfare
certified. We are willing to buy said foods via special order, in advance or in bulk to secure
quantities. If this bidder cannot provide said products, the member districts may buy them from
other vendors. During the effective period of the contract, it is hereby agreed and understood that
the District reserves the right to buy food items off contract. The District also reserves the right to
add new items to the contract throughout the lifetime of the contract.
DEFINITIONS: In this RFP and in the Contract, the following terms are defined as follows:
A. Best Value" means the method by which a contract, if any, is awarded, in accordance with
applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Best Value includes multiple parameters, including
experience, references, quality of Vendor's product(s) and/or services, and price.
B. "Contract" means an agreement entered between the district and a vendor because of this
RFP. The Contract consists of the Request for Proposals, including all Addenda, Vendor's
Proposal that is satisfactory to the district, and the District's Contract form(s), which may
include, but are not limited to, a written contract, an agreement letter, or a purchase
order.
C. "PV DISTRICT, DISTRICT, CVUSD and/or the district, and/or government entity" refers
to Inland Empire Buying Collective Co- Op Purchasing Group.
D. "Proposer" refers to the person/firm that submits the proposal to this RFP.
E. "Project" means the Scope of Work for furnishing goods and services as outlined in this
RFP.
F. "Proposal" refers to the documents submitted by a Proposer that addresses the scope and
requirements of this RFP.
G. "RFP" refers to this Request for Proposals.
H. "Responsible Vendor" means a vendor with adequate financial resources (or the ability to
obtain such resources), who can comply with the delivery requirements, and who is a
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qualified and established firm regularly engaged in the type of business that provides the
goods and/or services herein.
I. "Responsive Proposal" refers only to those proposals that comply with all material and
administrative aspects of this RFP.
J. "Vendor" refers to the person(s)/entity(ies) to whom a contract is awarded pursuant to this
RFP.
K. "Values Aligned Procurement" refers to procurements that advance a set of values that go
beyond the lowest priced food item and support environmental sustainability, promote
worker well-being, advance climate reliance, reduce food waste, and/or support animal
welfare.
L. Singular terms shall include the plural and vice versa. A gender reference includes both
genders.
See: APPENDIX A -
DISTRICT / SCHOOL SITES & LOCATIONS see pgs. 64-65
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Dear Vendor,
The Chino Valley Unified School District, on behalf of the Inland Empire Buying Collective,
District Purchasing Group, is pleased to provide you with document forms enabling you to
respond to this year's Snack Foods and Beverages proposal.
Our purchasing group represents 7 school districts serving more than 238,000 meals daily.
Chino Valley Unified School District -Nutrition Services Department is the lead agency for this
proposal and will respond to any questions and requests for information.
The bidding documents in the packet include:
* Notice Calling for Proposals - pg 2
* Notice of Intent - pg 4
* Instructions & Information for Proposers - pg 9
* Code of Conduct - pg 21
* Instructions for Submitting Proposals - pg 24
* General Conditions - pg 26
* Evaluation and Award - pg 34
* Vendor Questionnaire - pg 37
* Request for Proposal Signature Page - pg 39
* Vendor Criteria Form - pg 40
* Provisioning Contract - pg 42
* Non-Collusion Declaration - Notarized - pg 48
* Equal Opportunity Employment - pg 49
* Vendor's Certificate Regarding Worker Compensation - pg 50
* Vendor's Certificate Regarding Drug-Free Workplace - pg 51
* Vendor's Certificate Regarding Alcoholic Beverage and
* Tobacco-Free Workplace - pg 53
* Fingerprint Clearance Certification - pg 54
* Iran Contracting Act - pg 55
* Clean Air and Water Certification - pg 57
* Certificate and Disclosure Statement (2):
* Certificate Regarding Lobbying - pg 59
* Disclosure of Lobbying Activities - pg 60
* Suspension and Debarment Certification - pg 62
* Instructions for Certification - pg 63
* Appendix A - School Site Locations - pg 64
* Appendix B - Proposer's Checklist - pg 66
* Checklist of Mandatory Documents for Proposal Submittal - pg 67
* Proposal Excel Spreadsheet
* Technical & Price Evaluation and Criteria Form
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Chino Valley Unified School District, on behalf of Inland Empire Buying Collective, District
Purchasing Group, is trying to make the process of bidding and purchasing more efficient. For
your convenience, we have provided an electronic spreadsheet for completion. However, a
completed, and signed printout of the spreadsheet is required and must be included in your sealed
proposal package when returned.
Please take special notice of all the terms and conditions in the proposal document in order to be
a successful Proposer. A document check-off sheet has been included to assist you.
Thank you for taking the time to submit a proposal for our business. We hope that we will enjoy
a mutually profitable relationship with your company.
Sincerely,
Kathy Casino
Purchasing Director
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Snacks and Beverages Products
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION FOR VENDORS
PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSAL FORM: CHINO VALLEY UNIFIED
SCHOOL DISTRICT on behalf of the Inland Empire Buying Collective District Purchasing Group
representing the above-named group of cooperating school districts invites proposals on the forms
enclosed to be submitted no later than April 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. All blanks on the proposal
form must be appropriately completed. Each proposal must be submitted in a separate sealed
envelope bearing on the outside "RFP NO. 26-27-01 Nutrition Services - Snacks and
Beverages". It is the sole responsibility of the Vendor to ensure that the proposal is received by
10:00 a.m. on April 14, 2026. Any proposal received after the scheduled closing time for receipt
of proposals will be returned to the Vendor unopened.
1. PROPOSALS:
All proposals shall be reviewed on April 14, 2022, at the:
CHINO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Purchasing Office, 13461 Ramona Avenue, Chino, CA 91710
2. SIGNATURES:
Proposals must be signed with the firm's name and by an authorized officer, agent or employee.
Obligations assumed by such signature must be fulfilled.
Listed below are the officers eligible to sign proposal pages requiring an officer's signature:
1. Chairperson 6. Assistant Corporate Secretary
2. President of CEO 7. Treasurer or CFO
3. Vice-President 8. Assistant Treasurer
4. Assistant Vice-President 9. General Counsel
5. Corporate Secretary 10. Assistant General Counsel
3. MODIFICATIONS AND CORRECTIONS: Changes in or additions to the Pricing Sheet,
alternate proposals, or any other modifications of the proposal form which is not specifically
called for in the proposal documents may result in rejection of proposal as not being responsive
to the invitation to proposal. No oral or telephone proposals or modifications shall be
considered. The proposal submitted must not contain any erasures, inter-lineation, or other
corrections unless each such correction is initialed in the margin immediately opposite the
correction by the person or persons signing the proposal. Proposals should be verified before
submission and cannot be withdrawn after their opening.
4. ERASURES, INCONSISTENT OR ILLEGIBLE BIDS: The bid submitted must not
contain any erasures, interlineations, or other corrections unless each such correction is
suitably authenticated by affixing in the margin immediately opposite the correction the
surname or surnames of the persons signing the bid. In the event of inconsistency between
words and figures in the bid price, words shall control figures. If the district determines that
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any bid is unintelligible, inconsistent or ambiguous, the district may reject such bid as not being
responsive to the invitation to bid.
5. QUESTIONS FROM VENDORS: Written questions are to be submitted to the Director of
Purchasing, Kathy Casino, at Chino Valley Unified School District, via email, at
Kathy_Casino@chino.k12.ca.us and cc: Javier_Quirarte@chino.k12.ca.us, no later than April
8, 2026 by 12:00 p.m. Chino Valley Unified School District shall not be obligated to answer any
questions received after the above-specified deadline or any questions submitted in a manner
other than as instructed above.
6. ADDENDA/CLARIFICATIONS: Answers to questions will be communicated in writing
as part of an addendum. In addition, responses to written questions received by the specified
deadline If it becomes necessary for Chino Valley Unified School District to revise any part of
this bid, or to provide clarification or additional information after the bid documents are released,
each recipient of record of the original bid will be notified with instructions to download a written
addendum. Recipients of record are those parties, which obtained a copy of the bid
directly from Chino Valley Unified School District. Addenda will be posted on the
Purchasing Department website (https://chino.k12.ca.us/36621_4). It shall be the
responsibility of the Vendor's to inquire of Chino Valley Unified School District as to any
addenda issued. This may be done via e-mail to Kathy_Casino@chino.k12.ca.us prior to the
bid-submittal deadline. All addenda issued shall become part of the bid.
7. WITHDRAWAL OF PROPOSAL: Any Vendor may withdraw his proposal personally or
by written request at any time prior to the scheduled closing time for the receipt of proposals.
8. INTERPRETATION OF PROPOSAL DOCUMENTS: If any Vendor finds discrepancies
in, or omissions from the proposal documents, they may submit to the Purchasing Director of
the Chino Valley Unified School District a written e-mail request for clarification and the
response thereto will be e-mailed to all vendors. Corrections will be made by addenda issued
to each company that has been sent or picked up a proposal packet. The district will not be
responsible for oral interpretations. All addenda issued during the time of bidding shall be
incorporated into the proposal.
9. AGREEMENT PERIOD: It is anticipated that the Agreement to be awarded under this
proposal shall be effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027.
10. PRICES: Price each item separately. The minimum contract term is twelve (12) months.
Quoted prices must stay in effect for twelve (12) months after award of bid and may be
extended upon mutual consent of the district and vendor for up to two additional twelve (12)
month periods or until the end of the school fiscal year, whichever is the shorter duration, in
accordance with provisions contained in the Education Code, Sections 17596 (K-12) and
81644 (Community Colleges). Any price increase must be in accordance with the Los Angeles
consumer Pricing Index with a maximum of 5% per contract term. In the event of a general
price decrease the district reserves the right to revoke the bid award unless the decrease is
passed on to the district.
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