Warehousing & Distribution of USDA Donated Foods

Background
The State of Minnesota, Office of State Procurement, is seeking information regarding the warehousing and distribution of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) donated foods for the National School Lunch Program.

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to gather knowledge about pricing structures and contract frameworks related to these services. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of food distribution to support school nutrition programs across Minnesota.

Work Details
The RFI seeks detailed responses on various aspects including:

1. Respondent Information such as legal name, primary address, contact details, years in business, and ownership structure.
2. Organizational Experience in providing warehousing and distribution services for USDA Foods programs, school nutrition programs, and government food distribution programs.
3. Warehouse Operations & Storage Capacity including capabilities relevant to the RFI, facility locations supporting Minnesota operations, available storage types (dry, refrigerated, frozen), certifications maintained, and warehouse management system capabilities.
4. USDA Foods Inventory Management processes including receiving procedures, inventory tracking, product rotation, loss prevention strategies, lot tracking capabilities, and reporting mechanisms for state administrators and recipient agencies.
5. Distribution & Transportation Services covering transportation models (self-performed or subcontracted), delivery service areas, order fulfillment timelines, emergency delivery procedures, temperature control during transport, fleet capabilities, and route optimization management.
6. Staffing & Customer Support detailing staffing structure and customer service support capabilities.
7. Pricing Structure & Contract Models including typical pricing methodologies and components impacting pricing.
8. Business Continuity & Risk Management plans addressing supply chain disruptions and food safety incident response procedures.

Period of Performance
The RFI process will conclude with a response deadline of June 22, 2026. Following this phase, a Request for Proposals (RFP) will be released with an initial contract term of one year and options to extend annually for up to five years total.

Place of Performance
The services will be performed within the State of Minnesota as part of the National School Lunch Program.

Bidder Requirements
Interested vendors must be registered as either a bidder or supplier to participate in this RFI process.