Farm to School Program Support Services

Background

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is responsible for administering the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Child Nutrition Programs in Arizona. The ADE Health and Nutrition Services (HNS) aims to expand access to farm to school and early care and education (ECE) activities statewide for recipients of these programs. This Request for Proposal (RFP) seeks to establish a pool of qualified contractors with expertise in local food procurement, nutrition education, and school/community gardens to support this expansion.

Work Details

Contractors selected through this RFP will be prequalified to provide assistance and services that include: 1. Coordinating and communicating with ADE-HNS staff; 2. Attending meetings for planning and implementation; 3. Providing capacity building in local food procurement, nutrition education, and school/community gardens; 4. Tailoring services to meet varying levels of readiness among participants; 5. Prioritizing access for communities with low participation; 6. Collecting data and reporting on participation, activities, and outcomes; 7. Submitting financial reports, work plans, progress reports, training materials, event summaries, and close-out documentation as required by ADE-HNS.

Period of Performance

The contract term will commence upon award and remain in effect for one year, with potential extensions not exceeding five years total.

Place of Performance

Services will be performed statewide in Arizona as needed by the ADE-HNS.

Bidder Requirements

Contractors must comply with all applicable federal immigration laws and regulations regarding employee verification through the E-Verify program. They must also maintain all necessary licenses and permits required for business operations in Arizona.