MPCA-Prevention of Wasted Food and Food Rescue

Event NameMPCA-Prevention of Wasted Food and Food Rescue Business UnitPollution Control Agency Event ID2000015499 Event StatusPosted Buyer NameMueller-LaClair,Julianne Sealed EventYes Multiple BidsAllowed Contact InformationMueller-LaClair,Julianne DescriptionQuestions and Answers posted on 4.2.24 This RFP will focus on food donation and preventing food from going to waste. The MPCA invites eligible applicants to submit applications to reduce the overall greenhouse gas emissions from the state’s food system by expanding existing or establishing new prevention of wasted food and/or food rescue projects in Minnesota. Up to 40 percent of the food in the United States goes uneaten, according to a Natural Resources Defense Council (NRCD) report. At the same time, one in eight Americans struggles to put enough food on the table. When food is wasted, so are the resources that go into producing it. Food waste is a significant contributor to climate change, responsible for at least 2.6 percent

of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. That’s equivalent to the annual emissions from more than 37 million cars, or 1 in 7 cars on the road. The United States throws out more than 1,250 calories per day per person, which equals 400 pounds of food per person annually. If we redirect just one-third of the food that we now throw away, and give it to people, it would more than cover unmet food needs across the country (from NRDC second release of Wasted 2017). Organics make up about one third of the municipal waste stream in Minnesota. In line with the waste hierarchy, it is first preferable to prevent wasted food, followed by donating food to people. For this reason, this RFP focuses specifically on prevention of wasted food and food rescue. Other management methods with less environmental benefit are not eligible for this RFP including food-to-animals, composting, anaerobic digestion, waste-to-energy, and landfilling. The MPCA received additional grant funding from the 2023 Legislature, which includes other materials management focus areas (e.g., sustainable building, recycling market development, and organics management). There is more information on the website about these different options and we encourage you to consider if your project is eligible under these other grant funding opportunities. MPCA has authority to administer grants in Minnesota pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 116.03, subd. 2.Event Start Date03/06/2024 08:00 AM CST Event End Date05/02/2024 04:00 PM CDT Event Round1 Event Version1 Event FormatSell Event TypeRFx Edits to Submitted BidsYes Payment Terms View Bid Package