RFP for Urban Agriculture Food Systems and Land-Based Learning Collaborations
Madison Pinder
Hope you are well! I wanted to share the opportunity below from Vancouver School Board to put in an Expression of Interest to activate their urban farms (formerly ran by Fresh Roots Society).
Note that interest needs to be placed through BC Bid (with a BC Bid account), and there is a mandatory site visit on May 19th, with a deadline for Expression of Interest on May 25th. See more details below!
Please share widely with anyone you think may be interested in the Vancouver and surrounding areas!
Meryn Corkery (she/her)
School Food Coordinator
School District No. 48 (Sea to Sky)
37866 2nd Avenue
PO Box 250, Squamish, BC
V8B 0A2
Email: mcor...@sd48.bc.ca
Phone: 604 892 5228 x 136
I am grateful to live and work on the unceded, ancestral territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and St’a̓tyemc Nations.
From: Trish Woods <two...@vsb.bc.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, May 13, 2026 1:38 PM
To: Meryn Corkery <MCor...@sd48.bc.ca>
Subject: [EXTERNAL]RFP for Urban Agriculture Food Systems and Land-Based Learning Collaborations
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Hi Meryn,
I’m excited to share this opportunity to collaborate with the VSB and other urban agriculture groups on activating the school farms at David Thompson and Vancouver Technical Secondary schools (formerly Fresh Roots Urban Farm Society). Please share this opportunity widely among your networks, colleagues, and friends. We are hoping to cast a very wide net, and we welcome proposals that cover any of the various possibilities with these farms
Link to BC Bid (Opportunity #229259)
From the RFP:
The Board requests proposals from qualified organizations to collaborate in the development and delivery of urban agriculture, food systems, and land-based learning initiatives on two established school-based farm sites located at David Thompson Secondary and Vancouver Technical Secondary schools.
It is the intent of the Board to use this RFP process to identify and select qualified proponent(s) who can bring forward innovative, educational, and community-oriented approaches that support:
- student learning and curriculum integration
- environmental sustainability
- food literacy, food security, and food systems awareness
- community connection and access to land-based learning
The VSB recognizes that these sites may support a range of complementary uses and collaboration models, and welcomes proposals that reflect diverse approaches, including but not limited to:
- farm-to-school or food systems integration
- urban agriculture and food production
- land-based and outdoor learning
- Indigenous food systems and culturally relevant foodscapes
- community programming and engagement
- career pathways development for students
Proponents may submit proposals for one or both sites. Submissions will be evaluated independently for each site or portion thereof, and participation in one site will not limit or otherwise affect consideration for another.
Proposals will be received in two phases – Phase 1 will primarily consist of your Expression of Interest, where we would like to hear the conceptual programs or services you are proposing, and the collaborations and financials that would make your ideas possible. You will also be required to attend a site visit to either or both sites (May 19, 2026). Phase 2 will be by invitation only and will consist of more detailed information about your organizational and financial capacities.
Note: Proposals will only be received through BC Bid, so if you are not registered with BC Bid, you must do so before you can submit a proposal.
Important dates:
Issue Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Closing Date: 11:00 hours (Pacific Time), 11:00 AM Monday, June 1, 2026
Enquiries Deadline: 4:00 PM Monday, May 25, 2026
Mandatory Site Visit: Tuesday, May 19, 2026
- Vancouver Technical Secondary at 9:30 AM -11:00 AM PST (2600 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC)
- David Thompson Secondary at 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM PST (1755 East 55th Avenue, Vancouver, BC)
- If you can’t make this date work, please let us know and we may be able to offer an alternative.
I look forward to embarking on this collaborative and creative journey, and I hope some of you will join us!
On behalf of VSB’s urban farm working group,
Best,
Trish Woods
(she/her)
Manager, Food Services
Vancouver School District
1580 West Broadway, Vancouver BC V6J 5K8
e:
two...@vsb.bc.ca
|
p: 604-202-6820
With deep gratitude and respect, (we/I) (are/am) honoured to be learning and unlearning on the ancestral and unceded lands of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) & səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).