35454_Apr_20_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation document issued by the Nutmeg Buying Group, a consortium of five Connecticut public school districts (New Milford, Region 15, Thomaston, Watertown, and Wolcott), for the procurement of refrigerated deli meat products. The RFP seeks domestically produced deli meats including lower sodium ham, skinless oven gold turkey breast, buffalo chicken, BBQ chicken, Genoa salami, and pepperoni, with Boar's Head or equivalent products preferred. Sealed proposals must be submitted in one printed copy with workable specification sheets and pricing on a flash drive to Plainville High School, Attention: Ashley Carl, RDN Director of Food and Nutrition, by Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 10:00 AM EDT. The contract term runs for one year from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, with an optional one-year renewal for the 2027-2028 school year pending written consent of both parties prior to the contract anniversary date. Weekly deliveries are required between 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM to nine school locations across the five participating districts, with all deli meat cases to be placed in refrigerated storage coolers by the distributor.

Pricing must be fixed for the entire contract period with no fuel charges accepted, and the Nutmeg Buying Group is exempt from federal excise taxes and Connecticut sales and use taxes, which must not be included in proposal prices. All vendors are eligible to respond provided they comply with the "Buy America" provision requiring domestically produced products or those meeting U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements. Evaluation will be conducted on a 100-point scale with 60 points for lowest price, 10 points for customer service, 10 points for past history or references, and 20 points for accuracy of delivery including timeliness, mispicks, shorts, and stock status. Awards may be made by category, line item, or distributor based on best value determination, and the Nutmeg Buying Group reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, modify purchase quantities at the quoted unit price, or select a vendor that may not be the lowest bidder if determined to be in the best interest of the group. Vendors must provide current nutritional information, ingredient lists, and child nutrition statements for each item. The estimated total contract value is not disclosed in the available documentation.