ADDENDUM NO. 3 ARMARK QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS SUMMARY

Addendum No. 3 to the Request for Proposal for School Food Program issued by the Town of Saugus School Committee provides clarifications and responses to bidder questions submitted by the March 13, 2026 deadline. This addendum addresses inquiries from prospective Food Service Management Companies (FSMCs) regarding operational requirements, contract terms, and compliance standards for managing the district's National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, and a la carte food services beginning in school year 2026-2027. The addendum supplements the original RFP documentation and must be incorporated into all proposal submissions due by March 24, 2026 at 11:00 AM to the Town of Saugus DPW at 515 Main Street. The initial contract term runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with options for up to two additional one-year renewals, extending the maximum contract period to three years. Contract award is scheduled for April 9, 2026, with draft contracts due to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education by April 24, 2026 and executed contracts required by June 5, 2026.

The addendum clarifies financial terms, operational standards, and minimum performance requirements for the selected FSMC. Bidders must meet established minimum qualifications including one year of experience managing K-12 school food service programs in comparable districts, employment of a Food Service Director meeting USDA Professional Standards, and a clean contracting history with no defaults on school food service contracts within the prior five years. The cost-reimbursable contract structure requires reimbursement for direct costs including food, labor, and supplies plus fixed Administrative and Management Fees, with the FSMC guaranteeing a minimum financial return to the School Food Authority and covering any shortfall. A bid bond equal to 5 percent of total budgeted costs is required at submission, and bidders must guarantee minimum lunch participation rates of 35 percent. The RFP contains no set-aside designations or incumbent vendor restrictions, and all financial projections must be detailed through Schedule E with revenues calculated using USDA-provided formulas.