PPS 03.26.26_May_4_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) solicitation issued by Putnam Board of Education in Putnam, Connecticut, for professional culinary service providers to support the district's USDA Child Nutrition Programs through the "Chefs in Schools" initiative. The procurement encompasses two primary components: Part A requires a comprehensive program assessment of current food service operations, kitchen infrastructure, staffing, and stakeholder alignment, while Part B entails placement of full-time professional chefs (one chef per kitchen across two feeding sites) to enhance scratch cooking, student engagement, menu development, staff training, and USDA meal pattern compliance. The district serves approximately 1,150 students across three schools (Putnam Elementary, Putnam Middle, and Putnam High School) and operates two feeding sites serving an estimated 339,000 meals annually. The mandatory pre-proposal conference is scheduled for April 9, 2026, at 1:30 PM EST with site visitations immediately following. Proposals are due May 6, 2026, at 11:00 AM EDT, with award anticipated by May 19, 2026, and contract execution in June 2026. The contract will commence on or about August 1, 2026, and run through June 30, 2027, with optional annual renewals available through June 30, 2031.

Proposals will be evaluated on a 100-point scale based on Qualifications & Experience (25 points), Technical Approach/Program Design (30 points), Personnel (15 points), Cost Proposal (20 points), and References & Past Performance (10 points). Offerors must submit pricing in two parts: a one-time fee for Part A and an annual fixed cost for Part B services, with all costs inclusive of travel, materials, and supplies. Contractors must demonstrate relevant culinary credentials, possess K-12 food service experience within USDA Child Nutrition Programs or institutional food service backgrounds, maintain comprehensive insurance coverage including General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate), Auto Liability ($1,000,000 combined single limit), Workers' Compensation at statutory limits, and Abuse and Molestation Liability ($1,000,000), with the Putnam Board of Education named as an additional insured. Contractors must also comply with background check requirements, hold food safety certifications (ServSafe or equivalent), adhere to USDA Buy American provisions, and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including 2 CFR Part 200 and associated USDA regulations due to partial funding through the National School Lunch Program. No set-aside designations, incumbent vendors, or specific budget amounts are identified in the solicitation materials.