RFP_026-41_Cost_Proposal_Workbook_Index_(Excel).xlsx

This is a Cost Proposal Workbook Index for RFP 026-41, a commercial and USDA Foods procurement issued by the City of Meriden Purchasing Department on behalf of Meriden Public Schools in Connecticut. The RFP seeks vendors to supply and distribute groceries, beverages, produce, and further processed USDA Foods to serve 8,200 students across 13 school sites. The procurement encompasses a comprehensive range of food products organized into multiple categories: beef items (burgers, taco meat, meatballs, hotdogs, shaved steak); poultry products (filet, nuggets, tenders, drumsticks, turkey medallions, sausage); cheese and dairy items (pizza, quesadilla, mozzarella sticks, string cheese, yogurt); produce (apples, bananas, clementines, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes); and various processed items including deli meats, grains, frozen bakery goods, snacks, beverages, and condiments. Deliveries are scheduled to 14 locations primarily on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 6:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., with twice-weekly deliveries for seasonal programs at select sites. The RFP was released January 28, 2026, with written questions due by February 6, 2026, responses provided by February 10, 2026, and proposals due February 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. EST. The anticipated contract award date is April 24, 2026, with the contract commencing July 1, 2026, and concluding June 30, 2027, with options for mutual renewal for up to five years total.

Pricing is structured across three groups: Group A with fixed unit prices for commercial groceries and Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program snack packs using a Fee-for-Service model; Group B with value pass-through pricing for further processed USDA Foods using a Net Offered Independently model; and Group C with cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing for seasonal products subject to market fluctuations. All prices include complete inside delivery costs and exclude federal, state, and local excise taxes. The anticipated contract value for the 2026-2027 school year is approximately $3,100,000. The procurement is open to all qualified vendors with no explicit set-aside designations. Vendors must demonstrate qualifications including years in business, experience in the K-12 segment, relevant staffing certifications, electronic ordering capabilities, nutritional information and inventory systems, and provide at least three school district references from similar work completed within the past five years. The district reserves the right to award to a single prime vendor or make multiple awards based on delivery capability, volume requirements, and service quality. Vendors must comply with USDA Buy American requirements and maintain HACCP-based food safety programs. Invoices are paid within 30 days, and records must be maintained for at least three years following final payment.