RFPCAFE 2026-01_Apr_20_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Middletown Board of Education in Connecticut for the procurement of groceries to support the district's school meal programs. The solicitation (RFPCAFE 2026-01) seeks comprehensive food supply services including breakfast items, grains, dairy products, proteins, frozen vegetables, fruits, snacks, beverages, sauces, and specialty products to support approximately 3,100 daily lunches, 500 dinners, and 1,800 breakfasts across ten school sites. The contract period runs for two years from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with options for extension by mutual agreement ninety days prior to expiration. Weekly deliveries are required between 6:00 AM and 2:30 PM with off-loading to designated receiving areas. The vendor question period closes April 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST, and proposals must be submitted online through the Middletown Board of Education's e-Procurement Portal by 11:00 AM EST on April 17, 2026. Inquiries should be directed to Christopher Puorro, Purchasing Agent, at puorroc@mpsct.org or 860-638-1426.

Awards will be determined using a scoring system comprised of price (60%), Child Nutrition Regulation Product Compliance and nutritional standards (20%), and Customer Service/Recommendations (20%). All products must comply with Connecticut Nutrition Standards for Child Nutrition Programs, including specific sodium limits, sugar limits, whole grain criteria, and saturated fat restrictions, with preference given for "clean label" products without artificial chemicals, flavors, preservatives, or dyes. Vendors must comply with the Buy American requirement mandating that at least 51 percent of processed food products consist of domestically grown agricultural commodities, and fuel surcharges are prohibited. Payment terms are Net 30 Days, and the City of Middletown is exempt from federal excise taxes and Connecticut sales and use taxes, which should not be included in proposal pricing. Selected vendors must maintain specified insurance coverage and provide a Performance Bond equal to 100 percent of the contract price. Prices are fixed for the first year with an opportunity to refresh pricing in April 2027, subject to board approval regarding the reasonableness of increases. The solicitation is open to all qualified vendors with no specific set-asides or restrictions limiting organizational types.