Summary of RFPCAFE 2026-01 Groceries for Middletown Public Schools

This is a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued by the Middletown Board of Education in Connecticut seeking qualified vendors to supply groceries for the district's school meal programs. The solicitation covers 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 RFP is designated as RFPCAFE 2026-01 with a contract period of two years from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028, with options for extension by mutual agreement ninety days prior to expiration. The proposal submission deadline is 11:00 AM EST on April 17, 2026, via the Middletown Board of Education's e-Procurement Portal at https://mpsct.bonfirehub.com. Vendor questions are accepted through April 8, 2026, at 12:00 PM EST and should be directed to Christopher Puorro, Purchasing Agent, at puorroc@mpsct.org or 860-638-1426. Weekly deliveries are required to school sites between 6:30 AM and 2:30 PM, with all items requiring off-loading to designated receiving areas.

Award determination will be based on a scoring system weighted as follows: 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 specified sodium limits, sugar limits, whole grain criteria, and saturated fat restrictions, with preference given to "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. Selected vendors must maintain specified insurance coverage and provide a Performance Bond equal to 100 percent of the contract price. Payment terms are Net 30 Days. Prices are fixed for the first year with an opportunity to refresh pricing in April 2027, subject to board approval. The City of Middletown is exempt from federal excise taxes and Connecticut sales and use taxes, which should not be included in proposal pricing. The RFP is open to all qualified vendors with no specific set-asides or restrictions limiting organizational types.