RFPCAFE 2026-02_Apr_27_26_solicitation_doc.pdf

This is a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the Middletown Board of Education in Connecticut for milk products to support the district's school meal programs. The procurement covers a two-year contract period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028 and includes specific deliverables of 1/2-pint 1% milk (2,700 cases), 1/2-pint skim fat-free milk (450 cases), 1/2-pint chocolate fat-free milk (4,000 cases), Lactaid fat-free in 27-count packages (320 cases), 1% milk in gallons (50 cases), half and half (100 quarts), and heavy cream (100 quarts) to support approximately 3,100 lunches, 500 dinners, and 1,800 breakfasts daily across ten school sites. Proposals must be submitted online through the e-Procurement Portal at https://mpsct.bonfirehub.com by 11:00 AM EST on April 24, 2026. The proposal period runs from April 2, 2026 through April 24, 2026, with written questions accepted through April 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST directed to Christopher Puorro, Purchasing Agent, at puorroc@mpsct.org. No bidders' meetings or site visits are identified in the solicitation documents.

Evaluation criteria weight price at 80 percent and customer service at 20 percent, with the Board retaining the option to conduct vendor presentations or interviews. All products must comply with Connecticut Nutrition Standards for Child Nutrition Programs and meet Buy American requirements mandating domestic sourcing or substantial processing in the United States using at least 51 percent domestically-grown agricultural commodities. Vendors must provide three references from similarly-sized school districts within the past five years and maintain and repair milk coolers as needed, with a Certificate of Insurance naming the City of Middletown and Middletown Board of Education as additional insureds. Prices must be fixed for one year with the opportunity to refresh pricing in April 2027, provided any increases remain reasonable or the Board reserves the right to re-bid; fuel surcharges are not permitted. The City of Middletown is exempt from federal excise taxes and Connecticut sales and use taxes, which should not be included in proposal prices. Payment terms are Net 30 Days, and deliveries must occur on Mondays and Wednesdays between 6:30 AM and 2:00 PM with off-loading by 2:30 PM. No set-aside designations, disadvantaged enterprise restrictions, or incumbent restrictions are identified in the solicitation materials.