2026-48 Kitchen Equipment Repair & Preventative Maintenance

The Town of Fairfield, Connecticut, on behalf of Fairfield Public Schools, is soliciting competitive bids for kitchen equipment repair and preventive maintenance services across 16 public school facilities located in Fairfield and Southport. The procurement encompasses furnishing all tools, equipment, labor, materials, and parts necessary to repair and maintain a comprehensive inventory of food service equipment, including burners, ovens, warmers, microwaves, refrigeration units, dishwashers, steamers, kettles, mixers, meat slicers, choppers, ice cream coolers, food warmers, panini presses, and rotisseries spanning 17 school locations (11 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools). Bidders must demonstrate a minimum of five years of experience in commercial kitchen equipment repair and maintain factory-authorized warranty and service status with specified manufacturers including Advance, Delfield, Kelvinator, Duke, Garland, and Hobart. Required qualifications include providing at least three references from municipalities regarding similar school facility projects, possessing all required professional licenses and certifications, and maintaining one-year warranty coverage on all labor and materials. The contract term runs from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, with renewal options available for up to four additional one-year terms on identical conditions with a cost-of-living allowance. Mandatory performance requirements include 24-hour emergency telephone availability with 25-minute response time, routine call response within two business days, and emergency repair response within three hours on weekends and holidays. All contractor personnel must pass criminal background checks and fingerprint screening, maintain distinctive uniforms with identification, comply with OSHA standards, and adhere to strict security protocols. Pricing shall be based on time and material with a percentage markup on materials, with separate rate categories for Monday-Friday standard hours (6:00 AM to 5:00 PM), evening hours (5:00 PM to 8:00 PM), weekend and holiday service, and emergency repair services. The proposal due date is April 8, 2026, with prospective bidders able to arrange optional site visits by contacting the Custodial Supervisor at (203) 650-2162.

The solicitation documents do not indicate any set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises or restrictions limiting eligible bidder types beyond standard commercial kitchen repair company qualifications. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are identified in the available documentation. The Town reserves the right to award on an item-by-item basis, reject any and all bids, accept proposals from multiple bidders, and immediately cancel any purchase order for work deemed unacceptable or substandard. Bidders must comply with applicable federal regulations including the Davis-Bacon and Related Acts if the project exceeds $2,000 in federally funded or assisted work, and Connecticut Department of Labor prevailing wage rules if the total project exceeds $100,000. The approximate monetary value for labor in year one is $60,000, with additional costs for materials and parts to be billed on a cost-plus-markup basis. The contractor must maintain comprehensive insurance coverage, including General Liability ($1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate), Pollution Liability ($1,000,000), Crime coverage ($1,000,000 to $2,000,000), and Excess Liability up to $10,000,000, with the Town of Fairfield and Fairfield Board of Education named as additional insureds. Proposals remain valid for ninety days from submission, and payment will be made within thirty days of delivery, acceptance, or invoice receipt, with the Town retaining five percent for projects not requiring performance or bid bonds, payable ninety days after final acceptance.