Landscape Maintenance Area (LMA) No. 7

The New Haven Board of Education Food and Nutrition Department is soliciting a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Direct Commodity Purchases for fiscal year 2024-2025, specifically targeting breakfast food items for district-wide meal services. The procurement covers approximately 224 service days with a daily meal service capacity of 19-20,000 meals, seeking a comprehensive range of food commodities including frozen fish, beef, chicken, turkey, cheese, sauces, juices, and related breakfast items. The contract period is one year, from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, with options for two additional one-year renewals. Evaluation criteria include pricing (25 points), delivery capabilities, minority and women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) partnerships (30 points), group purchasing organization benefits (20 points), business stability and environmental efforts (10 points), and product description. The RFP was released on March 23, 2025, with responses due by April 22, 2025, at 11:00 am, and requires vendors to comply with USDA Buy American provisions, mandating that over 51% of food products be domestically produced. Vendors must provide detailed reporting, including velocity reports with comprehensive product purchase information, and meet specific quality assurance, delivery, and product substitution requirements.

The procurement emphasizes opportunities for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE), with significant evaluation points allocated to MWBE partnerships and local business participation. The City of New Haven is tax-exempt and requires vendors to maintain appropriate insurance coverage and comply with all applicable state and local laws. Vendors must provide a maximum percentage markup to cover associated costs, including freight, warehousing, financing, and delivery. The good food purchasing program standards require vendors to provide detailed line-item information about food purchases, including production locations and specific product attributes. While specific total contract value is not explicitly stated, the scale of 19-20,000 daily meals across 224 service days suggests a substantial procurement opportunity. The Board of Education reserves the right to award contracts to one or multiple vendors and will evaluate proposals based on cost, service capabilities, delivery performance, and ability to meet nutritional and operational requirements. Potential vendors must demonstrate proven capabilities and understand that all prepared documents become property of the City of New Haven, subject to final review and approval.