Food Recovery Management and Distribution Services

Rockland County's Department of General Services is issuing Request for Proposal RFP-RC-2026-007 to procure comprehensive Food Recovery Management and Distribution Services throughout Rockland County, New York. The procurement seeks qualified firms to provide coordination and administration of a food recovery and distribution program, food recovery and distribution services, or both service deliverables, with the potential to award either a single contract with one primary vendor and multiple sub-contractors or several separate contracts with multiple vendors. The services must support a minimum of 42 food pantries and feeding programs across the county, building on 2025 performance metrics of approximately 413,273 pounds of food recovered and 406,162 pounds distributed, with anticipated increases in 2026. Vendors must submit proposals with a flat rate for program coordination services encompassing all operational costs and a per-pound rate for food recovery and distribution services, with pricing remaining firm for 120 days following submission. The evaluation will be weighted across five criteria: demonstrated ability to meet scope of work (200 points), technical capability and proven track record (200 points), staff qualifications and expertise (150 points), performance references for similar projects (150 points), and cost (300 points). A virtual pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for February 10, 2026, at 10:00 AM via Microsoft Teams, with a written questions deadline of February 13, 2026, and proposals due electronically through the Bonfire Portal by 3:00 PM local time on March 5, 2026. The resulting contract will be for an initial one-year term with three additional optional one-year renewal terms.

All proposing vendors must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations governed by a Board of Directors, current with IRS and New York State filings, and fiscally sound, as evidenced by submission of their most recently filed Form 990 before contract issuance. Vendors must demonstrate knowledgeable experience with Rockland County food pantries and feeding programs, possess required food safety certifications and licenses, and provide a minimum of three current project references and two past project references. The RFP does not identify incumbent vendors or current contractors, and no specific set-asides for disadvantaged enterprises or restricted organization types are noted beyond the 501(c)(3) requirement. All contracts are governed by Rockland County's Standard Terms and Conditions for Service Contracts (Appendix B), with federal contract compliance requirements including Equal Opportunity provisions, Labor Construction standards, Anti-Kickback clauses, and Debarment and Suspension certifications. The County retains the right to award contracts to one or multiple vendors and to conduct regular performance and cost analysis reviews during the contract term. No specific budget range or award value is disclosed in the RFP documentation, with payment amounts to be determined based on vendor pricing proposals and actual appropriations.