Food Service Paper Goods and Disposable Products

Meriden Public Schools is requesting proposals for the supply and distribution of food service paper goods and disposable products under RFP 027-04, with proposals due July 16, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. EST via the City's eProcurement Portal. The contract covers the 2026-2027 school year with an anticipated value of approximately $210,000 and runs September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with an option to extend for up to one additional year at a time, not to exceed five years total, by mutual written agreement with 90 days' notice.

The scope includes comprehensive paper goods and disposable products to support the district's National School Lunch Program (6,200 daily lunches), School Breakfast Program (4,300 daily breakfasts), USDA Community Eligibility Provision meals, and Summer Food Service Program across 13 school sites serving approximately 8,200 enrolled students. Delivery must occur to 14 locations on an every-other-week schedule (or twice yearly for the central warehouse) between 6:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Proposers may submit pricing for all or some products and may offer equivalent products certified as equal to specified brands, subject to approval and possible sample requests.

Evaluation allocates 45 points to cost proposals, 25 points to service delivery approach, 15 points to qualifications and experience, and 15 points to responsiveness and completeness of submission. Pricing must be inclusive of complete inside delivery and exclude federal excise taxes and state sales and use taxes. The selected vendor may petition for price adjustments no more than twice per contract year based on the Producer Price Index for Plastics Product Manufacturing, with documentation required 60 days in advance. All bills are payable within 30 days of invoice. Questions are due July 1, 2026, with responses due July 8. The anticipated award date is August 19, 2026.