Fresh Produce for Bristol BOE Dining Services

The City of Bristol, Connecticut is issuing an Invitation to Bid for fresh produce supply services to support Bristol Board of Education dining operations during the 2025-2026 school year. The procurement solicitation, released November 4, 2025, with responses due November 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. EST, seeks qualified vendors to supply three commodity groups: fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and eggs on an as-needed basis to six school locations including Bristol Central High School, Bristol Eastern High School, Chippens Hill Middle School, Northeast Middle School, Greene-Hills School, and West Bristol School. Bidders may respond to one or all three commodity groups, with the City reserving the right to award by item, group, or total. Deliveries are required weekly between 6:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., with the contract period running from December 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, and an optional renewal through June 30, 2027 by mutual consent. The solicitation includes detailed pricing sheets specifying estimated quantities for individual items such as broccoli florets, carrots, lettuce varieties, peppers, tomatoes, apples, bananas, oranges, and eggs across all facilities. All items must be produced in the United States and delivered FOB Destination with all loading, delivery, and labor costs provided by the contractor at no additional expense. Award will be made to the lowest responsive and responsible qualified bidder based on quality, specification conformance, delivery terms, price, and past performance, with monthly pricing adjustments permitted based on the Consumer Price Index for fresh produce and eggs.

All qualified vendors are eligible to respond to this procurement with no stated set-aside designations or restrictions limiting bidder eligibility based on disadvantaged enterprise classifications or organization type. Prospective bidders must provide proof of insurance including a certificate naming the City as additional insured with general liability coverage of $1,000,000 combined single limit and $2,000,000 aggregate, workers' compensation coverage, and automobile liability insurance of $1,000,000 if vehicles are used for delivery. The City of Bristol is exempt from federal excise taxes and Connecticut sales taxes, which must not be included in bid pricing; monthly statements must be submitted in duplicate to the Food Service Director by the fifth of each month. No estimated contract value or budget range is specified in the solicitation documents. Bids must be submitted via digital format by email to Purchasing@bristolct.gov or physically delivered to the City of Bristol Purchasing Department at 111 North Main Street, Bristol, CT 06010. Inquiries regarding the bid should be directed to Nancy Haynes, Purchasing Department, at 860-584-6195 or nancyhaynes@bristolct.gov.