GROCERY ITEMS

The City of Bridgeport Department of Public Purchases is seeking bids on grocery items for the Bridgeport Board of Education's Food & Nutrition Services Department, with electronic bids due by 2:00 pm on June 30, 2026, through the City's OpenGov e-Procurement Portal. The contract supports the National School Lunch Program and is subject to Buy American Provision requirements — at least 51% domestic agricultural ingredients with vendor documentation at bid submission — and compliance with Title VII CFR 210, 215, 200, 225, 226, 227, 235, 240, 245, and 292.

The scope spans over 1,100 line items across breakfast items, cereals, baked goods, frozen products, condiments, seasonings, vegetables, fruits, dairy, snack items, beverages, and meat products. All products must meet Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act nutrition standards, include printed nutritional information on labels, contain no nuts or nut oils, and adhere to whole grain requirements. Deliveries are made Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm to the central warehouse at 113 Federal Street, Bridgeport, and to designated school sites as directed, on standard 48x40 4-way pallets with freight prepaid and one-for-one exchange basis. Vendors must accept orders through the Bridgeport Board of Education's LINQ School Solutions ordering system and maintain backup stock for emergency delivery within 24 hours.

The contract term runs July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, with pricing firm throughout unless major market changes occur, supported by 30 days' advance notice and documentation. The Board retains the right to extend the contract for one additional year at its sole discretion. Pricing is submitted on a firm fixed basis with no freight or fuel surcharges permitted; payment terms are Net 45 Days. Samples are subject to blind testing by school personnel and laboratory technicians at vendor expense, with results determining acceptability on seasoning, color, texture, taste, and specification compliance.

Required bid documentation includes USDA compliance statements, Connecticut Secretary of State registration, complete nutritional analyses with product labels, product formulation statements, ingredient panels, the last two state health inspections, three professional references with capability statements, and a conflicts of interest form. Vendors must maintain commercial general liability and products liability insurance each at $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate, with the Board named as additional insured. Questions are due by 4:00 pm on June 15, 2026.