Hartford Public Schools - HPS Dairy and Local Produce RFP_2026-2027

Hartford Public Schools' Food & Child Nutrition Services Department is soliciting proposals for the delivery of dairy and/or local produce products to serve approximately 20,000 students across multiple school locations in Hartford, Connecticut for the 2026-2027 school year. Vendors may respond for the dairy portion only, the local produce portion only, or both categories. The dairy component requires delivery of multiple milk products in 8-ounce cartons (1% white milk, fat-free chocolate milk, fat-free strawberry milk, and whole milk) plus gallon-size 1% white milk and Lactaid milk to 37 school locations plus a central warehouse via two established routes, with milk delivered every other day on mutually agreed-upon schedules and estimated annual quantities of approximately 400 gallons of 1% white milk plus additional volumes of specialty milk products. The local produce component seeks Connecticut-grown hydroponic lettuce varieties (green leaf, red leaf, arugula, and butterhead) and spring mix in 3-5 pound boxes delivered at least weekly to the central warehouse only, with a minimum seven-day shelf life upon receipt and compliance with USDA domestic product origin requirements (over 51% U.S.-grown agricultural commodities). Dairy products are evaluated based on pricing (35 points), product specifications (20 points), service and deliveries (20 points), discounts and rebates (5 points), and past experience (15 points), while local produce is evaluated on pricing (35 points), product specifications and quality (25 points), service and deliveries (20 points), and velocity usage reports (20 points). The solicitation opened on April 23, 2026, with proposals due by 3:00 PM on May 26, 2026, and award opening scheduled for May 27, 2026; the contract term runs from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with potential for renewal negotiations at the District's discretion. Bidders must submit completed response forms, pricing sheets on flash drive in Excel format, proof of EEO certification, a statement of qualifications, and business documentation, with pricing for dairy products based on Federal Milk Market Administrator Class 1 milk prices in Federal Order #1 as of April 1, 2026, and provisions for monthly price adjustments.

All vendors are eligible to respond to this RFP with no identified set-aside designations or restrictions limiting organizational types, though vendors must provide proof of EEO certification and comply with all state and federal health, safety, and procurement regulations. The solicitation documentation does not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors for these services. Vendors must maintain proper insurance coverage and are required to provide product samples upon request at no cost. The RFP documentation does not specify an estimated total contract value or budget range for either the dairy or local produce portions. Hartford Public Schools reserves the right to award contracts to multiple vendors and to reject any or all proposals. The primary point of contact for vendor questions is Christopher Scoppetta, RDN, CDN, Director of Food & Child Nutrition Services, who can be reached at 860-695-8491 or Christopher.Scoppetta@hartfordschools.org; no mandatory pre-bid conference has been scheduled.