Lighthouse Purchasing Co-op

Groton Public Schools, on behalf of the Lighthouse Purchasing Co-op, issued a Request for Proposal (RFP #35657) seeking a qualified grocery supplier and distributor to serve 32 Connecticut school districts and two Rhode Island schools for the contract period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. The solicitation opened on March 21, 2026 at 7:00 AM EDT and closes on April 21, 2026 at 9:00 AM EDT, with a question-and-answer period running from March 21, 2026 at 7:15 AM EDT through April 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM EDT. The procurement requires vendors to supply comprehensive grocery and commodity items across twelve major food categories including beef, poultry, dairy, produce, grains, and specialty items, with detailed specifications outlined in the provided specification sheet and approved brand listings. Deliveries must occur on a weekly basis between 6:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise negotiated, with strict compliance required regarding delivery windows that vary by individual school facility to avoid disruption of lunch service. Sealed proposals must be submitted by 9:00 a.m. on April 21, 2026 to Lighthouse Food Cooperative at 154 Toll Gate Road, Groton, Connecticut 06340, with award announcements expected by end of day Tuesday, May 5, 2026. The evaluation will be based on a 100-point scoring system allocating 45 points for lowest price, 20 points for customer service, 20 points for delivery accuracy and timeliness, and 15 points for accounting and invoicing statements. Required qualifications include maintaining proper refrigeration and temperature-controlled delivery equipment, providing a designated sales representative for all school districts, furnishing certificates of insurance, and maintaining full HACCP food safety compliance and USDA grade requirements for fruits and vegetables.

The procurement is open to all qualified vendors with no identified set-aside designations for disadvantaged enterprises in the available documentation. All items must be domestic/USA-produced or comply with USDA requirements under the "Buy American" provision, with non-domestic purchases limited to 10 percent beginning in school year 2025-26. Pricing submitted must remain fixed for the full contract period from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, with price adjustments permitted only for documented market fluctuations. Vendors must complete all required documentation including a cover sheet, evaluation criteria response, pricing sheet in Excel format on a flash drive, nutritional information for all items, vendor questionnaire, and federal certifications addressing debarment, lobbying, and affirmative action. Participating school districts are exempt from federal excise taxes and Connecticut sales and use taxes, which should not be included in proposal pricing. The cooperative reserves the right to renew the contract with the successful proposer for two additional one-year periods covering school years 2027-2028 and 2028-2029, contingent upon written consent from both parties prior to the contract anniversary date. The estimated total contract value is not disclosed in the available documentation; however, the comprehensive scope encompassing 34 school facilities with weekly deliveries suggests a substantial annual procurement opportunity.