Lunchroom small equipment and supplies - stock

The School Board of Polk County, Florida issued a competitive bid solicitation for a one-year contract to procure lunchroom small equipment and supplies for the School Nutrition program, with delivery to the district warehouse in Bartow, Florida. The procurement encompasses 80 line items across multiple product categories including food preparation tools, safety equipment, thermometers, serveware, and textiles, with quantities ranging from 5 to 1,040 units per item. Sealed bids were due electronically through VendorLink by 3:00 PM Eastern Time on October 9, 2025, with no pre-bid conference scheduled. The contract period is set to commence on or about November 1, 2025, and expire on October 31, 2026. Vendors were required to submit completed bid forms with specific brand names and model numbers, and for items with alternate brands not previously tested, samples had to be submitted at least seven business days prior to the bid deadline. The district reserved the right to delete items from the bid, accept or reject any bids, and utilize other state contracts or purchasing agreements as deemed in the district's best interest.

The solicitation included multiple compliance requirements for potential vendors, such as submitting various affidavits regarding debarment, non-collusion, drug-free workplace, foreign countries of concern, and labor practices. No specific set-aside designations were mentioned for disadvantaged enterprises. The total estimated procurement value was approximately $87,000 for the contract period. The bid was ultimately awarded to multiple vendors across different line items: 11400 Inc. (15 items), Dade Paper Co. LLC (28 items), Innovative Foodservice Group, Inc. (9 items), Pueblo Hotel Supply (8 items), Big Bend Restaurant Supply (4 items), and CG-Navitronics, Inc. (2 items). Vendors were required to comply with federal requirements including equal employment opportunity, E-Verify employment eligibility verification, and anti-lobbying provisions. The School Board of Polk County will place purchase orders as needed throughout the contract period, with the award recommendation posted on or about October 21, 2025, and superintendent approval expected by October 24, 2025.