New Band Instruments for NPS High & Middle Schools - Rebid

The City of Norwalk Purchasing Department, on behalf of Norwalk Public Schools in Fairfield County, Connecticut, is issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the procurement of new band instruments to support music programs at seven schools: West Rocks Middle School, Ponus Ridge Middle School, Nathan Hale Middle School, Roton Middle School, Concord Middle School, Brien McMahon High School, and Norwalk High School. This solicitation seeks qualified vendors to supply, deliver, and install new, unused instruments and equipment, including woodwind instruments (flutes, clarinets, saxophones, piccolos), brass instruments (trumpets, trombones, French horns, baritones, tubas, euphoniums), percussion equipment (snare drums, bass drums, xylophones, marimbas, vibraphones, timbales, bongos), keyboards, electric guitars with amplifiers, and associated accessories and consumables. All instruments must be certified new, inspected by certified repair technicians, and play-tested by vendor employees prior to delivery in playing condition. Vendors are required to possess service and repair capabilities with forty-eight-hour turnaround completion or provide loaner instruments. The evaluation criteria weigh qualifications and experience (20%), overall proposal impression including service and warranty terms (20%), interview/presentation (10%), and cost proposal (50%). The deadline for submission of questions is February 13, 2026 at 2:00 PM, electronic sealed proposals must be submitted via the City's BONFIRE portal by February 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM, and RFP opening is scheduled for the same date and time.

The solicitation does not identify specific set-aside designations or restrictions limiting participation to particular organization types or disadvantaged enterprises. No incumbent vendors or current contractors are listed in the available documentation. The contract award timeline includes Common Council Committee review in March 2026 followed by full Common Council approval in the same month, with the contract to be executed through a formal written agreement prepared by the City's Law Department. All bid pricing must include inside delivery, freight charges, and associated fees, with proposals remaining valid for ninety days from the submission deadline. Insurance requirements include workers' compensation, commercial general liability of $1,000,000 per occurrence with $2,000,000 annual aggregate, and automobile liability of $1,000,000 per accident. The total project budget is $300,000.00, with the City reserving the right to award to one or multiple vendors based on best value assessment. No performance bonds, maintenance bonds, or RFP deposits are required.