Paper Products Supply for Student Nutrition Services

Rochester Public Schools is soliciting sealed bids for a prime vendor to supply disposable paper products for its Student Nutrition Services program serving multiple school locations in Rochester, Minnesota. The procurement encompasses high-quality disposable items including serving trays, containers, napkins, plasticware, and disposable gloves to be delivered on a weekly or as-needed basis. All pricing must be submitted as firm, fixed unit prices on an F.O.B. Destination basis, with all freight, delivery, packaging, and handling costs included; no minimum order requirements will be imposed. The District will award the contract to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder and anticipates Board approval on June 2, 2026, with contract commencement on July 1, 2026. The initial contract term runs for one year through June 30, 2027, with three optional one-year renewal periods available through June 30, 2030. Critical deadlines include April 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM CST for submission of questions and alternate product approval requests, and May 14, 2026, at 11:00 AM CST for sealed bid submission via the Bonfire eProcurement platform, with a public virtual bid opening scheduled for the same date and time. Bidders must certify authorization to conduct business in Minnesota, non-debarment status, independent price determination and non-collusion, compliance with federal civil rights laws, adherence to Buy American requirements under the National School Lunch Program, and absence of conflicts of interest; vendors must also maintain $1,000,000 in commercial general liability insurance per occurrence and provide a Certificate of Insurance prior to contract start.

While no geographic preferences will be applied to this procurement, Rochester Public Schools encourages participation from small businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, and local vendors as part of its commitment to diverse sourcing. For renewal periods beyond the initial contract year, any price adjustments are limited to the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for Food Away From Home in the Midwest Region, providing cost predictability and protection against excessive price escalation. The solicitation documents do not identify any incumbent vendors or current contractors for this service. Vendors may propose alternate products for specified line items by completing the Alternate Product Request Form and submitting manufacturer specification sheets via Bonfire's Private Vendor Messaging feature by April 23, 2026, at 4:00 PM CST; approved alternates will be issued through formal addendum and made available to all vendors prior to bid submission, with only approved alternates permitted in final bids. No specific award value or budget range has been disclosed in the solicitation materials; however, the District's anticipated demand for paper products across multiple school locations suggests a substantial contract opportunity with potential for significant volume-based purchasing.